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BA's 747-400 Without Taxi Lights.

Qantas744ER From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 1252 posts, RR: 4
Posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 7280 times:

Hey, im wondering why BA doesnt have taxi lights on their 747-400"s they only use the RWY turnoff lights. Even their newer 744's dont feature this.

I also noticed that QF dont have them either exept on the 744 with GE engines including the ER's. And the new 744's VH-OJS and OJU

CX dont have any either. Exept on the Ex. SQ planes.

So are these airlines planning to install them or not ???

Heres the BA without taxi lights.

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Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Anthony Jackson

Heres a VS plane with Taxi lights.

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Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Mick Bajcar

As you can see the VS plane has lights over the runway turnoff lights.

So 2 different types of lights on the gear.

Cheers Leo

Happiness is V1 in Lagos

16 replies: All unread, jump to last

Qantas744ER From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 1252 posts, RR: 4
Reply 1, posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 7227 times:

Is there anyone that has info?

Cheers Leo

Happiness is V1 in Lagos

MCOflyer From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 8552 posts, RR: 14
Reply 2, posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 7217 times:

I never noticed it until you brought it to my attention. Thanks Qantas744ER. Now I know something new about 744's. Maybe a BA pilot can shed info on this.

MCOflyer

Never be afraid to stand up for who you are.

Alitalia744 From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 4657 posts, RR: 45
Reply 3, posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 7176 times:

Sorry you're wrong:

It's just a matter of whether the pilot uses them or not.

[Edited 2006-08-08 21:44:33]

[Edited 2006-08-08 21:45:23]

Some see lines, others see between the lines.

Mir From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 19700 posts, RR: 56
Reply 4, posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 7057 times:

Quoting Alitalia744 (Reply 3):
It's just a matter of whether the pilot uses them or not.

Which could be a question of whether it's dark outside or not. If it's daylight, there's no real need for the taxi lights to be on.

-Mir

7 billion, one nation, imagination...it's a beautiful day

KL808 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 1573 posts, RR: 2
Reply 5, posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 7044 times:

Quoting Alitalia744 (Reply 3):
Sorry you're wrong:

I dont think he is. If you look closely at the two pictures he provided, you can see that the BA aircraft has only 2 lights on its main landing gear, while on the VS B744 it has 4 lights on its main landing gear. Take a look.

Quoting Qantas744ER (Thread starter):
im wondering why BA doesnt have taxi lights on their 747-400"s they only use the RWY turnoff lights

This could be an option carriers choose. For example a lot of carriers opt not to have the tail lights installed.

Maybe somebody can clarify.

Drew

AMS-LAX-MNL

Alitalia744 From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 4657 posts, RR: 45
Reply 6, posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 7015 times:

Quoting KL808 (Reply 5):
I dont think he is. If you look closely at the two pictures he provided, you can see that the BA aircraft has only 2 lights on its main landing gear, while on the VS B744 it has 4 lights on its main landing gear. Take a look.

you're right, my bad, sorry OP

Some see lines, others see between the lines.

Qantas744ER From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 1252 posts, RR: 4
Reply 7, posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 6948 times:

Hey, thanks for your answers Big grin

Quoting Alitalia744 (Reply 6):

you're right, my bad, sorry OP

No problem Silly

I also found out that the earlier 747-400's didnt have the taxi lights and only RWY turnoff lights aswell. But after Line Number 900 or something like that the airlines had an option to get them. And i think because BA does have a lot of pre LN 900 they decided not to get any Taxi lights on their newer 744's even if it was an option. So its probably just to keep the costs for spare bulbs away etc.

But many airlines like UA did decide to retrofitt their 744's. And give even the older ones taxi lights.

So for now

BA
CX
QF
LH
JL
and Korean ( cant remember the code)
Dont have them.

Happiness is V1 in Lagos

Alitalia744 From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 4657 posts, RR: 45
Reply 8, posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 6929 times:

Quoting Qantas744ER (Reply 7):
I also found out that the earlier 747-400's didnt have the taxi lights and only RWY turnoff lights aswell.

