XPDR and Strobe light Operation
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XPDR and Strobe light Operation
Hi Everyone,
I can't help but notice that whenever I fly with a certain senior crew member, if we are given take off clearance/clearance to cross a runway, he puts the strobes on. Yes, that's SOP for when entering the runway but more often than not sometimes we are 200m/300m from the threshold/crossing point when he puts them on. Now I can't find it anywhere online that says this is good or bad practise but I get the feeling it is a bad practise to follow.
So what I'd like to know, is there anywhere official that says one shouldn't do this or is it just a rule of thumb to turn them on once on the Runway simply because it's annoying for other aircraft around us? I always used to think it was an indication to airborne aircraft that we are on the runway and not on a taxiway still.
The other thing is, I found that back at home the standard for crossing an active runway included switching the Transponder to TARA. Now here on the half of the planet, the standard is just to leave it on XPDR when crossing the runway.
So which is the correct method to follow?
Regards,
RC
I can't help but notice that whenever I fly with a certain senior crew member, if we are given take off clearance/clearance to cross a runway, he puts the strobes on. Yes, that's SOP for when entering the runway but more often than not sometimes we are 200m/300m from the threshold/crossing point when he puts them on. Now I can't find it anywhere online that says this is good or bad practise but I get the feeling it is a bad practise to follow.
So what I'd like to know, is there anywhere official that says one shouldn't do this or is it just a rule of thumb to turn them on once on the Runway simply because it's annoying for other aircraft around us? I always used to think it was an indication to airborne aircraft that we are on the runway and not on a taxiway still.
The other thing is, I found that back at home the standard for crossing an active runway included switching the Transponder to TARA. Now here on the half of the planet, the standard is just to leave it on XPDR when crossing the runway.
So which is the correct method to follow?
Regards,
RC
Join Date: May 2000
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In the US, it is covered by FAA Advisory Circular AC 120-74B.
TCAS to TA/RA when cleared to Line Up and Wait or to Take Off:
Lights:
TCAS to TA/RA when cleared to Line Up and Wait or to Take Off:
Some cockpit displays of traffic information (TCAS, Traffic Information System (TIS)) have the capability to display traffic behind the aircraft. When pilots are in LUAW, and waiting for takeoff clearance, these systems should be turned on to increase the pilot’s awareness of landing traffic.
Exterior Lights. To the extent possible and consistent with aircraft equipage, operating limitations, and flightcrew procedures, pilots should illuminate exterior lights as follows.
(a) Engines Running. Turn on the rotating beacon whenever an engine is running.
(b) Taxiing. Prior to commencing taxi, turn on navigation, position, anti-collision, and logo lights, if available. To signal intent to other pilots, turn on the taxi light when the aircraft is moving or intending to move on the ground, and turn it off when stopped or yielding or as a consideration to other pilots or ground personnel. Strobe lights should not be illuminated during taxi if they will adversely affect the vision of other pilots or ground personnel.
(c) Crossing a Runway. All exterior lights should be illuminated when crossing a runway.
CAUTION: Flightcrews should consider any adverse effects to safety that illuminating the forward-facing lights will have on the vision of other pilots or ground personnel during runway crossings.
(d) Entering the Departure Runway for Takeoff or LUAW. When entering a runway, either for takeoff or when taxiing into LUAW, flightcrews should make their aircraft more conspicuous to aircraft on final behind them and to ATC by turning on all lights, except for landing lights, that highlight the aircraft’s silhouette. Strobe lights should not be illuminated if they will adversely affect the vision of other pilots. At night, and cleared to LUAW, consider lining up slightly to the left or right of the centerline (CL) (approximately 3 feet) to enable a landing aircraft to visually differentiate that your aircraft from the runway lights.
(e) Takeoff. Turn on all lights, including landing lights, when takeoff clearance is received, or when commencing takeoff roll at an airport without an operating control tower.
(a) Engines Running. Turn on the rotating beacon whenever an engine is running.
(b) Taxiing. Prior to commencing taxi, turn on navigation, position, anti-collision, and logo lights, if available. To signal intent to other pilots, turn on the taxi light when the aircraft is moving or intending to move on the ground, and turn it off when stopped or yielding or as a consideration to other pilots or ground personnel. Strobe lights should not be illuminated during taxi if they will adversely affect the vision of other pilots or ground personnel.
