Lights on the NG - when to use

[NG_Aviator 39]

Hi AllThe FCOM is not really specific about which lights to use and when.Stobe - FCOM says to turn these ON when entering the departure runway. Do you turn them OFF when vacating the runway after landing?Logo Light - I understand this should be on dusk to dawn... is it normal to leave it on the whole flight, or only below 10,000 feet?Wing Illumination Lights - not sure when these should be used or what they are for?Navigation Lights - are these only required dusk to dawn, or are they always on all day?Wheel Well - are these only for ground personel?Runway Turnoff - Are these only used for taxi, or would you have them ON for T/O & landing as well?KR's

[Chock 17,769]

The retractable landing lights are of course used for landing (and take off so you are more conspicuous). Note that they will be damaged if you have them out at speeds of over 250 knots. This means that theoretically you'd be okay to leave them out up to 10,000 feet because that's the normal speed restriction below that altitude, but since ATC can waive that restriction, it's best to get them in unless you think they will help make you more visible in busy airspace.The inboard landing lights are used both night and day so you are conspicuous, they are also often left on for the climb or descent up to and down from 10,000 feet in conditions of lower visibility.Runways Turn Off lights are generally only used at night on runways with crappy lighting.The taxi lights are used when the aircraft is in motion as a warning to other aircraft and vehicles in the airport that you are either moving or are about to move. Newer NGs automatically turn this light off when the gear comes up, but older aircraft have to have it turned off manually.The logo light as you might expect is basically an advert, but it is used for extra conspicuity in crap visibility conditions.The main nav lights are used both night and day, but they are only an equipment item that is required for a night departures, or for any flight that will fly into darkness. this is because you can tell which way another aircraft is going (toward or away from you) by noting which side the red and green lights are on. in daylight you'd be able to tell that from the fact that if it was getting bigger, it'd be coming toward you LOLThe strobes are typically turned on when you get to the holding point for the runway and off when you come off the runway. They are very bright, so they are usually knocked off when taxying to the gate, since other lights will be on.The anti collision beacons are switched on whenever the engines are running, and that includes right up to the point where upon shutting down the engines spool down to below 20 percent of N1, because at that point it is safe for ground personnel to approach the aircraft without risking being either blown over by the jet blast or possibly them or anything they are carrying being ingested into the engine.The wing lights are so the crew can inspect the wings for ice accretion or any damage at night.The wheel well lights are different for the NG than for other 737s, and so the rules for them are different to other 737s. They are intended to be used mainly for night-time turnaround inspections of the gear and downlocks etc. All 737s with the exception of the NG have a periscope-like viewing port arrangement in the floor to allow the crew to visually check if the gear is down when in flight, and because this is so, the wheel well light is a 'no go' item if it is busted on all 737s apart from the NG, since the NG does not have the gear viewing port, so the light would not help the crew to determine if the gear was down. The viewing port was dropped from the NG because it was crap, often getting too dirty or iced up to be of use anyway. You can turn them on and off from in the wheel well as well as the cockpit.Al

[zubart 5]

Stobe - Turn these ON when entering the departure runway. Turn them OFF when vacating the runway after landing. Logo Light - Dusk to dawn below 10,000 if they are wing mounted lights, whick tend to cause a glare to the aft seated passengers.Wing Illumination Lights - Check for icing on wings.Navigation Lights - All the time.Runway Turnoff - Below 10,000 feet. Turn off after exiting runway. Sometimes used to temporally illuminate the left of right prior to a turn. John Floyd

[NG_Aviator 39]

Cool guys.. thanks, didn't expect so many replies this quickly!I guess we are all spending a lot of time around these forums at the moment anticipating the next update!!

[Superpilotv2 2]

These are really good questiones. I´ll help you as much as I can.The Strobe Lights have to be turned on when entering the departuer runway and off whan leaving the destination runway. They must be on during the whole flight.The Nav Lights must be turned on as soon the aircraft is powered up by bat. They have to be on for all night and day opertions.Srooy, Chock beat me up!