Looking for some RW input regarding 737 SOPs dealing with lights.... Ie what is the procedure for runway turn off lights, wing lights etc.... Are the taxi lights turned on during approach simultaneous to landing gear extension ?

 

Thx for your help

 

Ryan

My way is as follows. Fixed landing lights on passing 10,000ft or FL100 if in Europe. Retractable landing lights on when gear goes down. Runway turnoff lights on oncei take over manual braking on the rollout. 

 

Landing lights all off once turning off the runway and replaced by taxi lights.

what is the procedure for runway turn off lights, wing lights etc

 

LANDING lights - ON when cleared to takeoff, OFF/RETRACT above 18,000 feet, ON when below 18,000 feet.

RUNWAY TURNOFF lights - ON during taxi, off at 18,000 feet, ON below 18,000 feet

TAXI lights - ON when taxiing, OFF when stopped, ON during takeoff, OFF at 18,000 feet, ON when cleared to land

LOGO lights - ON at night, OFF at day

POSITION lights - STEADY when electrical power is applied, STROBE & STEADY, when taxiing across active/runway, STROBE & STEADY when cleared to takeoff, STEADY when cleared of the runway, OFF when electrical power is shut off

ANTI-COLLISION light - ON when cleared to start engines/off when engines shut down

WING lights - ON when examining wings for ice or external walkaround

WHEEL WELL lights - ON during external walkaround or as needed by maintenance

 

Flight deck lighting is at the discretion of the pilots. Normally, the dome light is used during preflight and postflight and OFF during storms, other phases of flight.

LANDING lights - ON when cleared to takeoff, OFF/RETRACT above 18,000 feet, ON when below 18,000 feet.

RUNWAY TURNOFF lights - ON during taxi, off at 18,000 feet, ON below 18,000 feet

TAXI lights - ON when taxiing, OFF when stopped, ON during takeoff, OFF at 18,000 feet, ON when cleared to land

LOGO lights - ON at night, OFF at day

POSITION lights - STEADY when electrical power is applied, STROBE & STEADY, when taxiing across active/runway, STROBE & STEADY when cleared to takeoff, STEADY when cleared of the runway, OFF when electrical power is shut off

ANTI-COLLISION light - ON when cleared to start engines/off when engines shut down

WING lights - ON when examining wings for ice or external walkaround

WHEEL WELL lights - ON during external walkaround or as needed by maintenance

 

Flight deck lighting is at the discretion of the pilots. Normally, the dome light is used during preflight and postflight and OFF during storms, other phases of flight.

Great ! That clears things right up... Cheers !

So just to clarify the wing and wheel lights are strictly used for inspections? Any other phases of flight ?

 

Ryan

 

 

So just to clarify the wing and wheel lights are strictly used for inspections?

 

All SOP, so it varies, but:

 

Wheel well, generally only for ground inspection, yes.

 

I often see wing lights on by various operators simply as another means of making the aircraft more obvious.  Their main use is to inspect the wings at night for abonormalities in flight, or on the ground.  You may also see them referred to as "ice" lights for this reason, though they may also be used in emergency situations to identify slat position, damage, and so on.

 

I know DAL and FDX tend to illuminate them around the 10,000 foot mark.  I know DAL's been doing it since they had those stupid sound tube headphones (mid 90s?).  I recall a flight where I noticed the nacelles were lit up more strongly right after I unplugged my little brother's headphones and blew into the ends (akin to yelling at a stethoscope...I'm such a nice brother...I'm sure people here are not surprised by this).

[...]  I recall a flight where I noticed the nacelles were lit up more strongly right after I unplugged my little brother's headphones [...]

 

That is friggin' funny!  :lol:

So just to clarify the wing and wheel lights are strictly used for inspections? Any other phases of flight ?

 

Ryan

I actually use the Wheel Well light as a Cleared To Land reminder.