737 Pulsing Landing Lights on SWA
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 2,809
Likes: 0
From: Bothell WA
Anyone know the details of the pulse rate etc.?
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
From: Kentucky
The rate is fixed.
Do you happen to know what that rate is? 1 pulse per second? I'll probably just get out and do some plane spotting to measure it.
I'm simulating this is why I'm asking these questions, and really appreciate your expertise.
Ok, so first let me be clear which of the lights inboard is the landing and which the turnoff light.
From outboad to inboard there is outboard landing light which you must extend then there is the inboard landing light, and finally closest to the fuselage the "runway turnoff light", correct?
What's the usual procedure?
As you descend throught transition, you set the landing lights into "mid-position", making the inboard landing and rwy turnoff pulse. (By the way, is this the long landing lights switch on the overhead panel? Are they all 3-position? I thought they had 2 positions.)
At what point to you generally extend the outboards? At what point to you turn them on, thus disabling pulse? In your comments, you stated:
If you place the Inboards to ON, pulse system is turn off.
do you mean that landing light switch is moved from mid to full on?
Thanks so much for your help.
Well, if it's not to much trouble, I'm wondering what the procdure with lights is from the gate. Like turning on the rotating beacons to indicate engine start etc.
I'm just a SimSouthWest pilot and VATSIM ZLA controller who loves my hobby and collects SWA aircraft, in case you're wondering.
Patrick
Do you happen to know what that rate is? 1 pulse per second? I'll probably just get out and do some plane spotting to measure it.
I'm simulating this is why I'm asking these questions, and really appreciate your expertise.
Ok, so first let me be clear which of the lights inboard is the landing and which the turnoff light.
From outboad to inboard there is outboard landing light which you must extend then there is the inboard landing light, and finally closest to the fuselage the "runway turnoff light", correct?
What's the usual procedure?
As you descend throught transition, you set the landing lights into "mid-position", making the inboard landing and rwy turnoff pulse. (By the way, is this the long landing lights switch on the overhead panel? Are they all 3-position? I thought they had 2 positions.)
At what point to you generally extend the outboards? At what point to you turn them on, thus disabling pulse? In your comments, you stated:
If you place the Inboards to ON, pulse system is turn off.
do you mean that landing light switch is moved from mid to full on?
Thanks so much for your help.
Well, if it's not to much trouble, I'm wondering what the procdure with lights is from the gate. Like turning on the rotating beacons to indicate engine start etc.
I'm just a SimSouthWest pilot and VATSIM ZLA controller who loves my hobby and collects SWA aircraft, in case you're wondering.
Patrick
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 2,809
Likes: 0
From: Bothell WA
Do you happen to know what that rate is? 1 pulse per second? I'll probably just get out and do some plane spotting to measure it.
From outboard to inboard there is outboard landing light which you must extend then there is the inboard landing light, and finally closest to the fuselage the "runway turnoff light", correct?
As you descend through transition, you set the landing lights into "mid-position", making the inboard landing and rwy turnoff pulse. (By the way, is this the long landing lights switch on the overhead panel? Are they all 3-position? I thought they had 2 positions.)
Switch has been changed to 3-position.
At what point to you generally extend the outboards? At what point to you turn them on, thus disabling pulse? In your comments, you stated:
If you place the Inboards to ON, pulse system is turn off.
Well, if it's not to much trouble, I'm wondering what the procedure with lights is from the gate. Like turning on the rotating beacons to indicate engine start etc.
Beacon is on at push-back and/or engine start.
Wing illumination lights are not normally used.
Strobe is on when cleared on the runway. At night captain's discretion, turned on during takeoff roll.
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
From: USA
can you see me now?
It's for aircraft recognition. Helps make the airplane stand out when you at low altitude or in traffic patterns, ect.
For the most part, you see pulsing lights more on executive jets than on airliners.
For the most part, you see pulsing lights more on executive jets than on airliners.
I'matightbastard
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,747
Likes: 0
From: Texas
Plus it makes 'em last longer - which is kind of counter intuative.
Don't forget if you're simulating them, the 2s, 3s, and 5s are positioned differently from the 7s.
Also if I remember correctly, they pulse left then right, not both on then both off. And there must be a central controller because they don't seem to go out of phase like the turn signals on a long line of trafic waiting at a red light.
I am a
Don't forget if you're simulating them, the 2s, 3s, and 5s are positioned differently from the 7s.
Also if I remember correctly, they pulse left then right, not both on then both off. And there must be a central controller because they don't seem to go out of phase like the turn signals on a long line of trafic waiting at a red light.
I am a
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 2,809
Likes: 0
From: Bothell WA
Not all the 300's have them. On the older ones there was a noise heard through the headset so they deactivated them. The 700's do not have them install that I have seen.
The make the aircraft more noticeable AND the light bulbs last longer like they said.
The make the aircraft more noticeable AND the light bulbs last longer like they said.
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
From: Kentucky
Also if I remember correctly, they pulse left then right, not both on then both off.
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
How does this affect the loss of RTF (communication) procedure.
I've seen some of the small biz jets do this. Both myself and collegue questioned the tower as to whether they knew of the a/c on finals when we were cleared to line-up in front (it was on finals).
As far as I am aware in Europe loss of communication is identified by the station flashing his landing lights. Has this changed?
I've seen some of the small biz jets do this. Both myself and collegue questioned the tower as to whether they knew of the a/c on finals when we were cleared to line-up in front (it was on finals).
As far as I am aware in Europe loss of communication is identified by the station flashing his landing lights. Has this changed?
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 1,444
Likes: 21
From: Beyond the black stump!
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 739
Likes: 0
From: Dallas, TX USA
I read that the pulse rate is 44 per minute, the same as for many other FAA approved pulsing lights on both aircraft and ground systems. Apparently the FAA feels that this rate provides the earliest recognition at the farthest distance. Some new pulsing units however have a daytime pulse rate that's twice as fast, with the 44 pulse rate still being required at night, because the 88 pulse rate is said to take longer to recognize at night.
The US Department of Agriculture is also presently conducting studies with birds to determine the effectiveness of pulsing landing lights on approaching aircraft, in shattering the birds from the aircraft's flight path. They are conducting the research on a variety of species, and are also testing a variety of pulse frequencies.
I've only read that testing is on going, as I haven't read anything about any results yet. The speculation I read suggests they might possibly recommend a different frequency to the FAA, or possibly several different frequencies depending on what bird species are prevalant at a given airport. Of course all of this depends on the results of the research.
It would be interesting to be flying an approach into your local coastal airfield, select "seagulls" on the landing light panel, and watch the seagulls perform TCAS RAs in deference to your approaching aircraft.
The US Department of Agriculture is also presently conducting studies with birds to determine the effectiveness of pulsing landing lights on approaching aircraft, in shattering the birds from the aircraft's flight path. They are conducting the research on a variety of species, and are also testing a variety of pulse frequencies.
I've only read that testing is on going, as I haven't read anything about any results yet. The speculation I read suggests they might possibly recommend a different frequency to the FAA, or possibly several different frequencies depending on what bird species are prevalant at a given airport. Of course all of this depends on the results of the research.
It would be interesting to be flying an approach into your local coastal airfield, select "seagulls" on the landing light panel, and watch the seagulls perform TCAS RAs in deference to your approaching aircraft.
I'matightbastard
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,747
Likes: 0
From: Texas
selecting "seagulls"
Perhaps they should just change the shape of the airframe to make it look more like a hawk or an owl...and paint a big beak on the radome. THAT should scare 'em off.
Pulse Left/Right or On/Low
