Odd question this one...

[UKpaxman]

Do planes flash their lights at each other?

On the PFO to LGW yesterday @ about 05:30 and somewhere around the French coast I spotted a couple of flights heading in the opposite direction a few miles to the left of us - suddenly the lights on the wings were turned on for a couple of seconds then back off again. Could the flight crew have been flashing their lights at one of the other aircraft or did someone in the cockpit just knock the switch?

Good flight, cloudless sky and very smooth all the way till we reached the channel then it was pi55ing down in LGW

[BelArgUSA]

Yes we do...
Especially when flying in the middle of "Nowhereland" during the night.
Such as the Amazon, the dark of Africa, or over the oceans.
xxx

Happy contrails

[amber 1]

it is known to flash lights at each other to say 'hello!'

and when the other guys don't flash back, it probably means they're asleep!

[redsnail]

Yep, I do it, especially over Russian airspace. Mostly to "say hello" than for any other conspicuity reasons.

[UKpaxman]

Thanks chaps, it did seem to me to be a friendly 'hello' gesture, just that I'd never seen this before

[BOAC]

It is far less common now with TCAS fitted, but in t'old days, eg in Greece on procedural clearances which sometimes 'were not', it was indeed a prudent move.

[Mr @ Spotty M]

I would have thought it was to let the other crew know that you had visual with them, is this not the case?

[gatbusdriver]

The other reason for not doing it could be that you are in the A320, as the landing lights would have to extend into the airflow (can't remember the limitation for this)

[BOAC]

It does NOT mean 'I see you!'

- if used properly it is meant to say "hopefully you can see me"

[Tight Slot]

I flash me lights when approaching a VOR in an airway to let the lady drivers in....

[Old Smokey]

A340s usually don't do it because the power drain from turning on the lights slows them down about 20 knots

I flash aircraft (non A340) in remote places, oddly enough the aircraft a few miles away often doesn't see you, but common to see a string of lights to the horizon that you didn't even know were there

Regards,

Old Smokey

[ETOPS]

We don't on the 747 - engineers tell us it's the best way to shorten the life of the lamps. They're not easy to change either - I know it makes me look "unfriendly" when I don't return the compliment but I've got you on TCAS............

[PA38-Pilot]

The other reason for not doing it could be that you are in the A320, as the landing lights would have to extend into the airflow (can't remember the limitation for this)

There's no limitation, just a fuel flow penalty. In the A320 I normally turn on the wing lights instead.