SERA.3215 - Lights to be displayed by aircraft

[Happy Wanderer]

Hi folks,

SERA.3215 (d) states that 'Except as provided by (e), all aircraft in flight and fitted with anti-collision lights to meet the requirement of (a)(1) shall display such lights also during day'

[NB (e) above is 'a pilot shall be permitted to switch off or reduce the intensity of any flashing lights fitted....if they do or are likely to (1) adversely affect the satisfactory performance of duties; or (2) subject an outside observer to harmful dazzle;(a)(1) above is 'anti-collision lights intended to attract attention to the aircraft']

UK ANO Rules of the Air 2015 Section 4 states that 'an aircraft may continue to fly during the day in the event of a failure of an anti-collision light provided the light is repaired at the earliest practicable opportunity'

My question is this: not sure if the UK ANO exemption above specifically refers to an aircraft in flight to continue flying, but can an aircraft on the ground with a known u/s anti-collision light basically take-off?

Any clarification appreciated.

HW

[fireflybob]

The ANO was reissued earlier this year and items that are now in SERA have been removed - maybe an idea to check the latest copy?

ANO 2016 (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2016/765/contents/made)

[Happy Wanderer]

Spent a large part of the (no-fly) afternoon doing just that ffb. The latest 5th edition ANO makes substantive revisions on previous editions - it now seems to almost exclusively refer to non-EASA aircraft. I've assumed S4 ROTA is an exemption to SERA.3215. The sub-text of my question was to query whether 'continue to fly during the day' included continuing to use a (training) aircraft for multiple exercises during daylight hours knowing it's anti-collision lights were u/s. The way the ROTA is written, I've interpreted it as a single flight. Splitting hairs maybe.

HW

[fireflybob]

I read that as ok for multiple flights till the earliest practicable opportunity.

[Happy Wanderer]

Ok, thanks.

[noflynomore]

It's OK for multiple daytime only flights until it is practicable to fix it.

"Practicable" is a moveable feast of course, if there's a repair facility on your field don't continue flying! If it's at a nearby field it might be reasonable to fly today and get it fixed tomorrow. If the nearest tube is in USA then fly until it arrives.
Practicable does not mean convenient! If you can, you should.