Fast Facts : Searchlights

* Companies that rent searchlights in Los Angeles: All American Search lights and Messersmith Searchlights

* Types of lights: Traditional single-beam carbon- arc light and quadruple-beam xenon-bulb Sky-Tracker

* Xenon bulbs: $2,000 each

* Bulb life span: 2,000-3,000 hours

* Lights to be used at 1996 Academy Awards: 8 Sky-Trackers

* Power: Carbon-arc light produces 1 million candlepower from 4-foot-long, half-inch diameter carbon rods.

Sky-Tracker produces 1 million candlepower from four 40,000-watt xenon bulbs.

* Visibility: Five to 15 miles, depending on weather, for both searchlights

* Cost: $10,000-$30,000 for carbon-arc light

* Cost: $65,000 for Sky-Tracker

* Rental charge: $100-$150 per hour, three-hour minimum

* Restrictions on use: Cannot be deployed near airports or in flight paths