I don't think this is it given the first 744s off the line for NWA had the taxi and landing nose-wheel lights. See below:

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Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © AirNikon

Interesting question!

Some see lines, others see between the lines.

Qantas744ER From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 1252 posts, RR: 4
Reply 9, posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 6827 times:

Quoting Alitalia744 (Reply 8):
I don't think this is it given the first 744s off the line for NWA had the taxi and landing nose-wheel lights. See below:

My Bad... lol Silly

so maybe operators that just didnt feel the need to have them??

Cheers Leo

Happiness is V1 in Lagos

CXB744 From United States of America, joined Apr 2006, 202 posts, RR: 0
Reply 10, posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 6744 times:

I think every B747-400 has taxi lights. Thats why they are at a angle. They can be pointed forward or turn to help the pilots see where they are going. The two lights on top are just extra "landing lights" to make the aircraft more visible when the landing gear is down as compared to having just the wing lights on.

What is it? It's A 747-400, but that's not important right now.

Qantas744ER From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 1252 posts, RR: 4
Reply 11, posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 6708 times:

Quoting CXB744 (Reply 10):
I think every B747-400 has taxi lights. Thats why they are at a angle. They can be pointed forward or turn to help the pilots see where they are going. The two lights on top are just extra "landing lights" to make the aircraft more visible when the landing gear is down as compared to having just the wing lights on.

Wrong the lights on the bottom are called Runway turnoff lights, the ones on the top are taxi lights and the 2 pairs on the wings are Landing lights.

Just look at the picture and stop playin smart Wink

And in no way can they be pointed foward.

Cheers Leo

Happiness is V1 in Lagos

Mendaero From Australia, joined Jul 2006, 62 posts, RR: 0
Reply 12, posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 6507 times:

Quoting KL808 (Reply 5):
This could be an option carriers choose. For example a lot of carriers opt not to have the tail lights installed.

The tail/Logo lights are required and all 747 have them installed, however you can opt for three lights on each side instead of the usual 2. QF has three on each side and even upgraded the three A/C that were purchased second hand I believe.

[Edited 2006-08-09 08:30:03]

FlyDeltaJets From United States of America, joined Feb 2006, 1623 posts, RR: 3
Reply 13, posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 6486 times:

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Quoting Qantas744ER (Reply 7):
and Korean ( cant remember the code)

Quoting CXB744 (Reply 10):
I think every B747-400 has taxi lights. Thats why they are at a angle. They can be pointed forward or turn to help the pilots see where they are going.

Those lights don't move. I think with the lightings is adequate enough. They are pretty bright when taxi in to the gate on shining in to your eyes.

My question os why do they flash before going off when the gear is retracted.

The only valid opinions are those based in facts

Mr.BA From Singapore, joined Sep 2000, 3423 posts, RR: 23
Reply 14, posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 5750 times:

Quoting FlyDeltaJets (Reply 13):
My question os why do they flash before going off when the gear is retracted

Flashing before moving off I believe is to tell the ground crew that they acknowledge that they see them with the gear pins I think. You don't see them flashing in the day.

As for the second one the taxi lights and runway turnoff lights turn off automatically when the main undercarriage leaves the ground on takeoff. These lights would not come on when the aircraft is inflight even when they are turned on in the cockpit. That is why many times if you notice when the pilots have those switches on when the aircraft touches down on the main undercarriage the lights come on automatically.

Boeing747 万岁!

Tristarsteve From Sweden, joined Nov 2005, 3691 posts, RR: 34
Reply 15, posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 4567 times:

Its also the same on the B757. Most of BA B757 have no nose taxi light. One aircraft, PEL I think, has a nose taxi light down between the nosewheels like most B737 have, but its the only one.

Qantas744ER From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 1252 posts, RR: 4
Reply 16, posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 2942 times:

Is there nobody from BA out there? with any info?

Cheers Leo

Happiness is V1 in Lagos

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