How are you using your Landing Light?

[BigTex]

I was watching a YouTube video and it struck me how different this pilot used his landing light.  He used it anytime he was taking off, landing and crossing active runways.  I was struck how he incorporates his landing light into his SOP.  I typically only use my landing light at night.  What's your landing light SOP?

[DaV8or]

Your poll has no option for me. I have an LED landing light, so it goes on just prior to taking the runway and it stays on until I exit the runway.

[Ned Gravel]

Mine only draws 8 amps now (HID) so I leave it on practically all the time.

[Rwsavory]

I switch it on for all takeoffs and landings.  It dramatically improves visibility to traffic.

[carusoam]

I'm going to need an engineering solution...

I have the landing and taxi lights in the wing and wing tips. Really nice until you forget to turn them off whilst taxiing or standing still. The result is melted plastic lenses.

Has anyone gone with an LED solution in the wing/wing tip mounted lights?

Best regards,

-a-

[BigTex]

Your poll has no option for me. I have an LED landing light, so it goes on just prior to taking the runway and it stays on until I exit the runway.

 

Your poll has no option for me. I have an LED landing light, so it goes on just prior to taking the runway and it stays on until I exit the runway.

Added your option...

[Gilt]

On when A/C is Taxiing ...On when cleared for takeoff ...On when cleared to land. Nav lights on when A/C has power... Crossing runways strobe lights on. Landing and Nav lights are LED.

[Bennett]

Wingtip LED "recognition" (landing) lights (wig wag), and LED strobe lights are on from the moment of startup to shutdown. Landing light (HID Boom Box) is on whenever the weather is murky or hazy, and always for landings - at least 10 miles out.

[jetdriven]

Mine is ON at all times, taxi, crossing active runways, takeoff, cruise, descent, and landing.  I will turn it off above 10K, and at night when the glare is distracting, or it might mess with someone's night vision white taxiing. . But usually, on.  HID's have a 2K hr life limit, LED's are unlimited. I wouldnt be so generous if it was the GE 4522, which is a 40$ bulb and lasts 20 hours.

[M20F-1968]

Taxi and Landing lights are HID in wings.  Nav, tail light, and white "tail lights" on wing tips and beacon are all LED's.  Strobes are on wingtips.

 

Beacon and NAV on any time plane is running.  Taxi or landing lights on in airport environment,  for take-offs and landings as appropriate and for ascents and descents..  Nav on at all time.  Strobes on when not in clouds.   Ice light when needed.  Landing light off in cruise flight when glare is distracting or will degrade night vision, unless in high traffic area where risk benefit is weighted towards leaving it on.

 

John Breda

[Rhumbline]

Mine is ON at all times, taxi, crossing active runways, takeoff, cruise, descent, and landing.  I will turn it off above 10K, and at night when the glare is distracting, or it might mess with someone's night vision white taxiing. . But usually, on.  HID's have a 2K hr life limit, LED's are unlimited. I wouldnt be so generous if it was the GE 4522, which is a 40$ bulb and lasts 20 hours.

 

 

Mine is a GE 4522. It is not uncommon for me to turn it on only once per year. My A&P/IA likes to verify that it works during the annual inspection. Ditto my heated pitot tube and probably some other equipment that I can't think of right now.

 

For anyone needing GE 4522's, you might check out bulbamerica.com.  I've been buying these there for under $19 with reasonable shipping rates.  I believe that they also stock other P/N's but cannot comment on those.

 

For what it's worth to anyone: Excepting low light, night or poor visibility conditions, ON while taxiing on or crossing a runway, when taking a runway for departure and remains ON until clear of the pattern or longer if there is reported/suspected traffic, before entering the pattern unless there is reported/supected traffic in which case it comes ON sooner and OFF when clear of the runway.  Always ON in congested airspace.

 

I've never given much thought to the expense of light bulbs beyond how cheap I can buy them but I have often contemplated the bewildered terror one might experience having survived the break-up and while plummeting toward the inevitable.   

[TWinter]

Just changed to LED..Will be on always now

[flyboy0681]

Since the life expectancy of our Boom Beam is 5000 hours, it's on all the time. Cant't hurt.

[Wildhorsesracing]

Mine is on anytime I am within 10 miles of an airport - takeoff or landing.  I have an LED light that is bright blue and very easy to spot from a distance.  It is in my takeoff and landing checklists, right after 'turn on boost pump'.

[201er]

I have an LED landing light so it comes on when I start to roll out of the ramp and stays on until I come to a stop at the other end. Barely draws anything and don't have to replace bulbs so the extra visibility is worth it (esp cause there's no beacon). I treat it as a running light as well as the LED nav lights.

 

Actually the only time I may end up turning my landing light off in flight is at night when it's reflecting off my prop too much and ruining my night vision.

[WardHolbrook]

 

[WardHolbrook]

Your poll has no option for me. I have an LED landing light, so it goes on just prior to taking the runway and it stays on until I exit the runway.

Kudos to you. I wish everyone was as conscientious as your are. I wish there was a pulse light option in this poll because they may you stand out even more - day or night. For me, in anything I'm flying, the lights are on for takeoff and landing. (In the jets, they're on below FL180.) The "prime directive" when it comes to collision avoidance is, was and always will be - See and Be Seen. Running your lights - day and night - makes it easier for you to see and be seen. Who could possibly argue with that?   

[fantom]

I have the landing and taxi lights in the wing and wing tips. Really nice until you forget to turn them off whilst taxiing or standing still. The result is melted plastic lenses.

Has anyone gone with an LED solution in the wing/wing tip mounted lights?

 

 

Good question....

 

With landing and taxi lights in the wings, discoloration or melting might be an issue. I haven't seen any reports one way or the other. The lenses in the wings come in varying thickness.

 

With the stock recognition lights in the wing tips, melting is a real $200+ issue. They come in varying thickness, also.

When I had my plane painted I switched then all out. The aftermarket wing tip lenses are quite thin. My replacement wing lenses were factory Ovation, very thick, and were ground to a tight fit, allowing me to get rid of the factory frames used on a '94 J.

 

.

[Bennett]

I used to melt the areas around the recognition lights in the wing tips. The new LED wingtip lights solved that problem.

[gjkirsch]

I use the landing and take off lights at night at controlled airports, all the time at uncontrolled, and during the day if in IFR conditions at both controlled and incontrolled

[rbridges]

I used to melt the areas around the recognition lights in the wing tips. The new LED wingtip lights solved that problem.

[Bennett]

I used to melt the areas around the recognition lights in the wing tips. The new LED wingtip lights solved that problem. are the lights screw in replacements?

[Seth]

Any takeoff and landing day or night. Also, whenver I'm in a highly congested area such as within 10 miles of the airport.

I also turn it on when ATC reports traffic converging or has me look for traffic until the traffic is passed or spotted.

I plan to get LED lamps soon and replace mine so they'll be on all the time.

-Seth