Taxi Lights for Daytime Taxi

[NCherches]

How many of you use Taxi Lights for taxing during daytime operations?

I always do but notice many operators do not...

 

[2000Easyguy]

we do.

 

[SpaceBall 1]

Anytime the aircraft is in movement on the ground, the taxi lights are on.

 

[CRJCA]

I do as well, but then again I was airline trained, and we do everything with lights on. My corporate collegues were about 50/50 on it.

 

[XTW]

Yes.


X

 

[Gulfstream 200]

A/C moving, taxi light on.

I have flown with old timers who didn't like to "burn it out early" by using it, same goes with wearing out the radar...dont turn it on until face to face with a Level 5 storm. Save the magnetron.

 

[HawkerF/O]

A/C moving, taxi light on.

I have flown with old timers who didn't like to "burn it out early" by using it, same goes with wearing out the radar...dont turn it on until face to face with a Level 5 storm. Save the magnetron.

Yep. Always. The BS about "wearing it out too soon", how ghey. Old school old timer. Aviation is so standardized (beacon with engines fired up, Nav with APU/GPU, etc), you'd think people would want to let others know. Next thing you'll hear is that they don't jump all over the brakes when the mains touch!

I hear you on the radar thing. Flown with plenty who don't know the radar is gyro stabilized (in Standby), so when it wasn't being used, "OFF" which always equaled a CLUNK! We'd be taxing in and they'd wonder what all the loose avionics equipment is up front clanking around everytime we made a turn.

 

[NCherches]

Seems like Nav lights are only used by about 25 percent of corporate guys for daytime ops...

I use them on the ground with power cart, taxiing, takeoff but usually kill them with the recog lights climbing out of 18,000 ft. and then turning them on in the decent until unloading pax...

 

[91er]

It's always on when were moving - day or night.

Here's another one for y'all - who leaves the landing / pulse lights off in Position & Hold until you're cleared for T/O? We do, it seems that airlines do, but it seems that the rest is about 50/50.

 

[HawkerF/O]

It's always on when were moving - day or night.

Here's another one for y'all - who leaves the landing / pulse lights off in Position & Hold until you're cleared for T/O?

Argeed. Another SOP. Same for Landing. Only comes on with specific clearence. Cleared for T/O = on, Cleared for Landing = on. If you get in that habit, never a question or have to call and ask again. P&H only is for the strobes.
As for airlines; don't know what their reasoning is and don't care. They do lots of things that are simply unexplainable. Thanks for keeping this great topic going 91er.

 

[NCherches]

I use my 'Taxi/Recog' for Position & Hold and then go to 'Landing Lights' when cleared for take-off.

On my aircraft, the Landing lights simply add two additional outboard lights to the 'Taxi/Recog' Mode.

 

[captfred]

I do as well, but then again I was airline trained, and we do everything with lights on. My corporate collegues were about 50/50 on it.

I have been flying for major airlines since 1981 and smaller ones before that and have never heard of this. Our SOP's have us turn on the taxi flights for night surface illumination as required and when cleared for takeoff. The nav lights and red strobes top and bottom make us easy to see day or night.

 

[BoilerUP]

Anytime the aircraft is in movement on the ground, the taxi lights are on.

+1

Most operators at the places we frequent use their NAV lights on the ground power on the airplane, too....we do that and leave them on the whole flight.

 

[Rick James]

One of many things that drives me nuts: people that use the beacon for a nav light. Meaning, when the APU or GPU is operating they turn on the beacon.

 

[BoilerUP]

One of many things that drives me nuts: people that use the beacon for a nav light. Meaning, when the APU or GPU is operating they turn on the beacon.

I *do* see that a fair bit...

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

The FAA requests that you have ALL lights on while moving on the ground: Except if the strobes may bother someone else, AND: The Landing Lights should NOT be turned on until you are cleared for Takeoff.

If you have your taxi light on, it means you are moving. If off, you are stationary.

If you are on the runway, and your landing lights are on, most other planes (and ALL the airliners) will assume you are rolling for takeoff and will take appropriate action.

I like to do stuff the way the FAA requests...

cliff
NBO

 

[BoilerUP]

The FAA requests

I don't doubt that Cliff (it certainly seems to be a best practice if nothing else)...but do you have a source for that?

It'd be nice ammunition for some here fighting uphill battles...

In my airplane, the difference between taxi lights & landing lights is a slight change in brightness coming from the same 2 lights...so for takeoff we leave the lights in the "taxi/recog" position and weight-off-wheels they automatically become pulselites.

I also turn the wing ice light on taking the runway, turn it off above 10,000, and back on below 10,000 for landing.

 

[AA717driver]

I have been flying for major airlines since 1981 and smaller ones before that and have never heard of this.

Each airline is different. XTW and I were trained to use it as a "movement" indicator. You stop to hold short, turn it off.

Bulbs are cheap. Metal is expensive.

TC

 

[LJ45]

One of many things that drives me nuts: people that use the beacon for a nav light. Meaning, when the APU or GPU is operating they turn on the beacon.

