Beacon - start

[nobbyknownowt]

Hi all. Not really sure if this is the right place but I'll give it a go.

Can any of you settle an argument? who gives the clearance to switch on the anti-collision beacons and where can I find said information written down?

An American colleague says that the ground crew give the clearance to the flight crew that all is clear and the beacon can be illuminated and then engine start, however, I am in Europe, is this perhaps an FAA thing?
is it not the tower giving the start clearance prompts the switching on of the beacon from the checklist, this alerts the ground crew that the start is about to commence, the flight crew then obtain the neccesary engine clearances etc from the ground staff.

A trawl of the www or the AHM has not prompted any good hits.

thanks for listening

nobby

[sprthompson]

I'm not a pilot, do don't know, though I'm trying to learn...

I believe the beacon should be turned on when the aircraft is manned before any clearance. The beacon itself helps the ATC see which aircraft is planning to start.

[Torque2]

Start and pushback clearance is requested from Ground or Tower, on receipt of that clearance then, depending on aircraft type and checklist, the before start checklist (probably already completed to a certain point), continues and the Beacon is switched on during this process to alert the groundcrew and anyone around the aircraft that the engine start process will commence imminently.

There are many cases where ATC cannot see an aircraft, it is not for that purpose although at smaller airports it may assist them.

[backtrack_32]

It is switched on just after the aircraft recives clearence and before the push back and ground communication commences!

[jb5000]

SOP dependent...

1 Speak to ground crew and make sure everything's ready
2 Get pushback clearance from tower
3 Beacon on
4 Finish the checklist
5 Push

If the beacon goes on before you've spoken to the ground crew then some are trained to move clear of the aircraft, which isn't particularly useful if he's half way through doing the final walkround.

If you ask for pushback before speaking to the ground crew this can be EXTREMELY frustrating for aircraft around you if you go to talk to him and he's not actually there and you're in a situation where only one can push back at a time.

Anyway, horses for courses really...

[Tinwacker]

Torque2 and jb5000 are my answers too.

I will add that the beacon for us has to be on even for just towing.

If the grnd crew know the aircraft is almost ready, normally when last pax door is closed, they will connect to the headset waiting for crew call.
Any lengthy delay then crew also use the beacon to attract attention of the grnd crew to contact the cockpit and give pre pushback clearance.
All the checklists I have seen include 'beacon on' as SOP.
I await all the comments and differences with other companies as there are many I am sure.

TW

[Junkflyer]

The beacon comes on to alert those on the ground that the a/c is about to move or an engine is about to be started. Tower/ground clearance depends on the airport itself-most places we operate from we do not contact atc until taxi. Needless to say the cockpit should be in contact with ground staff throughout.
In the past we would sometimes use the beacon to alert the ground crew that we are ready and they would put on the headset and contact us.

[nobbyknownowt]

Thanks for all the feedback guys. i understand what you are all saying and the etiquette but what I am looking for is an official "who" should give the OK to start the beacon. I too have sat in a closed aircraft with not a ground agent in sight but having start clearance (no passengers on my aircraft!). How to attract their attention? either flash the lights or flick the beacon on. What my colleague is saying is I am not "allowed" to start the beacon until the ground agent has confirmed that I can! and I know ther have been issues with flashing the lights. So when faced with the situation of no ground agent on headset or in view at the front of the aircraft...........

I suspect there is no legeslation on the subject but just want to be sure.

Thanks
nobby

[Piltdown Man]

The answer lies in what the beacon is for. It is there to warn others that the aircraft may now be unsafe or dangerous to those in the immediate vacinity. That will might be because things will move, the engines will start or the whole aircraft is just about to move off. Therefore, it is the people inside who say what happens to the beacon, for the benefit of those outside. After all, the Commander is normally on the inside.

...I am not "allowed" to start the beacon until the ground agent has confirmed that I can!

Ermm, let me explain. I'm in charge, now Pss off!

PM

[This is a crisis]

I think you will find that the beacon is offically an 'anti-collision' beacon specified in the (UK) Air Naviagtion Order as a light that has to be displayed in flight (Flight being defined as the time the aircraft first moves under its own power with the intention of flight etc etc)

It is however now also used as an indication that the aircraft is live and is about to start although legally, as far as I remember, does not need to be displayed until the aircraft first moves.

As for switching it on, it will be an item on the pre-start checklist. Once the ground crew have confirmed that the aircraft is secure and ATC start clearance given, the checklist will be completed, the light will be on and the engines will start.

Update! - having just checked the ANO red or white anti-collision light also has to be displayed on apron whislt engines running.

[MD11Engineer]

I´m also using the beacon when running ground tests as a signal to others on ground that something dangerous is going to happen and that people are supposed to stay away from the aircraft, e.g. autopilot tests, where flight control surfaces might move without warning.
Though often enough some loader comes up to the aircraft to tell me that I´ve left the beacon on flashing!

[Tee Emm]

During normal engine shut-down and the beacon light is turned off remember that if a tail-pipe fire is indicated, the beacon light should be immediately switched back on prior to motoring over the engine to blow out the tailpipe fire.

[karl414ac]

Beacon

i always use the beacon light before i start the engines. as regards to the A/C being occupied before flight i always leave the nav lights on and always have the beacon on at least 30 seconds before start up

Karl