(c) Crossing a Runway. All exterior lights should be illuminated when crossing a runway.
CAUTION: Flightcrews should consider any adverse effects to safety that illuminating the forward-facing lights will have on the vision of other pilots or ground personnel during runway crossings.
(d) Entering the Departure Runway for Takeoff or LUAW. When entering a runway, either for takeoff or when taxiing into LUAW, flightcrews should make their aircraft more conspicuous to aircraft on final behind them and to ATC by turning on all lights, except for landing lights, that highlight the aircraft’s silhouette. Strobe lights should not be illuminated if they will adversely affect the vision of other pilots. At night, and cleared to LUAW, consider lining up slightly to the left or right of the centerline (CL) (approximately 3 feet) to enable a landing aircraft to visually differentiate that your aircraft from the runway lights.
(e) Takeoff. Turn on all lights, including landing lights, when takeoff clearance is received, or when commencing takeoff roll at an airport without an operating control tower.
Where's Location "X"? In Australia, she's TA/RA on pushback until shutdown so the Surface Movement thingamajig can see you. AIP says to. It also means, as mentioned above, you get the airborne traffic picture (TCAS returns don't show up in my cockpit if the "intruder" is on the ground).
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The Europoean version of that FAA AC is EAPRI
https://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/...sions_(EAPPRI)
Between the two agencies they have hopefully made it standard amongst AOC operators.
https://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/...sions_(EAPPRI)
Between the two agencies they have hopefully made it standard amongst AOC operators.
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Strobe lights on is a good practice but only when crossing the runway. Not "sometimes we are 200m/300m from the threshold/crossing point".
Putting your transponder on on the ground is of no use to traffic landing or taking of from the runway you are crossing. TCAS is not directional so it can show you on another airplanes TCAS receiver on the other side of the airport or even outside the airport. Some airports require you to put your Transponder only on to see you on their Ground radar but they do not ask you to put your TCAS on.
Putting your transponder on on the ground is of no use to traffic landing or taking of from the runway you are crossing. TCAS is not directional so it can show you on another airplanes TCAS receiver on the other side of the airport or even outside the airport. Some airports require you to put your Transponder only on to see you on their Ground radar but they do not ask you to put your TCAS on.
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Strobe lights on is a good practice but only when crossing the runway. Not "sometimes we are 200m/300m from the threshold/crossing point".
Putting your transponder on on the ground is of no use to traffic landing or taking of from the runway you are crossing. TCAS is not directional so it can show you on another airplanes TCAS receiver on the other side of the airport or even outside the airport. Some airports require you to put your Transponder only on to see you on their Ground radar but they do not ask you to put your TCAS on.
Putting your transponder on on the ground is of no use to traffic landing or taking of from the runway you are crossing. TCAS is not directional so it can show you on another airplanes TCAS receiver on the other side of the airport or even outside the airport. Some airports require you to put your Transponder only on to see you on their Ground radar but they do not ask you to put your TCAS on.
The only issue that sometimes comes up, if someone switches his transponder to ON instead of AUTO on the ground, in that case it will show up on TCAS displays, and ATCO screens that filter out ground traffic (approach/departure). That said, yes, switching TCAS on on the ground does not give any benefit to other traffic, however, it can give additional situational awareness to yourself.
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Strobe lights on is a good practice but only when crossing the runway. Not "sometimes we are 200m/300m from the threshold/crossing point".
Putting your transponder on on the ground is of no use to traffic landing or taking of from the runway you are crossing. TCAS is not directional so it can show you on another airplanes TCAS receiver on the other side of the airport or even outside the airport. Some airports require you to put your Transponder only on to see you on their Ground radar but they do not ask you to put your TCAS on.
Putting your transponder on on the ground is of no use to traffic landing or taking of from the runway you are crossing. TCAS is not directional so it can show you on another airplanes TCAS receiver on the other side of the airport or even outside the airport. Some airports require you to put your Transponder only on to see you on their Ground radar but they do not ask you to put your TCAS on.
All in all to everyone who posted, thanks for the detailed responses. I really appreciate it all.
Regards,
RC
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ATC..............................STBY
ATC and TCAS are on standby. To prevent possible interference to radar surveillance systems, TCAS should not be selected before the holding point/lining up.
ATC and TCAS are on standby. To prevent possible interference to radar surveillance systems, TCAS should not be selected before the holding point/lining up.
