Recently, i have seen an increase number of users who dont use each light correctly. So lets take a moment and see if you are doing these the correct way.
1. Nav Lights
Navigation lights are used when the aircraft starts up from cold and dark at its gate. They are turned on for the entire flight from startup to shutdown.
The purpose for these navigation lights is to show other pilots the direction the plane is flying. Below is a poster to show you how to know what direction the aircraft is flying.
Beacon light is a red light that blinks on top and bottom of the aircraft every few seconds. This is used when the aircraft is ready for push and start and is remained on until the aircrafts engines shut down. This is to alert the ground crew that the aircraft is starting its engines soon and will be moving.
Strobe lights are used when an aircraft has recieved its takeoff clearance and is lining up on the runway. They are used for the entire flight and they get turned off when the aircraft lands and is clear of all runways. They are also used when you’re crossing an active runway. If fhe runway is not active, you wont need them on.
Landing lights can be used when you are taking off and landing. It is very important to turn them off when passing 10,000ft (Europe) or 18,000ft (America and south america). You turn them back on when passing the same altitide and turn them off when you vacate the runway.
A quick emendation: for now, since we don’t have a difference between landing and taxi lights, I think many users have agreed that using landing lights as taxi lights is acceptable for now. I’m praying we get taxi lights added in asap so that this no longer becomes an area of contention, as there are good arguments for both sides 😂
Just a small thing to note, the landing light rule is mostly true for the purpose of IF. However, it’s not necessarily a ‘rule’ per se, but rather guidance.
For example, at my operator (based in the UK), the landing light is on for takeoff at all times, then is turned off during the after takeoff procedure during the day, or the pre cruise procedure at FL100 at night.
During decent, as per SOP it is turned on when landing clearance is given, effectively as a reminder.
Furthermore, regarding the beacon light, although it does indeed signify to the ground crew that the aircraft has been cleared for push and/or engine start, it is more to signify to anyone in the area, person or aircraft, that the aircraft is in a ‘state of danger’, meaning it is moving or soon to be moving/operating.
That all said, this is a very good guide for the purposes of this game. If only more would listen to it!!
Yep, this is because in Europe, the VFR altitude limit it 10,000ft. Which is why you dont see see a cessna 172 at 12,000ft. Same goes to every other continent.
Amazing tutorial! The only thing i struggle with is remembering to turn my landings Lights back on Below 18K/10K feet 😭 i need a waring sound of signal to remind me im hopeless 😭
