I've always wanted to know this but have always forgotten to ask. What aircraft lights does one use and at which time? In other words, are you required to use taxi lights when taxiing? When do you turn your nav light into a strobe light? Do you have to use your landing lights when taking off...etc. Is there any clear list of rules to follow on this? Please advise and thanks!Mark

Nav lights have to be on day and night if the aircraft is powered, logo lights is down to company SOP obviously it increases bulb life if off during the day so saves a lot of money on large fleets. General rules -Beacon ON when engines start to alert ground staff.NAV ON when GPU or APU is on.Strobes AUTO or ON when entering the active OFF when vacating.Landing Lights on day and night when on the active (advised to turn them off in Low visibilty at night due to glare)Taxi - On day and night when the aircraft is moving, off before arriving at the gate is good practice so as not to blind the ground staff :)

Taxi lights ON when taxiing to the runway and back to the gate.Landing lights ON when entering the runway till your above 10.000ft. Down it´s the same, ON when under 10.000ft and OFF when leaving runway .

For commercial aircraft:1.Turn on NAV lights when you got electric power except from battery. I mean APU or GPU. Also turn on logo lights and wing lights as required(night time).2.Turn on red beacon lights before activate hydraulic power to let ground persons know it. This should be before pushback.3.Turn on taxi lights after you got taxi clearance.4.Turn on landing lights and strobe lights, then turn off taxi lights when you got takeoff clearance.5.Turn off landing lights when you climb through 10,000 feet.6.Turn on landing lights when you descend through 10,000 feet.7.Turn on taxi lights, then turn off landing lights and strobe lights after landing.8.Turn off taxi lights when you got to the gate.9.Turn off red beacon lights after deactivate hydraulic power.10.Turn off NAV lights when you make aircraft cold and dark situation.I want to know about general aviation aircraft. Anyone?

Thanks guys...that's really good info. Is it the same for GA aircraft? I assume it would be because it makes sense...Mark

For ga planes, you aren't required to have any lights for daytime operation. At night however, the FAA requires only nav lights and an anti-collision light to be operative. The rest of the lights can be used at pilots discretion.When I'm flying in the real world at night, I use the nav, anti-collision, and strobe lights. For takeoff, landing, and traversing any busier airspace, I'll turn on the landing light. during the day time, I'll keep the nav lights off since they are not very bright anyways