flashing your lights
 

VP
Your probably a geat pilot, respected by your peers, and smooth under pressure, but I follow "sleepypilot", perhaps a break is in store or a different route. I think there are much more pressing matters concerning the :modern day aviation scene", then " what gets under my skin. There are all different degrees of OK, and petty is not really on the list. I am not a tool, moron, or gay, and I flash my lights for the reasons stated, sorry about the act that you knew I was there, ie TCAS, or you were into your favorite pass the time reading material.

Merry CHristsmas, and Happy New Year, ( and perhaps a pay raise):ok:

Then there's the losers/tossers/tools/morons who say 'on handover', or 'The Emirates/Speedbird/Cathay'...

...bet they 'flash' too..

I need a new hobby..

I do not flash eccept when a hostie sits on the FD.
I think she thinks i am cool when i do secret comms with my god-like buddies.

I also say "heavy" .....alot.

"But to all you flashers out there.. Why not flash in the day?"

Because it's so much more romantic at night.

can't believe I actually read the whole thread....

Some of you guys need to chill. Some guys really like this job and just want to enjoy the ride. Relax, believe it or not, there are some things you can do in a jet that are NOT written in the book. It is a simple greeting, maybe the guy is just trying to stay awake. I love you guys, who can't do a damn thing in a jet without it being written down. I wonder how you go take a piss. Go read Fate is the Hunter.

ok, I've walked the wife and given the dog a beating, so my turn...

..just the same as "charlie charlie", "(code) coming down", "the speedbird" etc etc.

well said that man!

Coming back to sec3's first reply... What's wrong with dogs and RC choppers?

I flash all the lights & gun the motors alittle-that's particularly effective during the day cuz the contrails balloon out-sweet!

On the A320 the landing light lower into the airflow, and whilst there is no speed limit on them there is a noticable rumble at high speed so I will use the wing lights instead.

If you've been sitting over the Bay of Bengal or the Indian Ocean for hours with no other aircraft in sight, it's the equivalent of a friendly wave between two truckers passing on a deserted highway. :)

Gee some people here are being a bit anal.

So we flash each other? BIG BLOODY DEAL


And to those that say it shock heats/cools the Lts?
Rubbish, on the 777 the lights are ALWAYS on at low power to keep them warm, extends the life of the filament.

A bigger question?
 

I wonder, who would you rather share the airspace with?:

a) The 'tool' or 'moron" who is looking outside and acknowledges the presence of other aircraft with a flash of his light, -OR-

b) The ever so cool 'professionals' who bury their heads in crosswords/newspapers and troll forums to point out obviously (to them) gay behavior?

For the record, I do not flash, I do not do crsswords and I'm not homophobic.

Well said LanFranc, Bravo :D:D:D

Why not over this Xmas season, make it a habit to flash the landing lights as a simple greeting.

If you're flying back of the clock, why not greet fellow aviators who are doing the same thing. Who knows..it may just catch on.

It would be nice to build up a camaraderie amongst those of us who are not lucky enough to be spending time with our families at this time of year.

A very merry Xmas to my fellow aviators! :ok:

Holy Hell VP. If some one has to actually explain to you why they flash at night and not during the day then I feel really sad for you.

To help you I ask.

Whilst doing you crossword at night do you turn the storm light on or your overhead spot?

Oh my God..... we are having a slow news week aren't we!!!

Those that think it's moronic are more than likely the same that look at you stupid in EGHQ when you say "gidday" ...the socially inert who are still looking for that dog with the RC controller?

I don't know about flashing, but turning your landing lights on when you know you've been called out as traffic to report for another aircraft by ATC is smart to do, and is done often in US airspace, especially if the traffic is approaching from the opposite direction. You make life easier for him/her not having to keep staring into the pitch dark for you out there, you'd appreciate it if he did that for you. And please don't tell me you're under the illusion that you don't have to or need to establish visual contact with traffic which is called out for you by ATC because you're warm and fuzzy with the TCAS. Or that you're the tool type that utters "we have him on tcas" which doesn't mean a damn thing to anyone whatsoever!!

On the other hand if you just flash for no apparant reason, then I'd think you're lonely and need to get out more often! Or perhaps I'd make sure my 121.5 or 123.45 are turned up just in case you're trying to get me on radio for some reason, such as ask for conditions over the route we just flew over and you're headed for!!! But then again you're probably just trying to establish visual contact with tcas indicated traffic which is a good airmanship thing to do. Those who are stupid enough to rely 100% on the tcas have another thing coming to them and I don't want to be riding in the back when it catches up with them. I did mx for 12 years and you're an idiot if you bet your life on tcas with the dome lights on and head down into the crossword puzzle for too long at a time! Those things fail just as often as any other system on your aircraft, except that there's usually no indication of fault other than a pilot report saying it's giving false traffic info... and that's never from the tool who relies on that thing 100% with the dome light on doing crossword puzzle.

If you're they type who has an absolute need to turn on the dome lights at night destroying yours and your crewmember's night vision which can take as much as 30 minutes for some to gain so you're sure not to see sh!t out there for more than just a few minutes even if you have superman eyes... you're a f'ing tool for sure. It's usually the crossword puzzle doing type that fits that category with the dome light thing.

There are those who say that an occasional bit of flashing in this way does train the eyes and brain to recognise navigation lights at various distances.
Others maintain that it is entirely unnecessary to indulge in this old fashioned pursuit of looking out with comprehension, because modern airliners are kept entirely safe by air traffic control and TCAS.
There is another pprune thread which discusses the provision of a pilot rest area very far from the cockpit. If the “no need to look out” school of thought will gain ascendency then this is one step nearer to moving the pilot workstation to a position adjacent to the crew rest area in the cheaper rent area down the back. At least the pilots will still be on board the aircraft.

How 'bout GA flying at night. I sappose it's kinda like saying "can you see me?"
And you'd have time to alter your heading in a single engine...

Would you still classify this pilot as a tool? Just a bit of fun...

This thread has run its course i am sure you will agree, or is it agree to disagree!

EGGW