Nav lights during the day?

[MisterC]

Ryanamur, i just can say you did not see the nav lights... If it was a blink, it was the strobe (anticollision in french)...

The most visible nav light is the white one at the tail, and it's not visible at day...

The purpose of nav light are not to make the plane visible. It's strobe purpose.

The purpose of nav lights is to determine, at night, the orientation of another aircraft. You see where the aircraft is thanks to its strobe, like
in day conditions, and its orientation (i.e where it's going) by the combination of red, and white you can see...

Anyway, in daylight, i see planes way before i see their lights, and i mean in real life of course !

I agree with TonyH, it's the way i learnt to fly... And it was not so long ago... 3 years...

[pagir]

Here's the FAA rules:

4-3-23. Use of Aircraft Lights

a. Aircraft position lights are required to be lighted on aircraft operated on the surface and in flight from sunset to sunrise. In
addition, aircraft equipped with an anti-collision light system are required to operate that light system during all types of operations
(day and night). However, during any adverse meteorological conditions, the pilot-in-command may determine that the anti-collision
lights should be turned off when their light output would constitute a hazard to safety (14 CFR Section 91.209). Supplementary strobe
lights should be turned off on the ground when they adversely affect ground personnel or other pilots, and in flight when there are
adverse reflection from clouds.

b. An aircraft anti-collision light system can use one or more rotating beacons and/or strobe lights, be colored either red or white, and
have different (higher than minimum) intensities when compared to other aircraft. Many aircraft have both a rotating beacon and a strobe
light system.

c. The FAA has a voluntary pilot safety program, Operation Lights On, to enhance the see-and-avoid concept. Pilots are encouraged to
turn on their landing lights during takeoff; i.e., either after takeoff clearance has been received or when beginning takeoff roll. Pilots are
further encouraged to turn on their landing lights when operating below 10,000 feet, day or night, especially when operating within 10
miles of any airport, or in conditions of reduced visibility and in areas where flocks of birds may be expected, i.e., coastal areas, lake
areas, around refuse dumps, etc. Although turning on aircraft lights does enhance the see-and-avoid concept, pilots should not become
complacent about keeping a sharp lookout for other aircraft. Not all aircraft are equipped with lights and some pilots may not have their
lights turned on. Aircraft manufacturer's recommendations for operation of landing lights and electrical systems should be observed.

So anticollision always "on", but position can be off during day.

The rules can change from countries to countries. And I'm pretty sure Ryanamur (Phil) is right for Canada, since he has total 450 hours
of flight time, of those, over 185 hours of turbine/jet and over 275 hours of IFR time + over 200 hours in an IFR simulator (and I'm pretty
sure he can see the differences between each light). And I'm pretty sure MisterC is right, since I know (from Orbiter forum) he owns a pilot
licence too (in France)...



Pagir

[MisterC]

[FSPyro]

"The FAA has a voluntary pilot safety program, Operation Lights On, to enhance the see-and-avoid concept."

That is the way I was trained. Anytime the plane is in operation (read that as key in the ignition) the lights are on!

[Flagstaff Flyer]

Wow! Thanks for all the feed-back! I have to agree with MisterC, the strobe gets your attention and the Navs let you know if it's coming or
going. All I know is that I am not getting light penalties in FSP any more!

[PP-DQA]

Same with the landing lights, aren't they supposed to be on only during descents under 10000 ft? FSP wants them on all the time!

[pagir]

PP-DQA wrote:
Same with the landing lights, aren't they supposed to be on only during descents under 10000 ft? FSP wants them on all the time!

If you read my preview post, you would have read:

Here's the FAA rules:

4-3-23. Use of Aircraft Lights

a. Aircraft position lights are required to be lighted on aircraft operated on the surface and in flight from sunset to sunrise. In
addition, aircraft equipped with an anti-collision light system are required to operate that light system during all types of operations
(day and night). However, during any adverse meteorological conditions, the pilot-in-command may determine that the anti-collision
lights should be turned off when their light output would constitute a hazard to safety (14 CFR Section 91.209). Supplementary strobe
lights should be turned off on the ground when they adversely affect ground personnel or other pilots, and in flight when there are
adverse reflection from clouds.

b. An aircraft anti-collision light system can use one or more rotating beacons and/or strobe lights, be colored either red or white, and
have different (higher than minimum) intensities when compared to other aircraft. Many aircraft have both a rotating beacon and a strobe
light system.

c. The FAA has a voluntary pilot safety program, Operation Lights On, to enhance the see-and-avoid concept. Pilots are encouraged to
turn on their landing lights during takeoff; i.e., either after takeoff clearance has been received or when beginning takeoff roll. Pilots are
further encouraged to turn on their landing lights when operating below 10,000 feet, day or night, especially when operating within 10
miles of any airport, or in conditions of reduced visibility and in areas where flocks of birds may be expected, i.e., coastal areas, lake
areas, around refuse dumps, etc. Although turning on aircraft lights does enhance the see-and-avoid concept, pilots should not become
complacent about keeping a sharp lookout for other aircraft. Not all aircraft are equipped with lights and some pilots may not have their
lights turned on. Aircraft manufacturer's recommendations for operation of landing lights and electrical systems should be observed.

Same thing in FsP: use your landing lights until 10 000 on climb, and from 10 000 on descent.

Pagir

[MisterC]

It means in US GA aircraft have always their landing lights on or is it a specificity for the airliners ?

I live near the Alps, so i make some flights over 10000 ft... But when i go elsewhere, i talk with pilots who never excedeed the 10000 ft
limit...

In France, landing light is shut down when exiting the circuit, when not in a dense traffic area, or simply at 300 ft AGL at take off...

[pagir]

In USA and Canada, it's a good practice to keep them on until 10 000. It should help to avoid bird strikes.

[SWAFO]

Airliners are governed by strict FAA (or other governing aviation authority) rules, then even more strict COMPANY rules. There was a
thread here a while back, where I posted the proper use of all aircraft lights on the 737 series aircraft (it may have been -700 specific... a
few switches are a bit different between that and the -3/500). Just found the link!

Here it is:

http://www.fspassengers.com/forum/showth...58#pid3458

Hopefully that could help a little as well.