Landing lights.L

[Chilli]

As I sit in the garden watching the planes come in, I've noticed that a few (only a very few) have almost flashing, more alternating landing lights. Does this mean anything or is it just a feature of that plane?

Cheers.

[anonymous-user]

Boeing and airbus use different flashing white position light combinations, they are on any time during darkness or low light. (I think the flashing double strobe white position lights are an airbus feature) A flashing red anti collision light is on all the time the aircraft is moving.

The white landing lights are a steady white light and are only switched on near the ground depending on the operator. There are numerous other lights but they tend to be all steady on or off.

Edited by el stovey on Thursday 23 September 07:59

[pushthebutton]

I think that some of the Gulfstream's have alternating flashing landing lights amongst others.

[Chilli]

el stovey said:

Boeing and airbus use different flashing white position light combinations, they are on any time during darkness or low light. (I think the flashing double strobe white position lights are an airbus feature) A flashing red anti collision light is on all the time the aircraft is moving.

The white landing lights are a steady white light and are only switched on near the ground depending on the operator. There are numerous other lights but they tend to be all steady on or off.

Edited by el stovey on Thursday 23 September 07:59

Oh no, these are deffo landing lights only, and are situated where the wing meets the fus...fuse....body of the plane. I was curious thinking it meant some sort of drama or equiv.

[Flintstone]

Wig wags.

Bombardier aircraft have them as well.

[Simpo Two]

To me a landing light is a big headlight to see where you're landing. Little flashing jobs are navigation lights, to stop other 'planes flying into you.

[mattdaniels]

Chilli said:

Oh no, these are deffo landing lights only, and are situated where the wing meets the fus...fuse....body of the plane.

Don't think these are landing lights. Maybe on a big jet. But not covered in JAA Air Law.

Landing lights are white and are generally a BFO headlight on the main gear. Forward facing, like a headlight, and helpfully at 90kts they probably light up about 10 foot of runway. Apparently in broad daylight when you are trying to land they make other planes drive away from you. Which is nice.

In the ickle planes like what I fly, the landing light is a token gesture in the nose cowling to make you feel somehow visible in the circuit. 50 hours bulb life, we'd really rather you didn't switch it on etc.

I can't remember verbatim the Air Law exam just this second, (shame on me) but basically - big white light in the middle of your windscreen = you are in a head on with an aeroplane, red little marker light = left wing of an aeroplane, green little marker light = the right wing of aeroplane, white little marker light = his tail and red steady light through 360 degrees = you are about to hit a hot air baloon. Or maybe a tall tower.

I havent got my pilots licence yet, you may have noticed.

Edited by mattdaniels on Thursday 23 September 22:58

Edited by mattdaniels on Thursday 23 September 22:59

[IforB]

Flintstone said:

Wig wags.

Bombardier aircraft have them as well.

^^^This.

Wig wags are the landing lights flashing alternately in the same way that they do on Police car or other emergency vehicles, some aircraft have them as the pulsing of the light can help you be seen by other aircraft.