Every aircraft has lights. But what are the correct rules of using them. At what place do you switch on the strobe and the nav lights, when do you switch off the landinglights and so on....

I just put them on in the sim and turn them off at any given time (or not) but how is it supposed to be done?

Crash

Thanks, Brett. That was very clear.

Crash

Let's see. Read a POH or have more time to cuddle Lady Crashalot......... eehhhmmm lemme fink........... Where is the papershredder?

Crash

The usage of lights really depends on the aircraft, or even airlines.

When I fly a light aircraft:
-Beacon always comes on when power comes on prior to starting engine to alert ground personnel
-Nav lights are turned on at night, but I also turn on nav lights on takeoff if my aircraft lacks a strobe light, personal preference. 
-Strobe lights come on when I go onto the runway for takeoff and come off on landing
-Landing lights I turn on before I go for takeoff at night, as well as on final approach.  They come off after I taxi off the runway.  I sometimes use it in the day as well, but not always, as I don't want to forget about it in flight
-Taxilights I typically turn on at night while taxiing on both lighted and non lighted airports.  Personal preference, some people leave it off on lighted airpors. 

Now having worked in the airlines as well, things are a little bit different:
-Whenever power is on, nav lights are always on
-Beacon comes on during pushback and prior to engine startup
-Taxilights come on both day and night before taxi
-landing lights come on both day and night when on the runway, as well as strobes
-Landing lights are kept on below 10000 feet usually, though it might be different in other countries and different airlines
-I noticed with the intensity of the strobe lights even on an airliner, they are often turned off in flight because they are quite distracting.

Just like to point out that not all aircraft have lights.

Hagar wrote on Mar 20^th, 2007 at 4:31pm:


Good point- legally, lights are not required for daylight ops... even if the plane is equipped with lights.

We had veered away from the "correct rules" part... but most pilots, except those who fret about bulb or strobe life (and the expense of replacing them) tend towards using as much as possible, as a little extra insurance. the rotating beacon is particularly important, because if that comes on right after the master switch, it warns people you will be starting up (in addition to yelling "clear prop!").
For being seen in the distance, I'll admit the landing light and nav lights don't do much in the daytime (except in gloomy conditions), but strobes help tremendously.

Another question popped up. Why are the cabinlights dimmed on take off and landing? Every time when I fly at night, they dim the lights at those moments.

Crash

Fozzer wrote on Mar 21^st, 2007 at 10:57am:


No but it sounds logical. In a Fozzer kind of way......

Crash