Simviation Forums

Can you use BCN and Strobes in Taxi I have a plane that when you filp the switch it does BCN and Strobes

Sure you can! But I don't believe that is the way to do it..

I don't think you want your strobe on to taxi, perhaps the beacon, but I don't know anything about real world stuff..

 Well, this goes back to real "old school" before there were "strobes", but the normal porceedure was to have the beacon on any time the engine was running, and the "position lights" (includes strobes) on any time the aircraft was moving, inlcuding taxi.

Ken

In real life, (for me anyway):

beacon is on all the time from before engine start until after shutdown. nav lights are on at night all the time. strobes are on most of the time, unless your blinding the ramp guy.

all the lights you have are on for takeoff (except ice inspection lights obviously). Ony the taxi light is used during taxi if you're anywhere near other people/aircraft. Tip: if you're head-to-head with a 777, don't leave the landing light on. They're just itching for an excuse to flash every light they have in your direction (I speak from experience here......)  :o

And as the ramp guy is guiding you to a stop, go ahead and kill the taxi light once you're nearly stopped so he can still see to roll out the red rug for you....

In real life for me... it's the strobes that are on BEFORE the engine start, and off AFTER the engine cutoff.

 Like I said, what I said above is real "old school" military. Here is the currect FAR:

[quote] Tip: if you're head-to-head with a 777, don't leave the landing light on. They're just itching for an excuse to flash every light they have in your direction (I speak from experience here......)

In short-

Strobes should not be turned on until you're on the active for commercial jet operations.  Try hitting "o" to turn strobes on seperate from beacon.

I've noticed in FS2004, AI aircraft turn off their strobes when stopped. I take it from this thread that's not correct.

Here's something i know from an authentic source.....

The strobe lights and landing lights should never be switched on when taxing, until on the runway.

If you notice any planes in reality (or videos) you'll see that the strobe and landing lights are switched 'on' as soon as the plane is on the runway (before take off) and switched 'off' when exiting the runway (after landing). The main reason for this (i was told) was to avoid other pilots who are taxing from temporary blinding caused by these powerful lights.

The taxi lights should also be switched on only when taxing and not while push back.

The beacon lights (not too sure, but 99%) should be switched on prior to engine start. This is to show that the aircraft is all set to go. The nav lights then follow.


Regards........
vohy

P.S - Notice the AI planes, they too follow a very similar procedure.

I turn my Lights on when I get clearence to take off on active runway .