Fuselage Lights
requirements vary from one aircraft to another,
depending upon the aircraft type.
Fuselage signal lights are part of the aircraft
navigation lighting system. They provide a
method of visual signaling. When installed, two
Navigation Lights (Position Lights)
or more fuselage lights are necessary, one on the
top and one on the bottom of the aircraft. If it
Navigation lights on the aircraft attract visual
is not practicable to install the light on the bottom
attention to its position and heading at night. A
of the aircraft, such as a seaplane or a radome
standard minimum set of navigation lights,
obstruction, you install two lights. Position one
meeting Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
on each side as near the bottom of the aircraft
requirements for light distribution and intensity,
as possible. Fuselage lights may burn steadily or
is on all military heavier-than-air aircraft.
flash at a constant rate. On some aircraft, manual
keying of lights for signaling is available.
The standard minimum set of navigation lights
for night operations consists of the following:
Anticollision Lights
Anticollision beacon lights are an FAA
1. One red light on the tip of the left wing
requirement for all aircraft. Their primary
2. One green light on the tip of the right wing
purpose is flight safety, during daylight hours as
3. One white light on the tail, so it is visible
well as night.
over a wide angle from the rear
One type of anticollision light consists of two
40-watt reflector-type lights and a red lens
NOTE: The position for these navigation
assembly. An ac or dc motor rotates the bulb
lights is on a stationary surface to the extreme left,
assembly, causing it to flash 80 to 90 flashes per
right, and aft on helicopters (fig. 4-5).
minute. Slip rings provide electrical power to the
bulbs.
On another type of anticollision light, the
In some aircraft configurations, navigation
bulb is stationary. The flashing is caused by
lights burn steadily; in other configurations they
motor-driven reflectors in the light assembly.
burn steadily or flash about 80 flashes per minute.
Figure 4-5.-Typical helicopter lighting.
