The aircrafts exterior lights are the illuminating language that enhances air and ground safety


August 17, 2020

Many people wonder about these lights, their different types, shapes and colors, and in this report we shall shed some light on some of these aspects. The outer lights of the aircraft are divided into two categories, some of which are used to distinguish the plane  preventing collisions and protecting what is around it. The other to help pilots enhance visibility from the cockpit, as well as aircrafts are equipped with a variety of lights used for navigation and safety purposes, and to improve visibility during the flight or when the aircraft is taxiing on the ground to alert vehicles in the flight yard that the aircraft is in motion or during the take-off and landing phases of the airport runway.

 

Among those lights that are characteristic of the aircraft are the navigational lights, which work continuously, as they help to determine the direction of the aircraft left and right, or to move away and approach, as there are red lights on the front end of the left wing of the plane and green lighting on the front end of the right wing of the plane. This in addition to white lighting on the tail of the plane, as for the beacon, there are two red lights above and below the fuselage that flash continuously before turning on the engines and until turning them off.

 

The flashing lights systems, which operate continuously * from the moment of approaching the runway until exiting from it after landing *. One also has take into account the location of the aircraft where the lighting becomes white on the front end of the left and right wing of the plane, and the lighting directed at the vertical tail of the aircraft becomes white in order to highlight the air carrier company logo and its trademark.

 

As for the visibility enhancement lights from the cockpit, there are taxi lights that are used when the plane is moving on the ground, warning vehicles moving airside that the aircraft is in motion. There are also landing lights that are used in the landing and takeoff phases, and the wing inspection lighting that contributes in snow detecting on the engines and wings. Furthermore, there’re white lights which are directed at the front of the wings and engines and are used during need. These lights are also very effective in avoiding collision, in addition to turning lighting that is directed at an angle to the sides of the plane when turning.

 

It is worth noting, that the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) conducts continuous checks on aircraft at Saudi airports and makes sure of this through periodic inspection visits to assess their compliance with operating companies with international requirements. GACA is also keen to achieve the best levels of air safety and to enhance aviation safety in the Kingdom's airports and airspace in accordance with the most accurate global safety standards. The Saudi national cadres are competent in the field of aviation safety and are a source of pride for those interested in civil aviation affairs in the Kingdom, as the percentage of national cadres in this field has reached 100%, with the help of some temporary international experts to support, train and exchange technical expertise for workers in the field of safety in the Kingdom.

 
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