I had a guy come tell me the Beacon was on with the APU running. Yes it is, I said. I wish I could turn the Nav lights on on the Learjet 45 in the daytime, but when we do that the switch indicators all dim and you can tell if a switch is on or off. I have complained to Learjet many times about this stupid situation, but factory checklist procedure for the Learjet 45 is beacon on when APU running. Now at night we can use the Navs with no problems and turn the beacon on at engine start. So, before you go tell someone something know the limitations of their aircraft.

here we go

 

[Gulfstream 200]

Cliff - I know many operators who put landing/pulse lights on taking any active runway....regardless if cleared for takeoff.

I cant imagine any tower controller (or airplanes) assumes you are rolling because your landing lights are on?

I like to be lit up sitting on a runway.

 

[LJ45]

Hi!

If you are on the runway, and your landing lights are on, most other planes (and ALL the airliners) will assume you are rolling for takeoff and will take appropriate action.

I like to do stuff the way the FAA requests...

cliff
NBO

Our POI is tell us to use only strobes when in position and holding, landing lights and taxi lights on when cleared for take off. That way aircraft crossing down field can tell when you are rolling. Makes sense to me, since it is hard to tell the difference between Taxi and Landing lights on some aircraft.

 

[ttflyer]

I wish I could turn the Nav lights on on the Learjet 45 in the daytime, but when we do that the switch indicators all dim and you can tell if a switch is on or off.

Wow! That's the dumbest thing I have heard in a long time. What was Bombardier smoking when they came up with that? I'm glad it did not carry over to the Challenger 300. Is there a service bulletin to allow use of the Nav lights during the day or are you stuck with it?

 

[LJ45]

Is there a service bulletin to allow use of the Nav lights during the day or are you stuck with it?

I am told something is in the works. All we need is a bright dim switch. We also have to turn on the Left side instrument lights for the APU ampmeter to illuminate.

 

[Kingairrick]

9/26/03 AC 91-73A

10. USE OF EXTERIOR AIRCRAFT LIGHTS TO MAKE AIRCRAFT MORE CONSPICUOUS.
a. General.
(1) Exterior aircraft lights may be used to make an aircraft operating on the airport surface more conspicuous. Pilots may use various combinations of exterior lights to convey their location and intent to other pilots. Certain exterior lights may also be used in various combinations to signal whether the aircraft is on a taxiway or on a runway, in position on the runway but holding for takeoff clearance, crossing an active runway, or moving down the runway for takeoff.
(2) Because adherence to the guidelines in this AC are voluntary and aircraft equipment varies, pilots are cautioned not to rely solely on the status of an aircraft’s lights to determine the intentions of the pilot(s) of the other aircraft. Additionally, pilots must remember to comply with operating limitations on the aircraft’s lighting systems.
b. Exterior Lights. To the extent possible and consistent with aircraft equipage, operating limitations, and pilot procedures, pilots should illuminate exterior lights as follows:
(1) Engines Running. Turn on the rotating beacon whenever an engine is running.
(2) Taxiing. Prior to commencing taxi, turn on navigation, position, anti-collision, and logo lights, if available. 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, 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.
(3) Crossing a Runway. All exterior lights should be illuminated when crossing a runway.
CAUTION: Pilots should consider any adverse effects to safety that illuminating the forward facing lights will have on the vision of other pilots or ground personnel during runway crossings.
(4) Entering the Departure Runway for Takeoff. When entering a runway after being cleared for takeoff, or when taxiing into position and hold, pilots should make their aircraft more conspicuous to aircraft on final behind them and to ATC by turning on lights
that highlight the aircraft’s silhouette. Strobe lights should not be illuminated if they will adversely affect the vision of other pilots.
NOTE: The SOP of turning on landing lights when takeoff clearance is received is a signal to other pilots, ATC, and ground personnel that the aircraft is moving down the runway for takeoff.
(except landing lights)


(5) Takeoff. Landing lights should be turned on when takeoff clearance is received, or when commencing takeoff roll at an airport without an operating control tower.

 

[waddawurld]

Unfortunately that 'dimming' issue is true on the Lear60 as well-- so while we would like to standardize, we do the closest thing.

 

[AA717driver]

I agree with G200. Ice lights and strobes on when crossing a runway--any runway (unless it's got big yellow "X's" painted on it).

TC

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

Thanks for the AC on lighting, above. I have read/done all the FAA/AOPA materials/online educational publications on airport movement safey and they all say about the same as the AC pasted above.

cliff
NBO

 

[stupidpilot]

What do you guys think about turning off taxi lights at night when holding short? Some guys say it helps landing traffic see the runway because they're not staring at your bright lights, other guys say leave them on so the landing traffic can better see you. I can see the point about being seen but I can also see the point used in the AC of not adversely affecting the vision of other pilots.

PS I hate some of the new GA planes that only have strobes and not a separate rotating beacon. They always blind me rolling down the taxiway.

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

We always do: Taxi ON for movement. OFF for stationary.

cliff
NBO

 

[BoilerUP]

What do you guys think about turning off taxi lights at night when holding short?

I think its great practice.

I hate some of the new GA planes that only have strobes and not a separate rotating beacon. They always blind me rolling down the taxiway.

We never use strobes on our Cirrus (no beacon) at night on the ground due to the destruction of night vision for us & other folks; the HID landing light & nav lights are plenty for folks to see and avoid us.

It'd be nice if more flight instructors would emphasize this technique to their students; lord knows I was one of the few who taught it when I was instructing at Purdue (their Warriors have strobes/no beacon).