Simviation Forum - Silly argument about strobe lights

Jan 21^st, 2011 at 7:31pm

Skittles Offline
Colonel
N769JC: "Isn't simulating
stimulating?
JAQ: Westover Field, CA (O70)

Gender:
Posts: 837

My brother and I got into a friendly heated discussion about when to use the wingtip strobe lights.

I say... when on the runway and during flight.

He says... while the engine is running.

I responded... The beacon is on while the engine is running.

Are we right, wrong... doesn't matter?

Thanks for giving a crap,
Joe

What do computers and air conditioners have in common?
They both will work perfectly, until you open windows.

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #1 - Jan 21^st, 2011 at 8:50pm

specter177 Offline
Colonel
Check out the Maverick
Flying Car!
I-TEC - X35

Gender:
Posts: 1406

I put the beacon on when I start up, and strobes at night only.

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #2 - Jan 21^st, 2011 at 9:39pm

DaveSims Offline
Colonel
Clear Lake, Iowa

Gender:
Posts: 2453

Skittles wrote on Jan 21^st, 2011 at 7:31pm:

My brother and I got into a friendly heated discussion about when to use the wingtip strobe lights.

I say... when on the runway and during flight.

He says... while the engine is running.

I responded... The beacon is on while the engine is running.

Are we right, wrong... doesn't matter?

Thanks for giving a crap,
Joe

Typically it is just red beacon when the engine is running, and white strobes from takeoff to landing. The reason is to avoid blinding other pilots on the ground with the usually brighter white strobes. Now you will see some small GA aircraft that do not have beacons per se, and use their strobes in their place.

Dave

www.flymcw.com

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #3 - Jan 22^nd, 2011 at 11:09am

OVERLORD_CHRIS Offline
Colonel
No C-17B's, C-5M's for
Every One!
Chalreston SC

Gender:
Posts: 1148

Depends on the plane really. On the C-17 the wing tip strobes are tied into the Weight on Wheels(WoW) switch, so when the beacon is on, and it is taxing or sitting there, thy do nothing. But when it takes off they automatically come on, I think the DC-10 is the same way as they McDonald Douglass made both planes.

The C-5's beacon turns from from red to white, then the wing tips start flashing when it takes off. Not sure if the 744 lights are tied into the WoW sensor also, or if they turn them on just before take off. Because every time the Dreamlifter takes off, every light that can flash starts to flash when it gets air borne.

But Evergreen with their 742 they used to turn there lights on just before take off.

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #4 - Jan 25^th, 2011 at 10:50am

Skittles Offline
Colonel
N769JC: "Isn't simulating
stimulating?
JAQ: Westover Field, CA (O70)

Gender:
Posts: 837

Thanks for the responses. He's buying me dinner...

What do computers and air conditioners have in common?
They both will work perfectly, until you open windows.

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #5 - Jan 30^th, 2011 at 7:26pm

f-35simpilot Offline
Colonel
Coquitlam, Beautiful B.C.

Gender:
Posts: 317

I hate it when the commercial jets leave them on while taxiing into the gate cause we the wingwalkers get blinded

Carriers would be so mush easier to land on if they would just stop turning!!!

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #6 - Jan 31^st, 2011 at 4:13am

expat Offline
Colonel
Deep behind enemy lines!

Gender:
Posts: 8499

The company I work for (and we have a fleet of 737-700/800, A319/20/21, A330 and Dash8 Q400),company policy, they are turned just before the aircraft enters the runway and turned off as they leave. Except when we fly to two destinations in Iraq.................EVERYTHING is turned off!!

Matt

PETA People Eating Tasty Animals.

B1 Boeing 737-800 and Dash8 Q-400

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #7 - Jan 31^st, 2011 at 8:05pm

beaky Offline
Global Moderator
Uhhhh.... yup!
Newark, NJ USA

Gender:
Posts: 14187

f-35simpilot wrote on Jan 30^th, 2011 at 7:26pm:

I hate it when the commercial jets leave them on while taxiing into the gate cause we the wingwalkers get blinded

This is exactly why I don't use them unless I'm on the runway (or in flight)... not nice for other pilots who have just gotten their night-vision dialed in, and are preparing to take off into the dark. Undecided

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #8 - Feb 20^th, 2011 at 11:56pm

SaultFresh Offline
Colonel
Flight Instructor, CYKZ
Woodbridge, Ontario

Gender:
Posts: 134

Definitely whilst on the runway, whether departing, arriving, or just crossing it (at night only). For flight in VMC, leave them on. See and be seen is the name of the game there. In IMC, I think it solely depends on the type of aircraft and the weather you're flying through. If you're flying in and out of clouds or between a cloud layer, I would probably leave them on. If I was flying through a solid set of cloud, again, depending on the aircraft, may turn them off. I do not need to get blinded by the very things making me noticeable (however noticeable you could actually be in a cloud anyways).

Back to top

IP Logged

	Search the archive: