UALPHLCS From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (10 years 6 months 3 weeks 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 1356 times:
I noticed for sometime that UA did not light up there tails at night. With the dark paintjob UA planes are black holes roving around the airport at night. I finally asked a pilot who told me that UA eliminated the lights years ago in a cost cutting measure. I think its time to replace those bulbs and get some free advertising.
United_Fan From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 7162 posts, RR: 8 Reply 1, posted (10 years 6 months 3 weeks 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 1331 times:
Really,how much would a couple bulbs cost ?
'Empathy was yesterday...Today, you're wasting my Mother-F'ing time' - Heat.
Trickijedi From United States of America, joined May 2001, 3266 posts, RR: 5 Reply 3, posted (10 years 6 months 3 weeks 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 1316 times:
Well there are other lights that are lit on, underneath and around the plane that make it visible. So the tail light isn't on? Big deal. Obviously, if the FAA didn't deem it safe then UAL wouldn't do it.
I'm not saying that it's an excellent idea on United's part. But it is pretty acceptable.
Its better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air than be in the air wishing you were on the ground. Fly safe!
Blink182 From Azerbaijan, joined Oct 1999, 5430 posts, RR: 19 Reply 4, posted (10 years 6 months 3 weeks 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 1297 times:
I heard the main reason for tail lights was for advertising. I believe this was started by TWA in the 70s on their 747s. In no way does this have to do with safety(although it may help in some cases).
blink
Give me a break, I created this username when I was a kid...
Kestrel From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2002, 93 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (10 years 6 months 3 weeks 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 1260 times:
I've also heard the reason for tail lights was purely to advertise the airlines logo, not as a safety requirement. All the a/c in our fleet of DC10's/Boeings/Airbuses have them, except for 4 of our 757's - which were ex-Eastern aircraft, and I believe around the 2nd,3rd,4th & 5th off the production line
Airbus Lover From Malaysia, joined Apr 2000, 3248 posts, RR: 10 Reply 6, posted (10 years 6 months 3 weeks 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 1255 times:
I think UPS has their tail lights deactivated as well. I would think that it is mainly for advertising purpose but it can (in a way) be for safety, well, at least to an extent anyway.
Bigo747 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 7, posted (10 years 6 months 3 weeks 6 days 5 hours ago) and read 1251 times:
FINALLY SOME ONE POINTS THIS OUT ! , i use to watch UA744 depart from AKL for LAX at about 8-9 pm ....which is pitch black and they never seem to have any lights on at all....so i could never got the reg of UA .....maybe its about time they either buy some light bulbs or change there c/s !
UPS Pilot From United States of America, joined May 1999, 867 posts, RR: 3 Reply 9, posted (10 years 6 months 3 weeks 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 1163 times:
UPS does not use logo lights. They are deactivated. This was done because it wasn't necessary to waste money on bulbs (they cost alot more than $5.00 as stated by a previous poster). UPS leaves from the cargo ramps @ most airports. These are typically nowhere near the passenger terminal. Even if they were they are so well lit you can see it's UPS. How many spotters are out taking photo's at night anyhow? The logo lights are usless for UPS.
DL_Mech From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 1761 posts, RR: 10 Reply 10, posted (10 years 6 months 3 weeks 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 1149 times:
Logo lights are a big waste of money. The bulbs burn out often (cost is $30-$50), use up precious maintenance man hours (MD-11's take about two hours to replace) and are another exterior light which could cause a flight delay (exterior lights are the #1 mtc. delay item at DL). I agree that they do look cool, but if I see one on, I'll go up and turn it off.
It's not going to the Moon.....It's just going to California
Mr.BA From Singapore, joined Sep 2000, 3423 posts, RR: 23 Reply 11, posted (10 years 6 months 3 weeks 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 1128 times:
Everyday there are 2 UA B744s that fly into Singapore from the US and never once I saw any of their B744s have at least one logo light turned on. Some of them even have their runway turnoff lights burned out!
ChrisNH From United States of America, joined Jun 1999, 3807 posts, RR: 2 Reply 12, posted (10 years 6 months 3 weeks 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 1121 times:
well, if you're a UAL pilot at O'Hare, at night, and the controller says 'Follow Company Seven-Five to taxiway Tango,' those tail illumination bulbs...probably the equal to a McDonald's Value Meal #6 in cost...would help out. I'm with the earlier poster who brought up the incursion factor. Even if you're not a UAL pilot at O'Hare, but rather a pilot for some other carrier, you'd want to be sure you were looking at the right plane if the controller said to follow some 'black' 757 from taxiway to taxiway.
UALPHLCS From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 13, posted (10 years 6 months 3 weeks 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 1094 times:
This really isn't a saftey issue. I knew that when I wrote the post. I didn't realize how much logo lights cost. 30 to 50 dollars per bulb times 2 on every plane in the fleet. UA has How many planes in the fleet? Roughly 500, so lets slit the difference and say the buld cost $40x1000 thats $40,000 plus add in the extra bulds for inventory and the labor to reactivate and replace the bulbs when they burn out.
I'd rather have my retro check so I change my mind this really insn't free advertising.
Ual777contrail From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 14, posted (10 years 6 months 3 weeks 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 1079 times:
chrisnh,
when you sit in a dark room while you taxi, you probably don't have that big of problem seeing the company jet right in front of you. While WE sit in the cabin and the lights are dimmed somewhat, we have a problem seeing the planes out our little portal, they don't have that same problem.
united has a cool paint scheme(IMO) and who cares if they don't turn their logo lights on. I would like it, that's UAL and remember we are hurting right now.
UALPHLCS From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 15, posted (10 years 6 months 3 weeks 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 1062 times:
UAL777contrail,
I just read the "other info" line in your profile. Chicago Bears to the Superbowl 2002 2003!!!??? Is there anyway I can take you off my respected user list. I need a new respected loser list.
Bears are going to be crushed tomorrow, by the team that IS going to the Superbowl this year. The Eagles baby all the way.
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