Position (Nav) Lights On Ground
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
From: In d' JuNgLe
Position (Nav) Lights On Ground
Dear PPruners,
I've only recently noticed that most aircraft have their Position (Nav) Lights (NOT Anti Collision) switched on when there is activity (e.g. passenger or crew or service personnel) be it day or night. I would like to know why as my Company does not currently practice this. Is it govern by any authority or just state aviation authority? Any advice would be much appreciated.
I've only recently noticed that most aircraft have their Position (Nav) Lights (NOT Anti Collision) switched on when there is activity (e.g. passenger or crew or service personnel) be it day or night. I would like to know why as my Company does not currently practice this. Is it govern by any authority or just state aviation authority? Any advice would be much appreciated.
Aviator Extraordinaire
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,396
Likes: 3
From: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma USA
As a general rule the position light are on anytime the aircraft is 'power up', that is an APU or GPU is powering the electrical system of the aircraft.
Only when the engines are ready for immediate start are the beacons turned on.
That way when you look at an aircraft on a ramp you can tell it's status with one glance.
Only when the engines are ready for immediate start are the beacons turned on.
That way when you look at an aircraft on a ramp you can tell it's status with one glance.
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 236
Likes: 1
From: belgium
Our company procedure:
Position lights - on ground, aircraft powered
Beacon - engine start, towing or maintenance activity with dangerous activity
Strobe lights - crossing runways and from the moment of runway alignment clearance before takeoff
However, I worked on the Fokker 50, and there it was procedure to never turn on any lights on ground when the engines are not running. Because the lights tend to get hot without the cool airstream around them, and service life went down otherwise.
Position lights - on ground, aircraft powered
Beacon - engine start, towing or maintenance activity with dangerous activity
Strobe lights - crossing runways and from the moment of runway alignment clearance before takeoff
However, I worked on the Fokker 50, and there it was procedure to never turn on any lights on ground when the engines are not running. Because the lights tend to get hot without the cool airstream around them, and service life went down otherwise.
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: Ormond Beach
As a general rule the position light are on anytime the aircraft is 'power up', that is an APU or GPU is powering the electrical system of the aircraft.
Only when the engines are ready for immediate start are the beacons turned on.
That way when you look at an aircraft on a ramp you can tell it's status with one glance.
Only when the engines are ready for immediate start are the beacons turned on.
That way when you look at an aircraft on a ramp you can tell it's status with one glance.
