overhead lights
 

On the Airbus aircrafts , the overhead lights , are on all the time , some pilots find them bright even in the dim position and have the tendency to turn them off at night ,for better vision , but faced with rejection from other pilots as they are emergency lights as well. Does the S.O.P have a word on that.

Johnman
 

I think you will find that the topic of cockpit lighting at night is a quite contentious and thorny old chestnut! Pilots tend to have very strong views, one way or the other. On short trips turning the lights off or down shouldn't have much of an effect but on medium and long haul it is a different story.

The USAF did quite an extensive study into cockpit lighting and the copy I saw was in a doctors office in London. The report states that, by leaving the cockpit lights as bright as is reasonable during the cruise phase, the onset of fatigue can be reduced by up to 75% as the natural melatonin, (which helps you to sleep), in the body is less likely to be released than if the surroundings were dark. It should also be remembered that unless actually focused onto an object then, at night, the individuals eyes are naturally focused about nine inches the other side of the glass of the windscreen.

BlueEagle , Thank you . I'll be looking for the study you've mentioned. Pilots moving from one aircraft to another need to adapt to the procedures on that type , the Airbus family aircrafts have the dome lights on all the time and can be dimmed at night , the cockpit is never completely dark.

Johnman,

What are you saying here? That there is no off switch on the AIrbus' dome lights, or that procedures recommend they are on all of the time? The A320, A321 and A330's we operate have off switches on the dome lights and many fly at night with them in the off position, so you can get a dark flight deck. The other lighting is different in all 3 of these versions, though. Do you fly the more modern versions (A340-500/-600) and have they decided to omit the off switch on these?

The Airbus SOP is have the dome light switched to DIM at night. It can be turned off and that's what I and most other people I fly with do anyway. Having said that on long night flights it's nice to have it on in the cruise sometimes, slightly less soporific I find, didn't know there was research to back that up, very interesting.

On 737 these lights are also emergency lights,being on the baterry bus.You'll be amased how many pilots,keeping them off,forget about them in simulators in case of total electrical failure,and try to use torches to see the things around them in the cockpit.
The sop states to keep this lights on,eventual on dim position.
Also,at night,it's better to keep the lights on,regarding eye fatigue.These nice new displays are ok,except they tend to affect your sight,little by little,especially at night,in a dark cockpit.
During daylight,it is discussible,indeed.Why keep them off? Save bulbs,eventually.I can't see another reason. (save electricity :) ?)
Brgds Alex