Can someone kindly advise what lighting procedures pilots use on the flightdeck during all phases of night flying?

 

Obviously whilst prepping the aircraft they flood the main panel but whilst taxiiing and taking off would they knock out the main flood to leave just the key instruments illuminated? How about the cruise and descent/landing at night?

 

I guess they can use flood lighting at anytime to carry out important work but bright lights for take off / landing would be very distracting?

 

Thanks!

I rarely use the cockpit floods and just rely on the reading lights that we have. If I am in something smaller like Cessnas or even the King Air I use a green flashlight to illuminate whatever I am looking at.

Typically at the gate it's flood lights are on. Taxi, TO, Climb, Descent and Landing will have the flood lights off to allow our eyes adjust to the dark and see out through the windows better. Floods on in the cruise for the most part, particularly if one of us is tired or there is lightning about, unless the airspace is crowded in which case we'll keep them off them off so as to have greater situational awareness with surrounding traffic.

 

Regards,

Ró.