Landing Lights On The B747 — Civil Aviation Forum

Sponsor Message:


My Starred Topics \| Profile \| New Topic \| Forum Index \| Help \| Search

Landing Lights On The B747

Mr.BA From Singapore, joined Sep 2000, 3423 posts, RR: 23
Posted (11 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 1939 times:

Just wonddering if anyone could help me here. I think it's kind of a silly question but nevertheless I am interested to know. There are 4 lights on the wing (2 each) and I see that they normally have them all on. But I have seen too that out of the 4, only 2 were turned on(one on each side, normally in the day). What controls determine how many lights are on? I think if you have you the landing gear lowered and have the landing lights on it will be at full brightness while when the gear is up it won't be as bright? And, when do pilots normally off the landing lights after departure?

Click for large version

Photo © Philippe noret

Thanks very much and have a nice weekend ahead.

alvin

Boeing747 万岁!

8 replies: All unread, jump to last

GE From Singapore, joined Mar 2000, 320 posts, RR: 7
Reply 1, posted (11 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 1889 times:

Hi Alvin:
As you can see from the picture below of a B744 cockpit (ext. lights section), there are separate controls for landing lights: inboard and outboard. Hope that answers your first question.

I'm not sure about the brightness thingy, but I don't think the pilots have control over that.

The landing lights are turned on after receiving takeoff clearance and are turned off after 10,000 feet. They are turned on again after passing 10,000 ft during descent and turned off after leaving the runway.

I hope I helped! Big grin

Apuneger From Belgium, joined Sep 2000, 3026 posts, RR: 13
Reply 2, posted (11 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 1880 times:

Isn't it strange that Boeing didn't put the landing light levers in the very same order as they really are, i.e. Left 2 and Right 2?

I just noticed this. But I'm sure they had a good reason to put the levers the way they are.

Ivan

Ivan Coninx - Brussels Aviation Photography

777236ER From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR:
Reply 3, posted (11 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 1864 times:

Apunegar, because pilots seldom want to control the lights on a single side. What's the point? With that arrangement, the pilot can easily adjust the outboard, then inboard lights.

AJ From Australia, joined Nov 1999, 2376 posts, RR: 27
Reply 4, posted (11 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 1857 times:

On the B747-400 the outboard lights shine down at a greater angle to be effective at approach attitudes at night. The inboards shine forward, so are good for taxiing. Our company runs the inboards as collision avoidance and recognition, so they are used day and night. Outboards are used only at night.
You are right about the intensity, they dim once airborne.
On a departure the outboards are turned off at 500' (at night) and the inboards at 10,000'. On approach it is the reverse.

NWA742 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR:
Reply 5, posted (11 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 1848 times:

I think only 2 of the lights are used during taxi, but on takeoff and landing, all 4 are used.

Mr.BA From Singapore, joined Sep 2000, 3423 posts, RR: 23
Reply 6, posted (11 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 1818 times:

One thing I have noticed about BA B744s. The pilots, while taxying at night, only turn on lights on one wing (for example, left inboard and left outboard). They turn on lights on the left side before they turn left and off the right side but turn on the right side and of the left side before turning right. Is there any special reason to this?

I have seen B747s take-off with only landing lights on, without the runway turn-off and taxi lights on the nose gear. Any reasons for the pilots to decide on this? Is it true that the nose's runway turn-off and taxylights will turn off automatically once the plane gets airborne (if they are turned on during take-off)? I think it has something go to do with ground to air sensing mode?

Thanks everyone.

Boeing747 万岁!

Mr.BA From Singapore, joined Sep 2000, 3423 posts, RR: 23
Reply 7, posted (11 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 1817 times:

Sorry for posting another post. A few more questions came to mind Big grin

I it possible to turn on one runway-turn-off lights(left on right off for eg)? I have read that if there are very thick for and poor visibility, landing lights need not be turned on because it might further reduce visibility (reflection by fog), wouldn't it be dangerous, imagine a 77 landing without lights except the strobe and beacon?

I look forward to my flight to MEL the coming friday to MEL on the B744 with Qantas. Smile

Thanks again

alvin

Boeing747 万岁!

Mr.BA From Singapore, joined Sep 2000, 3423 posts, RR: 23
Reply 8, posted (11 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 1785 times:

Anyone?

Boeing747 万岁!

Top Of Page

Forum Index

This topic is archived and can not be replied to any more.

Printer friendly format

Similar topics: