Simviation Forums

Ok, I have been simming for more than a year and have mastered the whole, flying and mostly navigation thing but, I have yet to find a tutorial about when to use the lights. Like, when do I use the NAV lights and when to use the strobe etc.

There isn't really rules so to speak on aircraft lighting.  Instead I'll tell you what I do and what I've seen in my years in avation.

Rotating beacon - used any time the aircraft is running, some pilots never turn that switch off so the beacon will be on whenever the master switch is.

Strobe - Usually turned on when taking off, so as not to blind other pilots on the ground.  Many pilots turn them on as they taxi onto the runway.

Nav lights - For most small planes use only at night.  I have noticed many commercial airliners leave them on at all times.

Landing and taxiway lights - sort of self explanatory, except many pilots turn them on during takeoff or in high traffic areas for increased visiblity to other aircraft.

If I've left any out please ask me.

If I've left any out please ask me.

Panel lights - Used whenever it's too dark to see the panel instruments clearly....

LOL, I knew I was missing something.  Maybe if I turned on the lights...

flashlights - for whenever the other lights fail.

..as an Aeronautical Motorcyclist my rule always is...

"See and be Seen!"

So ALL my external lights are always switched on during the start-up procedure...

Everyone around me then becomes aware of my presence...

My generators may have a hard time keeping my Batteries charged but it always makes me visible to others... ...!

Paul...and the Lord said; "Let there be light"...so He switched his Beacon and Nav Lights on.. 8-)...!

..as an Aeronautical Motorcyclist my rule always is...

"See and be Seen!"

So ALL my external lights are always switched on during the start-up procedure...

Everyone around me then becomes aware of my presence...

My generators may have a hard time keeping my Batteries charged but it always makes me visible to others... ...!

Paul...and the Lord said; "Let there be light"...so He switched his Beacon and Nav Lights on.. 8-)...!

Thanks for the help

..as an Aeronautical Motorcyclist my rule always is...

"See and be Seen!"

So ALL my external lights are always switched on during the start-up procedure...

Everyone around me then becomes aware of my presence...

My generators may have a hard time keeping my Batteries charged but it always makes me visible to others... ...!

Paul...and the Lord said; "Let there be light"...so He switched his Beacon and Nav Lights on.. 8-)...!

Thanks for the help

...actually, a good tip is to read the Pilot Owners Handbook immediately on entering the Aircraft...

The pre-flight, startup, and shutdown checks, etc, in sequence are all listed there...including advice when to operate the lights...

Have a peek at the POH for the default Cessna 172 Trainer. Once you have got used to the procedures, you can generally apply them automatically on most aircraft......!

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