Q3 - Strobes at night

[GoneWest]

Maybe not such an easy one....

Take your humble PA28/C152 - maybe even small twin....decide to go night flying.

Enter aircraft and turn on the switch that you know operates the tail fin anti-collision beacon - it works.....but, on every flash of the tail fin, the wing tips explode in a cloud of dazzling white light.

You have no choice - if you want the anti-coll to work - you have to have wing tip strobes going as well.

Taxi with them on - or off?? - and what do your local regulations say about the use of anti-coll lights on an aircraft operating at night - for hire or reward.

[FormationFlyer]

Yeah nasty one this.

Ok. Rules of the air Rule 11. Requires the anti-coll for flight at night. However, it says flight. Therefore technically until you line up on the runway you arent in flight. So you could legally operate on the ground without the anti-coll - and therefore make sure you have nav lights on...

No sense in blinding anyone is there..

Other offers?

[bookworm]

It's worse than that:

The Rules of the Air Regulations 1996

"9 Display of lights by aircraft

(2) A flying machine on a United Kingdom aerodrome shall:

(b) ..., display when stationary on the apron by day or night with engines running a red anti-collision light, if fitted."

But:

"(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section of these Rules the commander of an aircraft may switch off or reduce the intensity of any flashing light fitted to the aircraft if such a light does or is likely to:
(a) adversely affect the performance of the duties of any member of the flight crew; or
(b) subject an outside observer to unreasonable dazzle."

[A and C]

Just as I was thinking that contributors to these these pages had lost the plot two first class replys turn up , well done gents !.

[goatgruff]

On the ground, and rules aside, ground staff who see an aircraft with it's anti collision lights displayed know not to approach the aircraft, and expect it is about to move, as do other pilots unless otherwise advised by atc.
If posssible, strobes should not be selected until the aircraft is at the holding point and about to depart.
This is due to the possibility of strobe effect in dim light or darkness affecting the spatial orientation of other crews or people on the ground.

Hope this helps.

[Hooligan Bill]

FormationFlyer


Ok. Rules of the air Rule 11. Requires the anti-coll for flight at night. However, it says flight. Therefore technically until you line up on the runway you arent in flight.

I think you will find for the purpose of the ANO flight actually means in the case of a piloted flying machine, from the moment when, after the embarkation of its crew for the purpose of taking off, it first moves under its own power until the moment when it next comes to rest after landing.

[FormationFlyer]

Aha. Yes. Good point that man...'taxying with the intention of flight' is a phrase I recall now....

Cheers.