Light Me Up! But First, Which Switch is Which?!?
Hey Mom, See this one on YouTube!
I can’t figure out what lights I should have on and when. Some seem to be on all the time while some should be on part of the time and I know there are switches that I’ve never used. How about a comprehensive rundown on which lights need to be on when and why?
Which Switch is Which?
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Hi Which Switch,
You’re not the first and certainly not the last student to wonder which switch is which. Let’s start with requirements. As for any airplane certificated after March 11, 1996, the regs require anti collision lights to be on at all times and for all operations. Anti collison lights can mean either a beacon or strobe lights. One or the other should always be on, yes, even before engine start and after engine shutdown. Why? The flashing should help alert anyone else foolhardy enough to share a ramp with you that you may be about to start your engine (you know, just in case they happen not to hear you holler “clear”. Every hint helps in the name of safety). After securing the aircraft, as you take your last glance back at your bird, the beacon is also one final opportunity to catch yourself if you, ahem, somehow missed the checklist item that would have had you turn off your master switch. This can save you the disappointment of a dead battery on your next trip out to the airport. Do consider that should you be equipped with both a beacon and strobes, the polite thing to do is to use the beacon at all times but hold off on flipping the switch on the strobes until just prior to takeoff. They can be blinding to other pilots, particularly at night. I don’t know about you, but I’d like to make sure everyone else about to share my bit of sky is seeing my airplane as well as they can be! Of course, under certain weather conditions, those bright flashing lights may interfere with the pilot’s ability to see clearly (consider how they’ll reflect off the inside of a cloud on a lovely IFR night) and in those cases, the strobes may be turned off in the interest of safety.
The other non negotiable is the need for navigation lights from sunset to sunrise. Sunset and sunrise times can be found for your area at http://www.sunrisesunset.com/ Navigation lights are the red light on the left wingtip, green light on the right wingtip, and white light on the tail or occasionally, on the trailing edge of the wingtips. These help with right of way issues in the dark. If you see the green light on the other aircraft in question, you probably have the right of way. If you see his red light, give way as recommended. The white light tells you that the other pilot is headed away from you. Oh, and don’t forget the need for a landing light on an airplane for hire at night.
Beyond these requirements, we have some recommendations. Let’s start with the FAA’s suggestions. To cut down on the likelihood of middair collisions and bird strikes, (either of which can be a messy, noisy, and expensive way to ruin your day), it’s wise to leave a landing light on whenever you’re within 10 miles of an airport, visibility is less than ideal (particularly under special VFR conditions), or anyplace where bird activity is likely (which to my mind, is pretty much everywhere, particularly when within a couple thousand feet of terra firma). It’s also recommended that you have a landing light on any time you’re on or crossing an active runway.
At the end of the day (or any other time of day), when in doubt, light it up. Help other pilots as well as our fine feathered friends avoid your airplane both on the ground and in the air.
Have a great time getting lit up (you know what I mean. Don’t ever even THINK of bending that 8 hour rule!),
Mom
