A330 nose T/O switch
 

I recently had the privilage to fly from JFK to DUB on the flightdeck of EI-DUB an Aer Lingus airbus A330. I noticed that before T/O the Captain switched 3 switches on the front of the overhead panel to "on", one of which was the landing lights (I think). But I'm sure one of the switches said nose {take off} and it had 2 other positions it could be switched to, one of which was {off}. Can somebody please tell me what these switches do?
thank you.

It's the NOSE switch and it has three position as you said.

T.O : Both taxi and take-off lights are illuminated.
TAXI : Only taxi lights illuminated.
OFF : Taxi and take-off lights off.

cheers smoc!

any idea what the other 2 switches that were switched done?

Have a look at this, and you should be able to find out what lights where switched on.

http://www.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!/photos/big/0/0-d-aerk3.JPG

Techman!!??

how did you do that?

i am possibly jumping off the cliff into the airbus 320 and if i could get some photos like that for the panels, ....well, i just would!!

:eek:

yes techman it was the 3 switches at the bottom of the pic to the left hand side.
there is a switch a gap than 2 switches.. what do the 3 do??

The first switch on the left is the RWY TURN OFF which operates two lights on the nose gear strut then after the space is the LAND sw and that operates the landing lights. The third is the NOSE sw which smoc has discribed.

genius747, The switches you mentioned are 'EXT LT' (external lighting). You can also find 'INT LT' to right of APU, and then there is 'SIGNS'....

LAND (landing lights) is the equivalent of headlights in your car, The lights on NOSE landing gear are supplementary to "LAND" lights on both side of the fuselage. There are 2 "TURN OFF" light which shine sideways and forward, one on each side.

good stuff lads