Originally Posted by
shumway76
This is the info I got from some instructors with regards to lights usage on light aircraft (which should also apply to large aircraft to some extent, day or night)
1. Anticollision / Beacon - ON when engines are running
2. Nav/Position - ON when aircraft is manned
3. Strobe - ON when entering runway, off upon vacating runway
4. Taxi - ON when taxiing
5. Landing / Takeoff - ON when entering runway, on final approach. OFF upon vacating runway
Pls correct me if I am wrong in any of the above. Also, would greatly appreciate if someone can lead me to official documentation on the usage of these lights.
There should be a balance between effectiveness and costs in the light aircraft context. By that I mean I feel there is no point in illuminating lights which are unlikely to increase safety, as you are just burning out bulbs for ni good reasons. This is what I teach
1. Anticollision / Beacon - ON before start (warns others that you are about to start)
2. Nav/Position - ON only at night (light aircraft nav lights are too dim to be visible during the day)
3. Strobe - ON when entering runway, off upon vacating runway
4. Taxi light- ON only when taxiing at night (taxi landing lights burn out quickly when used on the ground due to lack of cooling air flow so the extra conspicuity a taxi light provides when taxiing on the ground is not IMO worth the cost of the reduced bulb life)
5. Landing light - ON when entering cleared for takeoff (controlled airport), starting takeoff roll (uncontrolled airport). OFF upon vacating runway
Note: large aircraft use the taxi light to indicate taxi intentions. That is they will turn it on when they are about to start taxing and turn it off if they are stopped and do not intend moving. Therefor if you are operating at an airport with large aircraft operating you can get an idea what the big boys are doing by noting if the taxi light is on or off.