United and Strobe Lights

[Trogdor]

Quick question for UA crews:

When taking the runway at night, why do you immediately turn the strobe lights on? It seems to me that all other airlines wait on the strobes until they have actually been cleared for takeoff and begin their takeoff roll so as not to blind pilots in near-by aircraft. I'm not trying to bash anyone here, just looking for an honest answer.

 

[Freight Dog]

Ah no... actually, it's not a United thing. It's a see-and-be-seen thing.

 

[Mach92]

Quick question for UA crews:

When taking the runway at night, why do you immediately turn the strobe lights on? It seems to me that all other airlines wait on the strobes until they have actually been cleared for takeoff and begin their takeoff roll so as not to blind pilots in near-by aircraft. I'm not trying to bash anyone here, just looking for an honest answer.

It's in there FOM I think. I will say the 777 is one bright strobe!

 

[N1atEcon]

SWA policy is to turn them on upon entering or crossing a runway. Pilots discretion when there are aircraft holding short at night though.

 

[conman]

In this day and age of reduced pensions, elimination of work rules, and the transfer of flying from the mainline to the reigional partner who cares what lights another aircraft displays or not. Give me back my pay, my work rules, my pension, my scope clause and then you can pimp me on the meinial bull
crap
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[lumax]

alaska has the same procedure in the FOM, all lights on when cleared into position and hold or cleared for t/o. I think strobes and landing lights should be off until cleared for t/o. Looking at all those lights when crossing the runway downfield can make anyone a little uneasy.

 

[Trogdor]

I just think that it is common courtesy to leave the strobes off until you are rolling, but maybe its just me.

 

[bmpilot2003]

Ill turn my STROBES on when i want! I want to be seen on the runway, and if it blinds you to bad.

 

[rumrunner300]

I just think that it is common courtesy to leave the strobes off until you are rolling, but maybe its just me.

Not really just you. I think that pretty much everyone used to use that philosophy. About the last time a controller put a metro into position in LAX and they got squashed and an incident at MDW with an ATA 727 going around with a 100 or so feet to spare plus, I'm sure many others. Many(including myself) said fu<k it and started turning everything but the kitchen sink on when taking the runway.

Strobes aren't as bright as a giant fireball.

.....

 

[Booker]

At my tiny commuter airline, it's strobes on when cleared onto or across a runway, and the "real" airline pilots on the mainline do the same. However, at my last airline, it was just the opposite: strobes off until cleared for takeoff.