Aircraft lights for see-and-avoid
Lights and transponder make aircraft visible to other traffic (TC AIM).
Landing light (AIM AIR 4.5): recommended, day or night:
- During take-off and landing phases.
- Below 2000 ft AGL in terminal areas and aerodrome traffic zones.
- Why: birds see lit aircraft in time to avoid them.
High-intensity strobes (AIM AIR 4.6):
| Phase | Condition | Strobes |
|---|---|---|
| On ground | Adversely affect ground personnel or other pilots (distracting on final approach or landing) | Off |
| On ground | Occupying active runway, including holding there awaiting take-off clearance | On any time |
| On ground | After landing, clear of active runway | Off |
| In flight | Adverse reflection off clouds or other weather | Off |
See-and-avoid responsibility (AIM RAC 4.3):
- Responsible to see and avoid other aircraft, and help others see and avoid you, even under ATC clearance.
- Keep landing lights and strobes on.
- Best practice: transponder at all times, even outside transponder airspace. Some collision-avoidance systems depend on it.
Trap: strobes on for see-and-avoid (RAC 4.3), except off on ground if they bother others, off in flight if they reflect off cloud (AIR 4.6).
References
- TC AIM AIR 4.5
- TC AIM AIR 4.6
- TC AIM RAC 4.3