Strobe and beacon lights

[Guest s_L_Y_F_a]

Just a little question about strobe and beacon lights, under which circumstances do you turn them off/on? And are there any differences between night and day operations?Thx in advance

[adamv66]

Hi,beacons go on just prior to engine start/pushback to warn of engines running and they remain on until engine shutdown at destination.strobes go on when cleared onto active/for takeoff and remain on until runway cleared at destination - i think of them as "in-flight" lights.No difference between day/night ops as far as i'm aware.Adam

[falcon999]

To add... see before take off and the after landing check lists.

[Guest s_L_Y_F_a]

yes I know but a bit confusingbefore start-up checklist says beacon........both what means both? there is only one beacon switch.

[Guest Floyd312]

Hi Paul,I seem to recall from the 1st TRC that on the real aircraft the beacon switch has Off/On/Both positions. However, the switch on the PMDG is modeled with only On and Off positions. So, when the checklist says Beacon...both you would actually set it to "On" on the PMDG aircraft.I am currently at work and do not have the TRC in front of me so someone please correct me if I remembered this incorrectly.Edit - I just checked the TRC and it says the following: "(Note: We only model OFF/ON for the beacons due to some limitations of MSFS.... In the real airplane, you'd select BOTH)"

[Guest 102301636]

just a quick note on the strobes, you turn them on once you are clear of the ramp area...this ensures ATC can see you at night say on a taxiway...the reason they are not turned allowed to be turned on on the ramp is because they can cause epilectic attacks (so I've heard) they are left on then until just before you enter the ramp (when you are performing your after landing checklistthis is all regardless of aircraft model being flown

[lostmoon]

-out-

[Guest ColdBear]

Beacon to both just before pushback and startup. Strobes/Anticollision SHOULD always be on whenever the airplane is in the air or maneuvering on the ground, exept when it bothering the pilots or other ground personal.Martin

[Jeff Nielsen]

My flight instructor (real world) always taught me that strobes come ON at the hold short once cleared for t/o. Some people still turn them on along with the landing lights just before they call for t/o clearance (including me sometimes). You have to keep in mind for traffic on short final though when doing this. You should turn your landing light off at night while at the hold short so you don't interfere with the other pilots night vision.Most checklists do not actually account for the proper timing of certain events. They are merely to make sure you have done these things already. Most pilots are taught to memorize the checklist. You do the items then use the checklist to make sure you've done them. This varies by the pilots experience level. They are not on during taxi at all because they can interfere with pilots vision especially at night. They are also turned off in fog along with landing lights.I've never ever heard of ATC wanting your strobes on during taxi so they can see you.Further more, your strobes come off when clear of the active along with the landing lights and xdr to stdy. It's a part of every cleanup checklist I've ever seen.I believe the FAR Aim talks about lighting requirements more in depth if you want more info. The actual equipment will vary from aircraft to aircraft.Here's a piece of trivia for you all while we're at it: When is a landing light actually required for use during the day or night? And why do you see GA aircraft flying VFR using them?How many of you can get this right without looking it up? hehe.

[Triple7]

Hello,From BA operations:The beacon (thats the red one) is switched on whenever the aircraft is moving and/or the engines are about to be started/running.I.e. if the aircraft is been tugged the beacon is still switched on, even though the engines are off.The strobe lights (thats the white lights on the end of the wing) are switched upon entering an active runway and are switched off on exiting an active runway.They are never used on the ground (except the runway).Michael B

[Jeff Nielsen]

Correcto! The beacon means that the aircraft has power to it and is hot and is ready to start. When you see that if you're on the ground you better keep and eye out...lol.

[Guest s_L_Y_F_a]

so many replies much appreciatedbut I see the oppinions differsome say strobes on after leaving ramp and others say before TOHowever, my experience was on a flight from UUEE to EDDB with an aeroflot A320 that they turned on their strobes just after leaving rampand btw why do you turn off strobes and landing lights in fog?

[Jeff Nielsen]

Because they'll blind you!

[philbrown]

From FAA Advisory Circular 120-74A section 8 part b paragraph 2:"Strobe lights should not be illuminated during taxi if they will adversely affect the vision of other pilots or ground personnel."Full doc:http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_G...E/AC120-74A.pdf

[Jeff Nielsen]

Your link does not work, BTW. I noticed that is an advisory and not the reg though.Hence the use of the word "should".Still, no one with an answer on the landing lights 'ey?