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About Logo and other aircraft lights
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brodiebrazil
17 years ago
Just wondering at what point do you turn on the light that illuminates the tail logo...
Also for pilots who don't like to turn them on, what is the reasoning?
wilco737
17 years ago
hi Brodie,
we (LH) switch them on during the night, when we are on the Ground and climbing.
At about FL100 we switch off landing lights and runway turnoff lights and also the logo light.
And during approach we turn on all those lights again passing FL100. The logo light only by night...
WILCO737
tbanger
17 years ago
A lot of operators disable them because the lamp is often located on the top or bottom of the hori-stab.
That thing usually shakes itself to bits......well not quite, but it often causes lamps to blow frequently.
Especially on turboprops.
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When to use beacon, anti-collision, strobe, logo, and navigation lights?
The Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) is a great place to look for questions like this, and has this on
the subject:
4-3-23. Use of Aircraft Lights
a. Aircraft position lights are required to be lighted on aircraft operated on the surface and in flight from
sunset to sunrise. In addition, aircraft equipped with an anti-collision light system are required to operate
that light system during all types of operations (day and night). However, during any adverse meteorological
conditions, the pilot-in-command may determine that the anti-collision lights should be turned off when
their light output would constitute a hazard to safety (14 CFR Section 91.209). Supplementary strobe lights
should be turned off on the ground when they adversely affect ground personnel or other pilots, and
in flight when there are adverse reflection from clouds.
b. An aircraft anti-collision light system can use one or more rotating beacons and/or strobe lights, be
colored either red or white, and have different (higher than minimum) intensities when compared to other
aircraft. Many aircraft have both a rotating beacon and a strobe light system.
c. The FAA has a voluntary pilot safety program, Operation Lights On, to enhance the see-and-avoid concept.
Pilots are encouraged to turn on their landing lights during takeoff; i.e., either after takeoff clearance
has been received or when beginning takeoff roll. Pilots are further encouraged to turn on their
landing lights when operating below 10,000 feet, day or night, especially when operating within 10 miles of
any airport, or in conditions of reduced visibility and in areas where flocks of birds may be expected,
i.e., coastal areas, lake areas, around refuse dumps, etc. Although turning on aircraft lights does enhance
the see-and-avoid concept, pilots should not become complacent about keeping a sharp lookout for other
aircraft. Not all aircraft are equipped with lights and some pilots may not have their lights turned on.
Aircraft manufacturer's recommendations for operation of landing lights and electrical systems should be
observed.
d. Prop and jet blast forces generated by large aircraft have overturned or damaged several smaller aircraft
taxiing behind them. To avoid similar results, and in the interest of preventing upsets and injuries to
ground personnel from such forces, the FAA recommends that air carriers and commercial operators turn on
their rotating beacons anytime their aircraft engines are in operation. General aviation pilots using
rotating beacon equipped aircraft are also encouraged to participate in this program which is designed to
alert others to the potential hazard. Since this is a voluntary program, exercise caution and do not rely
solely on the rotating beacon as an indication that aircraft engines are in operation.
e. Prior to commencing taxi, it is recommended to turn on navigation, position, anticollision, and logo lights
(if equipped). To signal intent to other pilots, consider turning on the taxi light when the aircraft is
moving or intending to move on the ground, and turning it off when stopped or yielding to other
ground traffic. Strobe lights should not be illuminated during taxi if they will adversely affect the
vision of other pilots or ground personnel.
f. At the discretion of the pilotincommand, all exterior lights should be illuminated when taxiing on or
across any runway. This increases the conspicuousness of the aircraft to controllers and other
pilots approaching to land, taxiing, or crossing the runway. Pilots should comply with any equipment
operating limitations and consider the effects of landing and strobe lights on other aircraft in their
vicinity.
g. When entering the departure runway for takeoff or to “line up and wait,” all lights, except for
landing lights, should be illuminated to make the aircraft conspicuous to ATC and other aircraft on approach.
