Simviation Forums

1. What are navigation lights for and when should I turn them on and when off? And what are strobe/beacon lights for which come in one switch?
2. The taxi and landing lights are a bit to small and I don't uderstand how can someone even see them if it's not dark?
3. Are some of those lights used only at night? Which lights?

I'm talking about Cessna lights up here.

The Aircraft Owners Handbook will inform you of the correct procedure for operating the lights, etc, for your particular Aircraft*....

The Cessna 172 Trainer is a good way to learn...

...the rest is just practical, common sense....Coming in to land at night/poor visibility, and maneuvering around the airfield at night.

...just make sure you don't dazzle other Pilots on the ground... ;)...!

Paul...G-BPLF... 8-)...!

*...always study the Manual before starting the Aircraft...;)...!

"Cessna172sp_check" File in the Cessna 172 Aircraft Folder.

...more useful info...>>>

http://www.ifalpa.org/BILLS/09AGEBL01_U ... n_risk.pdf

For the US, the regulations are as follows (FAR Part 91.209):

Navigation Lights - On during all aircraft operations after between sunset and sunrise.

Anticollision Lights (Either beacon or strobes) - If installed on the aircraft, they are required to be on during all aircraft operations unless the pilot determines it would be unsafe due to operating conditions (i.e. you can turn the strobes off when in clouds to prevent disorientation).

Landing Lights - Only required to be installed and operational if the aircraft is being used for commercial operations. No regulations on when it's required to be used.


Beyond that, most US general aviation pilots use the following practice:

If the aircraft has both strobe and beacon, the beacon will be turned on prior to engine start. The strobe will be turned on before entering the runway for takeoff.

During both day and night operations, the landing light is usually turned on before entering the runway for takeoff. It is turned off after departing the traffic pattern. It is turned on again before entering the traffic pattern for landing. It can also be turned on or pulsed to get another aircraft's attention and make sure he sees you.

If both a taxi and landing lights are equipped, the taxi light is used for ground operations and the landing light for takeoff, landing, and air operations.

In my real world, and sim operations, I use the red, rotating beacon(s) at all times, along with the navigation lights, at all times.
White strobes go on when entering a runway environment, and stay on while airborne, and go off when leaving a runway environment.
Landing lights are purely discretionary on smaller aircraft such as light Cessna's and Beeches, but for commercial applications, and for my airline sim flying, my landing lights are on when entering the runway environment, and stay on below 10,000 feet. They are then turned off above that, and turned off when exiting a runway environment.
Taxi lights are on as soon as you start any movement on the ground, even in daylight conditions, and go off when airborne.

These are just my own operating procedures, and I'm sure you will see many different practices throughout the world.