Aircraft lights during Day

[Tailgate]

I always wondered which lights are used during daytime ops in friendly territories. I'll usually turn on the strobes prior to startup, are there other procedures that are used?

[James]

Can only speak from my experience working on the ramp with civillian aircraft but

 

If the engines are running, aircraft is being moved, pushed back ect Anti collision lights must be on

And almost every aircraft that comes onto stand usually has wingtip illumination.

Edited September 19, 2012 by James

[ENO]

We were talking about this over at simhq as well and it sounded like the strobes were annoying and were only used once all preparations were complete. That's the impression I got anyway. Seemed once your aircraft was ready and you were shuffling out the door- then te anti collisions were turned on. I think otherwise it was just your normal wingtip lighting.

[woofer15]

Standard practice is anticollision strobe and flashing positions prior to and during engine startup; then solid positions after startup completed and for taxi - in theory, anticollision should be on the entire time, but -as indicated above- many pilots turn them off for the courtesy of others during good visibilty bc they are annoying.

[Tailgate]

I noticed the wingtip position lights (not strobes) have a flashing and steady mode. Are there specific uses for each? Is flashing for low visibility conditions?

Edited September 19, 2012 by Tailgate

[G-Lock91]

Navigation lights in civil aviation are required to be turned on from sunset to sunrise. High-intensity white strobe lights are part of the anti-collision light system, as well as the aviation red or white rotating beacon. The anti collision light system (either strobe lights or rotating beacon) is required for all airplanes built after March 11, 1996 for all flight activities in poor visibility, and recommended in good visibility, where only strobes and beacon are required. An example of this would be just before push back, (push and start) the beacon lights are required, to notify ground crews that the engines are about to be started. These beacon lights will stay on for the duration of the flight. While taxiing, the taxi lights are activated. When coming onto the runway, the taxi lights are deactivated and the landing lights and strobes are activated. When passing 10000 feet (or FL100), the landing lights are no longer required, and can be turned off at the pilot's discretion.

[ENO]

Just wondering. Do civil aviation rules apply for the a-10? In Georgia? And in wartime?

[G-Lock91]

Aviation rules...I would say they do. Absolutely! As far as the use of lights, I don't know. I don't see why it would be any different.

[Darkwolf187]

Obviously lights are turned off once you fence in, but they're supposed to be put back on once you fence out. During wartime, it's arguable that lights are even more important near friendly airspace since air traffic density is often very high indeed - and with a lot of irregular flights.

[Evil.Bonsai]

I've heard it said that leaving lights on at night over enemy allows them to track/attack you more easily. Is this actually modeled?

[Cali]

When I was at Luke AFB and working day shift, the "flashing" and nav lights were always on when they started up. maybe because it was a training base....I don't know. Mvsgas should know more about this.

[woofer15]

I noticed the wingtip position lights (not strobes) have a flashing and steady mode. Are there specific uses for each? Is flashing for low visibility conditions?

 

See my post above yours, but perhaps I was unclear:

 

Generally, flashing pos lights during engine startup (to notify/warn ground personnel) and steady pos after startup and during normal fence-out flight ops.

 

In-theater military light operations closely follow FAA regs unless otherwise specified. Precisely as inidcated by another poster: due to high density traffic congestion fence-out in friendly airspace.

 

Just my experience OCONUS…others may vary

[NC_Cyborg]

In-theater military light operations closely follow FAA regs unless otherwise specified. Precisely as inidcated by another poster: due to high density traffic congestion fence-out in friendly airspace.

 

I have observed the same as well. Aircraft had lights on during take-off and landing. The lights were off the rest of the time.

[Tailgate]

See my post above yours, but perhaps I was unclear:

 

Generally, flashing pos lights during engine startup (to notify/warn ground personnel) and steady pos after startup and during normal fence-out flight ops.

 

In-theater military light operations closely follow FAA regs unless otherwise specified. Precisely as inidcated by another poster: due to high density traffic congestion fence-out in friendly airspace.

 

Just my experience OCONUS…others may vary

 

 

Sorry missed the flashing pos lights in your original post.. totally clear. Thanks.

[NC_Cyborg]

 

http://www.vpr.net/npr/161375879/

 

Reaper with no beacon just position lights. You can find all kinds of pics of aircraft in theater.

 

 

http://www.air-attack.com/images/single/610/An-F-15E-Strike-Eagle-jet-takes-off-from-Bagram-Air-Base-Afghanistan.html

Edited September 19, 2012 by NC_Cyborg

[Eddie]

It should be noted that lighting polices in Afghanistan should not be used to draw conclusions on normal lighting procedures, as to all intents and purposes aircraft "fence in" shortly after takeoff. The A-10Cs at Kandahar, for example, switch off their lights before they even left the base perimeter, as do many others.

 

Whereas in traditional operations where aircraft are based many miles from hostile airspace the flight from take off to "fence in" and from "fence out" to landing may be hours in duration.

[ENO]

All very interesting posts. Generally we don't have a lot of issues with whatever rules apply during our server operations... however I still want to "respect the business" of others when it comes to properly illuminating my aircraft so that people who know better understand what state of preparation I'm in when I'm going through my routine.

 

On the ground I think blinking lights during startup and solid lights at the completion of a startup procedure is logical enough. As for in the air- I guess the situation will dictate.

[Sabre-TLA]

For night operations this reference says that flight/element leaders will turn off the anti-collision strobe when reaching the run-up position on the runway and set the position lights to bright steady.

Wingmen may leave the anti-collision strobes off until brake release and turning them on and position lights bright steady for takeoff.

The flight lead could direct wingmen to leave the strobes off anytime the lights cause a distraction. All aircraft must turn formation lights on.

 

For night join-ups after the rejoin the anti-collision strobe is off and position lights bright steady for all except the last aircraft. The last aircraft will keep the anti-collision strobe on and position lights bright steady unless directed by the flight lead.

 

Based on this my understanding would be position lights bright flash and anti-collision on until runway threshold. At runway threshold turn off the anti-collision strobes and set position lights to steady. Then turn the anti-collision light back on at takeoff.

 

I think this can apply to daytime: "The anticollision light should be turned on prior to engine start, even during daytime operations. At night, the position (navigation) lights should also be on." -from The FAA Airplane Flying Handbook