Simple - use the checklist in light a/c.
That tells you which lights to stick on and when.

Use SOPs in big a/c.
They tell you which lights to stick on and when.

I have found most light aircraft POH, particularly the ones issued before the GAMA standard format, are virtualy useless once you get past the " Congratulations you are now the proud new owner of a ( insert aircraft name here ) ". I certainly have yet to see one that had good checklists. :*

For my PPL my instructor alway had me put the landing light on as I set up to enter the pattern. Why would you not want to make yourself as noticable to others?

And when I returned to the UK with my new PPL for a PPL hire check out I got a roasting of an instructor for using the landing light as it "wears it out, cost money to replace and should only be used in low visability conditions"

Me - if I want to be seen, I stick the light on. Simple.

FreeFallFun :ok:

It would appear there is no right or wrong way.

How I/we do it: In daytime ops. we have beacon and strobes on prior to starting - On a busy apron in the light of day we find a beacon and/or nav's arn't obvious enough especially with some a/c parked 3 or 4 deep on the apron. At the holding point - All remaining lights on (Landing/Taxi/Nav) where they stay on for the whole flight as the local training and circuit gets quite busy too.

At night we never use landing/taxi out of consideration for others.

checklists..mmmhh...
When I get into a plane as pax,i always take a window seat to enjoy the view but the last time i did that was on a Easy one.
The AC went IMC and the strobes were still on...thought they were busy zipping their coffee or reading but they remained on until touch down(lasted about 15 minutes)
Maybe some guys are still flying with their Ray Ban on up there ...
It made ME dizzy as i kept looking outside wondering when they would turn them off..


M.85

On big aircraft wing strobes probably can't be seen from cockpit or there effect from cloud.
Interestingly arrived this morn on BA flight from NY. Wing strobes on until nearly at gate, standard sop or just forgotten? Me think they were left on until all the runways were crossed.
I always wanted to see the anticollision lights ( which are mainly totally useless other than at night) wired through master via pullable cb, on when master on (useful as i have seen the master left on several times with anti coll flashing, a/c unattended). Personally i would like to see wing strobes on during day whilst taxying. they aren't that bright, but bright enough for the flourescent jacket brigade to avoid walking into a/c. At night use common sense.
Nav light bulbs seem to last forever, usually corrosion around contacts sees them off (because they are never replaced).
Better still replace all the anti coll./strobes with one of the military HISL, about the only light i've seen during daylight.

necessary to put lights during daylight??
Hmmm a part from the red beacon one which tells people on the ground the engines are about to be started /are running..i dont see the use..maybe a flash of the taxi to the ground marshall to tell him you ready to get movin'...
If you cant spot the plane you wont see his lights:E :p :p :=

M:85

im rather certain that pilots see the strobes effect in a 737/a320.