Hey,

I took the plunge and got the PMDG 737 :-)

I've watched a few YouTube videos on lights and most are just simmers not pilots and leave me a bit uncertain on the info they give.

Anyway - is there a good explanation on what lights should be used when, taxi, landing, under 10,000ft, on the gate, when running etc..

 

18 minutes ago, kiwis said:

Hey,

I took the plunge and got the PMDG 737 🙂

I've watched a few YouTube videos on lights and most are just simmers not pilots and leave me a bit uncertain on the info they give.

Anyway - is there a good explanation on what lights should be used when, taxi, landing, under 10,000ft, on the gate, when running etc..

 

I suppose this is your first real airliner. I can recommend wholeheartedly 737NG Driver on youtube, he's got a whole tutorial series out there for anything and everything on the 737, and he's not only a real 737 pilot, but also a very good and factual youtuber, who makes you learn a lot about the 737 and procedures. He also has a very nice and calm voice, I think I would have loved to have him as an instructor or line training captain. He's the user "Emi" on the PMDG forum, if you happen to come across him over there.

Anyway to your question:
1) When loading into the plane: Strobe lights down to "steady" (that's your classic nav or position light), and logo light on if it's dark.
2) Before pushback and engine start: "Anti collision lights" on (that's your classic beacon light)
3) After pushback turn on "Runway turnoff lights" left and right.
4) When starting to taxi "taxi lights" on.
5) When entering or crossing a runway: Strobe lights up on "Strobe" (turn them down to "steady" again after leaving the runway, either after crossing or after landing).
6) When cleared for takeoff "landing lights" on
7) When takeoff is over and you have time turn off taxi and runway turnoff lights.
8 ) At 10000 feet landing lights off, also logo lights off if you had them on.
...
9) On approach at 10000 feet descending landing lights on, also logo light on if it's dark (you can do the logo light later on approach, if you want to, it's more "advertizing" the airline and not really safety related)
10) On final approach before landing runway turnoff lights and taxi lights on.
11) After landing when leaving the runway strobe lights down to steady
12) When entering the gate taxi lights and turnoff lights off.
13) After engines are switched off at the gate turn anti collison lights off (officially after N2 [not N1!] is <20%)
14) If it's a turnaround, you are done. If it's the last flight you turn off the remaining lights, like logo light and strobe/steady to the middle position (off)

As for the other lights: Wing is for icing check when it's dark, some airlines turn them on always when it's dark and taking off / landing, in case of an emergency evacuation so the pax can see the wings where they have to leave the aircraft at night; wheel well is for maintenance on the ground or a walkaround at night or for pushback at night (so the tug driver sees where he's working with the bypass pin)

Most important is landing lights, anti-collision lights when engines running, strobe lights on the runway / in the air, and taxi lights when taxiing. It's not that different from GA aircraft.



 

Edited June 5, 20223 yr by Fiorentoni

Hello!

At the gate - At nighttime, you can turn on the tail light / logo light and the position lights / wing lights.  For daylight operations only the position lights.

Prior to pushback - For nighttime operations, All of the above Plus the wheel well lights and the beacon.  For daylight operations, only the beacon is necessary.

For taxi - Turn off the wheel well light after pushback disconnect and after that, it's all of the above plus taxi lights (all of them for nighttime and only the main taxi light for daylight operations)

After takeoff clearance by the tower, turn on landing lights plus strobes.

After takeoff and above 500ft, turn off all taxi lights.  After reaching initial altitude target, you can turn off landing lights.  You can turn on landing lights while airborne at night to get seen by other aircraft during nighttime operations at your discretion (does not apply to the sim)

During final approach - turn on landing lights and taxi lights (all taxi lights on during nighttime operations and only the center one for daylight operations)

After landing, turn off landing lights and strobes.

Before reaching the gate, you can turn off taxi lights during daylight and nighttime operations at your discretion to not blind the ground crew.

Hope this helps!