.
For night operations, position (aka navigation) lights
are required and must be turned on. They consist of a green light
on the airplane's right
wingtip, a red light on its left wingtip, and a
white light on the rear (usually on either the
tailcone or the top
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trailing edge
of the vertical stabilizer). Position lights
aren't required for daytime operations.
Most
airplanes also have an flashing anticollision
light on the top of the vertical stabilizer. It
is colored either red or white. Also known as a
"beacon", it should be turned on anytime an
aircraft's engine is running - day or night.
FAR 91.209 -
Aircraft lights at night.
No person may:
(a) During the period from sunset to sunrise (or, in
Alaska, during the period a prominent unlighted object
cannot be seen from a distance of 3 statute miles or the
sun is more than 6 degrees below the horizon)--
(1) Operate an aircraft unless it has lighted position
lights;
(2) Park or move an aircraft in, or in dangerous
proximity to, a night flight operations area of an
airport unless the aircraft--
(i) Is clearly illuminated;
(ii) Has lighted position lights; or
(iii) is in an area that is marked by obstruction
lights;
(3) Anchor an aircraft unless the aircraft--
(i) Has lighted anchor lights; or
(ii) Is in an area where anchor lights are not required
on vessels; or
(b) Operate an aircraft that is equipped with an
anticollision light system, unless it has lighted
anticollision lights. However, the anticollision lights
need not be lighted when the pilot-in-command determines
that, because of operating conditions, it would be in
the interest of safety to turn the lights off. |
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Questions on the
Private Pilot Knowledge Test have traditionally focused
mainly on the position lights. But it's really no more
trouble to cover all the bases by also learning about
the anticollision light system. Remember: the
navigation/position lights are required for night
operation; sunset to sunrise. The anticollision light is
not required, but if one exists, it must also be turned
on at night (and should be turned on in the daytime,
too).
| Below are
four
sample questions from the Knowledge Test.
Except in
Alaska, during what time period should lighted
position lights be displayed on an aircraft?
Answer:
Sunset to sunrise.
During a
night flight, you observe a steady red light and
a flashing red light ahead and at the same
altitude. What is the general direction of
movement of the other aircraft?
Answer: The other
aircraft is crossing to the left.
(Note: the
flashing red light is the anticollision light.
It can be either flashing red or flashing white)
During a
night flight, you observe a steady white light
and a flashing red light ahead and at the same
altitude. What is the general direction of
movement of the other aircraft?
Answer:
The other aircraft is flying away from you.
During a
night flight, you observe steady red and green
lights ahead and at the same altitude. What is
the general direction of movement of the other
aircraft?
Answer: The other
aircraft is approaching head-on.
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