Hi,My question is about the use of the various lights (wing lights, strobe etc) in the check list, it says to use them `as required` but I don`t know at what points in the flight each of them is turned on or off.Could someone please tell me (for each external light) when each is in use and when not.RegardsBernard

*As far as I know*Lighting pre-requisites vary depending on airline policy. The standard is as follows.During boarding and preflight, Logo and Nav lights are generally on.On pushback or just prior, Beacon on (to indicate an active startup in progress)Taxi lights as required during taxiAfter Clearance to Line up, or direct TO clearance, upon crossing the active runway holding point, then its Landing Lights, Turnoff lights, and strobes all on.These all remain on until generally 10,000 feet (regardless of day or night) at which LL's are turned off. LL turn on again descending through 10,000 feet, and the whole process is reversed with the strobes, ll's and turnoffs being switched off exiting the runway after landing..That

Usually I thought that they keep the landing lights on for the whole flight (except for taxi for takeoff and taxi for landing).Nick B.Continental Airlines 737NG Pilothttp://www.precisionmanuals.com/images/forum/800driver.jpg--AMD Athlon XP 3200+ @ 2.2 Ghz (Equal to 2.8 ghz)400W Power supply3x 80 mm Case FansSoyo VIA KT600 Dragon PlusnVidia GeForce FX 5200 128 mb2 x 512 PC400100 GB Western DigitalMicrosoft Sidewinder Precision 2

No NickLanding lights are not kept for the whole flight. Landing lights are turned off after take-off and turned on before landing. When this happens is very dependant on airline. Wing lights are used for inspection and de-icing purposes and is used on ground.Cheers,

I've also seen the wing lights on for take-off and landing. I know Continental and America West have every external light turned on for take-off and landing.

Sorry, I mean't to say strobe lights. Landing lights are on below 10,000, mean't to say strobes.Nick B.Continental Airlines 737NG Pilothttp://www.precisionmanuals.com/images/forum/800driver.jpg--AMD Athlon XP 3200+ @ 2.2 Ghz (Equal to 2.8 ghz)400W Power supply3x 80 mm Case FansSoyo VIA KT600 Dragon PlusnVidia GeForce FX 5200 128 mb2 x 512 PC400100 GB Western DigitalMicrosoft Sidewinder Precision 2

Yeah, some airlines do use wing lights when landing. Actually its beautiful too! :) But Runway Turnoff lights are not usually used within normal operations. They are such lights that bright up the area in about 45 degree angle left or right of the airplane, for example to see taxiway signs. But during taxi mostly only TAXI light is used as you have nothing to see there in the sides and its bad for other pilots to watch your turnoff lights when they are coming towards you. The lights can dazzle the other pilot so the less lights you have on, better it is for others. Taxi light is usually enough to see everything neccessary at nighttime, because the taxiway signs are also lighted already in larger airports. Somebody may argue now after reading my comments, but its completely dependant on the airline, but thats the usual thing they do that I explained.

Hi,Can you clarify which are the strobes, please? I used to think they referred to the red rotating lights above and below the fuselage, but these are in fact the beacon lights used to indicate an impending engine start(?). The strobes are on the wingtips with the nav and position lights. Or am I unenlightened :-)?Thanks,Frank

Strobes are the white frequently flashing lights in the wingtips (thats the case with 737). But some aircraft do have strobes for example in the bottom of fuselage. Strobe is the name of that light type. Strobes are working similary with the flash found in photocameras - a certain amount of electrical power is loaded and then flashed via the special light "bulb" - it creates an extremely good effect and is visible to far far away. Strobes ARE NOT the lights that have an usual light bulb and rotating mirror.Beacon lights are the rotating beacons with rotating mirror (though usually not simulated in FS) or flashing red lights, quite similar to strobes in FS, but coloured red. In the PMDG 737 the beacons are known as Anti Collision lights. Beacons are located in the top and bottom of fuselage with 737.

I have a question regarding the strobes. Do all airlines putt them on prior lining up the RWY?

>I have a question regarding the strobes. Do all airlines>putt them on prior lining up the RWY?Thats a general rule in aviation - if you have strobes, you turn them on when entering the runway and turn them off when leaving the runway. But as strobes are extremely bright, they are not used during taxi if you care about other people :). Strobes are also sometimes turned off when airborne - in clouds they put the whole cloud flashing at night and thats quite uncomfortable for a pilot :).

"Wing lights are used for inspection and de-icing purposes and is used on ground."I don't think the wing lights are bright/hot enough for de-icing he wing, Matt :( (Sorry, bad joke)Actually, the wing illumination lights are used in flight to see if there is any ice (the lights show up the ice better).Cheers.Ian.

AND they look cool at night! :)

Every plane I see take off from KPHX has their wing lights on. I can't think of a company who doesn't use them for take-off.

Really? Certainly one could just look up the hudreds of takeoffs on airliners.net and see if you can find just one 737NG taking off with the "wing lights" ON????Best Wishes,[h4]Randy J. Smith[/h4][h3]P M D G's 747-400[/h3][h4]coming to a runway near you[/h4][/font color]Caution! Not a real pilot, but do play one on TV ;-)AMD 64 3200+ | ASUS KV8 DELUXE | GFORCE 5700 ULTRA @535/1000 | Maxtor 6Y080M0 SATA 80 GIG | 512 DDR 400 | Windows Xp Pro | Windows Xp Pro 64 |