fonawah
21st Aug 2002, 11:49
Can anyone out there please explain the difference b/w runway turnoff light and taxi lights. Are they switched on after a night landing and used to taxi to the gate?
Thanks for your anticipated help
Captain Stable
21st Aug 2002, 12:49
Taxy lights generally point stright forward, illuminating the ground at a suitable distance from the aircraft's nose.
Turnoff lights point out at an angle from the aircraft's nose, illuminating an area forward of the nose, but off to one side, so you can see a turnoff from the taxyway/runway before you get to it.
Both are switched on before landing at night. Normally you taxy at night with both switched on. During the day you might taxy with both, but many companies (where the aircraft systems permit) dictate turnoff lights remain off to save filament life.
Captain Airclues
21st Aug 2002, 13:11
On the 747-400 the turnoff lights only work when the aircraft is on the ground (and switched on of course).
Airclues
fonawah
21st Aug 2002, 13:44
Thank you both very much for clearing that up.