Landing lights...a further question

[CowlFlapsOpen]

Hi all. There is a wonderful FAQ on the use of lights in the real world and FsP but I have one furher question:

As I recall, the tutorial presumes that the pilot is heading for a FL above 10k and states that landing lights should be used from the point of taking
the runway to the climb above 10k and on descent from 10K to the point of leaving the runway. I.E. during descent and climbs. I get penalties if I
turn the lights off below 10K even in level/cruise flight (FS Flightkeeper also penalizes me for this). But many of my flights are lower than 10K.
Are LLs used when below 10K and not climbing or descending? Further the checklists for the Aeroworx B200 indicates that lights should be turned off
when about 400 AGL (when flaps are retracted) and cruise climb is established. I did searches of the FAR and couldn't find anything but perhaps I
just missed it. Any pilots who can tell me: Do you keep landing lights on at all times when below 10K or just when descending or climbing below 10K?

[DBE]

The answer is pretty easy: the landing lights have to be kept on at all times below FL100.

That's basically why the copilot reminds you about it when ever you cross that level..

[Drew]

according to FSP.....and as DBE said.....

This option allows you to set the light management penalty

More info:
FsP will detect how you set your aircraft's lights and give you penalty for improper use. There are three settings available:

Realistic light penalty: Works as in the "real world".
Beacon must be turned ON when an engine is about to be started.
Strobe and landing lights must be turned ON when you leave the taxi way and enter the landing strip.
Landing lights must be turned OFF above FL100 and ON under FL100.
Strobe and landing light must be turned OFF when you enter the taxi way after landing.
Beacon must be turned OFF only after you have shut down all the engines.
Nav light must be ON during the entire flight.

Simple light penalty:
Landing lights must be turned ON under FL100 and OFF above FL100.

No Light penalty:
No checks are made and you are not assessed any penalties for improper light use.

Default Value
No light penalty.

[CowlFlapsOpen]

Thanks guys. That is what I thought so I was surprised when a real world, active ATP in the B200 tutorial said to turn them off shortly after takeoff
and this was also indicated in the B200 checklist. Guess I'll just leave them on and replace the bulbs more often!

[Dutch64]

Some places in the world they even leave the lights on at all times. In certain places over africa they do and also afghanistan, pakistan, to kind
of identify themselves as "harmless"

[CowlFlapsOpen]

Guess l better leave them on over Bucannan Field (KCCR) then since I never bothered to turn that off after I purchased the demo!

[Cydon Prax]

Heya there, yeah, Im a RL pilot.. let me tell you..

You don't even SEE the Landing lights in the day, infact, unless it is night time, sunset, or sunrise, you DON'T legally have to have the
Landing lights on. Period.

Ofcourse, this is a sim-- can't get everything real!!

[Dutch64]

Of course i believe you but sometimes i go spotting and never ever saw a plane land or take off without the landing lights on?

[Cydon Prax]

BTW, sorry for the double-post but, Im not sure about the rest of the world-- I fly around Sin City (Las Vegas). The day anyone here follows
legal law, is the day the fabric of reality faulters into pure annihilation. But yeah, for us, we don't use Landing lights. Today I flew about 120
miles and I never turned the Landing lights on, infact, the landing light on my plane (N9572H) was inop, or.. broken..

[Dutch64]

Nice to read about all this, maybe it's different then for the major airlines and GA or so? Just guessing away here...

[Cydon Prax]

Yeah, definatly diffrence between GA and ATP's. I remember now seeing the Scenic airlines flight when we were holding for take-off with
the bright nose-wheel light XD.

So, here is your answer:

If your flying GA with 1 or 2 passengers in a small aircraft, leave-em off

If your in an A380 with 500,000lbs and about 400 passengers. Go ahead and put them on



Post Edited ( 10-31-05 00:31 )

[Dutch64]

Always great advise on this forum

[crowebird]

im flying GA during the day and I use the landing lights

--> student at KPTK

[CowlFlapsOpen]

All I could find in the FAR 91...no mention of landing lighs. Could be buried in others sections tho, still looking

PART 91--GENERAL OPERATING AND FLIGHT RULES--Table of Contents

Subpart C--Equipment, Instrument, and Certificate Requirements

Sec. 91.209 Aircraft lights.

No person may:
(a) During the period from sunset to sunrise (or, in Alaska, during
the period a prominent unlighted object cannot be seen from a distance
of 3 statute miles or the sun is more than 6 degrees below the horizon)-
-
(1) Operate an aircraft unless it has lighted position lights;
(2) Park or move an aircraft in, or in dangerous proximity to, a
night flight operations area of an airport unless the aircraft--
(i) Is clearly illuminated;
(ii) Has lighted position lights; or
(iii) is in an area that is marked by obstruction lights;
(3) Anchor an aircraft unless the aircraft--
(i) Has lighted anchor lights; or
(ii) Is in an area where anchor lights are not required on vessels;
or
(b) Operate an aircraft that is equipped with an anticollision light
system, unless it has lighted anticollision lights. However, the
anticollision lights need not be lighted when the pilot-in-command
determines that, because of operating conditions, it would be in the
interest of safety to turn the lights off.

[Cydon Prax]

Yep, pretty much says Night Only. Day is your leisure.