The Aircraft Electric Vehicular Lighting System
When driving a vehicle during night hours with minimal visibility, lighting systems can be very useful to see what is in front of you, be aware of surrounding structures and vehicles, and generally increase visibility and safety. On an aircraft, the need for lighting is no different, and there are various electric fixtures across an aircraft that provide for sight and safety. In this blog, we will discuss some of the main electric vehicular lights and how they provide for safe flight.
Instead of an aircraft headlight system, pilots rely on electric fixtures such as the landing lights, anti-collision lights, and other fixtures. Airplane landing lights serve pilots during low light condition takeoffs and landings, and they typically come in the form of powerful 600 watt bulbs that are oriented to face slightly downwards. To put the power of these lights in perspective, a standard car headlight features 65 watt bulbs that provide for nearly a tenth of the power that aircraft landing lights do. The aircraft landing light system is placed upon the nose gear strut or on each wing to illuminate a taxiway. Such lights may also point slightly left or right to aid in turns while taxiing. During the landing procedure, the landing light system will begin to illuminate the runway when roughly 200 feet above. It is important to note that, due to the immense brightness of these lights, personnel should not directly look at them to avoid visual damage.
The aircraft landing light system may not be present on every model of aircraft, however. For example, the United States dictates that only commercial and private aircraft that fly under 10,000 feet are required to have such lights. Because of this, many private and military aircraft are not mandated to have such electric fixtures. Landing lights are also only used during very specific procedures such as takeoff, landing, flying at certain altitudes, etc. because they may cause glare reflections which can be detrimental to the pilot.
Anti-collision lights are another system that is important for safe flying, especially in crowded airspaces and near developed cities. For safe flying, the aircraft needs to be aware of other nearby aircraft in the air and on the ground. To help in this endeavor, aircraft are outfitted with colored position lights that are placed on each wing tip. On the left wing, a red light is placed, while a green light is installed on the right wing. There are also white lights that are placed on the backs of each wing as well. Altogether, these lights and their placement allow for easy identification of an aircraft, and the direction that they are heading. Sometimes, landing lights may be used for an extended period during the takeoff and landing procedure as they can act as anti-collision lights. Across the body of the aircraft, other electrical vehicular lights such as beacons and strobes are placed for increased visibility. To make the process of operating electrical fixtures easier, the pilot has access to all lights on switches that are located on reachable panels around the cockpit.
When it comes time to begin sourcing the electric fixtures and aircraft headlight system parts that you need for your next project or operation, One Click Purchasing has you covered with everything you are searching for. One Click Purchasing is owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor, and we can help you find the aviation parts and components that you are searching for, new or obsolete. As a premier supplier of parts for the aerospace, civil aviation, and defense industries, we're always available and ready to help you find all the parts and equipment you need, 24/7x365. ASAP Semiconductor is an FAA AC 00-56B accredited and ISO 9001:2015 certified enterprise. For a quick and competitive quote, email us at sales@oneclickpurchasing.com or call us at +1-412-212-0606.
