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United and Strobe Lights

  • Thread starter Thread starter Trogdor
  • Start date Start date
  • Watchers Watchers 24

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Trogdor

Burninating the Peasants
Joined
Nov 11, 2005
Posts
419
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.
 
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!
 
SWA policy is to turn them on upon entering or crossing a runway. Pilots discretion when there are aircraft holding short at night though.
 
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
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
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.
 
I just think that it is common courtesy to leave the strobes off until you are rolling, but maybe its just me.
 
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.

.....
 
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.
 
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.

Alaska turns landing lights on when cleared into position and hold? This is contrary to the FAA guidance in AC 120-74A which says that landing lights should be turned on only when takeoff clearance is received.

The same AC also says that strobe lights should not be illuminated taking the runway if they will adversely affect the vision of other pilots.
 
Alaska turns landing lights on when cleared into position and hold? This is contrary to the FAA guidance in AC 120-74A which says that landing lights should be turned on only when takeoff clearance is received.

They know it and don't care.

"We're cleared across 16L and someone's either taking off, or it's Alaska. Do you feel lucky?" :rolleyes:
 
Most FOM's have something in them about pilot's discretion when other aircraft are behind you and holding short. But remember, this is Untied (spelling intended) we're talking about. There is a famous quote: "United hired gentlemen with the expectation of training them to become pilots, Northwest hired pilots hoping to train them to become gentlemen. To date, despite their best efforts, neither carrier can be considered successful." So just be glad you can see them and get out of the way!:beer:
 
It really depends on the airline. At my old airline, ACA, it was just like UAL - strobes on when taking position. At AA, we never turn strobes on until cleared for takeoff. Actually on the Md80 you cannot even turn strobes on, they come on automatically when the nosewheel lifts off. So it just depends on what airline you fly for. Some airlines have a religious lights on policy (UAL, Jetblue, DAL, CAL, Alaska, SWA) and some others are more at the pilot's discretion (AA, NWA, AWA, USair).
 
At XJT it is taxi and inspection light on for pos/hold, and stobes and landing lights on when TO clearance is recieved. If the takeoff rwy is also in use for landing I usually throw the strobes on as well.
 
I don't turn the headlights on on my car until I am actually on the highway.


just my lame contribution to the worst thread ever.


Sincerely,

B. Franklin
 
Give me a break fellas - is this actually a thread? Who cares! What silly sh*t. Do you taxi at 13 or 14 knots? In a fighter you taxi at 25 knots, at SWA you taxi at 50...I say potatoe, you say pototoe.
 

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