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Aircraft Lighting Aircraft Lighting SystemsSystems

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OverviewOverview

Exterior LightingExterior LightingInterior LightingInterior LightingEmergency LightingEmergency Lighting

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Exterior LightingExterior Lighting

Specifically regulated by FARSpecifically regulated by FAR Requires several systems for Requires several systems for

transport category aircrafttransport category aircraft– Landing lights (FAR 25.1383)Landing lights (FAR 25.1383)– Position lights (FAR 25.1385-95)Position lights (FAR 25.1385-95)– Anti-collision lights (FAR 25.1401)Anti-collision lights (FAR 25.1401)

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Exterior LightingExterior Lighting

Position lights

Anti-collision lights

Landing lights

C-130 from www.af.mil

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Landing LightsLanding Lights

Light for night Light for night landinglanding

On wing leading On wing leading edge or landing edge or landing geargear

28V DC or 115V AC28V DC or 115V AC 600W600W Taxi lights, 250WTaxi lights, 250W

Boeing 757 from www.pbase.com/airlinerphotos/aviation_night

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Position LightsPosition Lights

Also called Also called Navigation lightsNavigation lights

Red on left wingtipRed on left wingtip Green on rightGreen on right White on tailWhite on tail 28V DC or 115 V 28V DC or 115 V

ACAC

http://www.aopa.org/online_gallery/

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Anti-Collision LightsAnti-Collision Lights

Red or white flashingRed or white flashing 40-100 cycles per min40-100 cycles per min Must illuminate the vital areasMust illuminate the vital areas Red beacon on vertical tail Red beacon on vertical tail White strobes on wingtips White strobes on wingtips Strobes or beacons on top and Strobes or beacons on top and

bottom of fuselagebottom of fuselage

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Other exterior lightsOther exterior lights

Cargo loading Cargo loading lightslights

Wing icing Wing icing detection lights detection lights (required)(required)– Cannot cause glare Cannot cause glare

or reflection that or reflection that impairs crew (FAR impairs crew (FAR 25.1403)25.1403)

C-17 from www.af.mil

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Interior Lighting Interior Lighting

Cockpit lightingCockpit lighting– Instrument lightingInstrument lighting

Cabin lightingCabin lighting

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Cockpit LightingCockpit Lighting

Instrument lightingInstrument lighting– Must illuminate each essential Must illuminate each essential

instrument and switchinstrument and switch– Direct rays must be shielded Direct rays must be shielded

from pilot’s eyesfrom pilot’s eyes– Must provide dimming controlMust provide dimming control

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Cockpit LightingCockpit Lighting

Interior lights to Interior lights to allow crew to allow crew to perform other perform other functionsfunctions

Not regulatedNot regulated Often red to Often red to

preserve night preserve night visionvision

767 Cockpit from www.boeing.com

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Cabin LightsCabin Lights

Varies significantly Varies significantly by aircraft type by aircraft type and purposeand purpose

Usually overhead Usually overhead fluorescent lightsfluorescent lights

28 volts DC28 volts DC

767 cabin from www.boeing.com

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Emergency LightingEmergency Lighting

Required by FAR 25.812Required by FAR 25.812 Must include exit marking signs, Must include exit marking signs,

general cabin illumination, floor general cabin illumination, floor escape path lighting, and exterior escape path lighting, and exterior emergency lightingemergency lighting

Must be battery powered and Must be battery powered and separate from main electrical separate from main electrical systemsystem

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ConclusionConclusion

Exterior LightingExterior LightingInterior LightingInterior LightingEmergency LightingEmergency Lighting

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References References

Federal Aviation Regulations Federal Aviation Regulations http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatorhttp://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgFAR.nsfy_and_Guidance_Library/rgFAR.nsf

Pallett, E. H. J. Pallett, E. H. J. Aircraft Electrical Aircraft Electrical SystemsSystems. Longman Scientific & . Longman Scientific & Technical. 1987.Technical. 1987.

Eisman, T. K. et.al. Eisman, T. K. et.al. Aircraft Electricity Aircraft Electricity and Electronicsand Electronics. McGraw-Hill. 1989.. McGraw-Hill. 1989.