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Old 2nd Oct 2009, 12:37
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Tee Emm
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Australia
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The original purpose of landing lights was to illuminate the take off and landing zone at night. This could be a grass surface or runway. Normally this meant lights were switched on immediately before take off and switched off shortly after lift off at 50-100 feet. . On landing approach the lights were switched on at 200 feet. The landing light globes had a serviceability life based upon those figures. Using the landing lights in daylight is probably a reasonable collision avoidance protection.

But to switch on a taxi light just to taxi in broad daylight seems a bit superfluous. May as well have pilots wearing a high visibility fluro vests in the cockpit as another precaution. Perhaps a special hat on with a little propeller and flashing strobe would be good back up in case the landing light globe failed. Better still why not have all lights flashing while taxiing just to make sure that someone will see you if that is the problem.
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