Exterior Lights
Position, anti-collision, landing, and taxi lights are common examples of aircraft exterior lights. Some lights are required for night operations. Other types of exterior lights, such as wing inspection lights, are of great benefit for specialized flying operations.
Taxi Lights
Taxi lights are usually installed on the nose gear strut and/or wings. Their purpose is similar to that of automobile headlights. Taxi lights illuminate the taxiway several feet in front of the aircraft so pilots can safely drive to the gate or runway.
Runway Turnoff Lights
Two special taxi lights, called runway turnoff lights are installed on the nose gear strut or wing roots. Turnoff lights are aimed to the left and right of the nose. Runway turnoff lights illuminate high-speed runway exits as the aircraft decelerates during the landing roll out. The lights are also useful when making tight turns on taxiways.
Landing Lights
Landing lights are the largest, brightest lights on an
aircraft. They are typically mounted somewhere on the wings, landing gear, or
beneath the fuselage. Landing lights have a very narrow beam (think spot light
instead of flood light) and are pointed slightly down so they illuminate the
runway during takeoff and landing. When landing, the lights begin to illuminate
the runway when the aircraft is about 200 feet above the ground.
Landing and taxi lights are extremely bright. They use 600 watt bulbs (automotive headlights are around 65 watts). Pilots and maintenance crews are very careful when using or testing these lights, especially at night. Turning on landing lights when ground personnel are nearby can cause severe eye damage.
ANTI-COLLISION LIGHT
There are a lot of airplanes in the sky especially near busy airports. It’s important for pilots to see other aircraft in the sky and on the ground. Anti-collision lights help make airplanes easy to spot, even several miles away.
Nothing attracts attention better than a super bright, red flashing light. A red anti-collision light on the ground means danger! Red anti-collision lights are located on the top and bottom of aircraft so a light can be seen from any angle. Watch aircraft as they arrive and depart airport gates. Crews turn on the red flashing lights just before aircraft movement and engine start. The crew turns off the lights after they shut down the engines and set the parking brake. Red anti-collision lights are also turned on by maintenance personnel when testing hazardous components like landing gear doors or flaps. Walking near an operating jet engine or turboprop is more dangerous than juggling chain saws. When ground personnel see the red lights flashing, they know the area is unsafe.
Position Lights
All aircraft have red and green lights on the wingtips. Red
is always on the left wing, green on the right. White position lights are
mounted on wingtips and or the tail and face aft. Position lights are often
called “navigation” or “nav” lights.
Red and green position lights were first used on ships in the 1800’s. Collisions were far too common in busy shipping lanes, so the industry began experimenting with position lights. The lights reduced nautical collisions so well, that they were eventually adopted for aircraft use. Pilots must use position lights from sunset to sunrise. Airlines usually require crews to use them all the time.
Interior Lights
Aircraft are equipped with interior lights to illuminate the cabin. [Figure 9-181] Often white and red light settings are provided. Commercial aircraft have a lighting systems that illuminates the main cabin, an independent lighting system so that passengers can read when the cabin lights are off, and an emergency lighting system on the floor of the aircraft to aid passengers of the aircraft during an emergency.
CREDIT: aerosavvy
Nice one
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