Landing lights should be turned on when takeoff clearance is received or when commencing takeoff roll at
an airport without an operating control tower.
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Here are some types of lights:
A beacon is a light that flashes slowly.
Strobes are the bright white lights that flash about once per second.
Navigation lights are the red, green, and white lights that are on continuously, like on a boat.
Logo lights are lights used to light up something on the side of the plane, and their use is optional.
Strobes and beacons are considered anti-collision lights.
Anti-collision lights, if the plane has them, should be used whenever the engine is running except when they
interfere with ground operations. Strobes do not have to be used all the time if a beacon is on.
Navigation lights should be used during night operations.
xpda
Where a beacon is present, general practice (and according to Lnafziger's quote from the AIM,
FAA recommendation) seems to be to turn off strobes when on the ground and not on a runway.
– reirab Nov 13 '14 at 17:33
Would it be correct to say that logo lights are a sort of vanity thing for airlines, and don't have
any sort of safety purpose? As such, is there any condition under which they are required to be extinguished
- when their light might contribute to a safety issue?
– Anthony X Nov 13 '15 at 20:17
@AnthonyX It can be helpful for air traffic controllers and other pilots to be able to see the logos on other
aircraft for identification purposes. This helps to prevent confusing one aircraft with another (though it may
be less helpful as a distinguishing factor in an airport like Atlanta where there are 200 aircraft on the
ground and 180 of them are painted in Delta livery.) Logo lights are generally aimed at your own aircraft, so
it would be unusual for them to pose a safety issue. Also, see Ralph's answer regarding visibility.
– reirab Dec 18 '15 at 16:36
Specifically on Logo Lights:
They're useless during the day, but they make the aircraft much easier to see from the side at night,
both when taxiing and in flight. Different carriers will have different rules; one such rule is at night +
below 18,000': logo light on. Above 18,000' and/or during the day, logo light off.
Perhaps the greatest benefit to the Logo Light is when crossing a runway -- gives dramatically more lit-up
surface for somebody at the 3 or 9 o'clock position to see (i.e. the pilot who is on the runway that you're
crossing).
That, and it's nice marketing to see all your company's aircraft sitting next to each other at their gates,
tails all lit up & looking pretty!
answered Mar 11 '15 at 23:35
Ralph J
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FARs are available online here.
91.205 says for night flight, you need position lights (the red, green, white lights), anti-collision lights,
and a landing light if flown for hire.
IIRC, it is customary, but not required, to activate the flashing red beacon any time the engine is running,
as a warning to people on the ground. This might be mentioned in the AIM, but I'm pretty sure it's not in
the FARs.
Edward Falk
I just read a comment by an FAA official (who's titles include CFII, where she recommends that the
rotating beacon power switch always be left in the ON position, as that can be a helpful totemic reminder that
you've inadvertently left your planes master switch on after tie down. – CGCampbell Jul 1 '14 at 13:12
In addition to the FAR and AIM, most commercial operators (and savvy private operators) follow guidance in
Advisory Circulars. These are voluntary procedures that describe recommendations on best practices to stay
legal and safe.
Since you specifically mention commercial operations, AC 120-74b is worth a read. It applies only to
taxi procedures but there are hundreds of other ACs about all kinds of topics. Beginning on page 11 there are
several pages about lights on the ground:
(a) Engines Running. Turn on the rotating beacon whenever an engine is running.
(b) Taxiing. Prior to commencing taxi, turn on navigation, position, anti-collision, and logo lights,
if available. To signal intent to other pilots, turn on the taxi light when the aircraft is moving or
intending to move on the ground, and turn it off when stopped or yielding or as a consideration to other
pilots or ground personnel. Strobe lights should not be illuminated during taxi if they will adversely
affect the vision of other pilots or ground personnel.
(c) Crossing a Runway. All exterior lights should be illuminated when crossing a runway.
There is a corresponding AC created toward flight training and single pilot ops as well.