Exterior Aircraft Lighting Systems
AVIONICS SYSTEMS TECHNICAL PAPER (FINAL): - EXTERIOR AIRCRAFT LIGHTING SYSTEMS
Exterior Aircraft Lighting
Systems
Author: Peter Mann
Abstract
There are many forms of lighting on an aircraft and each has its own purpose. Aircraft lighting can be split into two distinct categories: exterior and interior. This technical paper will look at exterior aircraft lighting systems. It will examine the purposes of these exterior lighting systems, their implications on the aircraft as a system of systems, and the regulations surrounding aircraft and tall building lighting.
1.0
Introduction
Lighting is installed on aircraft for a number of reasons. These are comprised of, but not limited to: safety, servicing, operational needs and passenger comfort.
Exterior aircraft lighting is, for the most part to be considered a necessity and has only relatively recently been used for aesthetic purposes on predominantly commercial airliners. As well as lighting on the actual aircraft itself; the topic of external lighting also extends to lighting on the ground, such as runway and approach lights.
manoeuvres of the aircraft. Regulations exist that define the location, colour and beam divergence such that the aircraft is visible from any viewing angle.
[2]
Starboard
Wing
Port
Wing
Tail
2.1.1. Navigation Lights
Navigation (also know as position) lights are compulsory in order for the aircraft to be allowed to fly. As mentioned above, they are usually filament lamps. These provide an uninterrupted illumination and are positioned at the extremities of the aeroplane (as shown in Figure 1). To an observer, they provide an indication of the direction and instantaneous
Colour
Green
Divergence
110°
Red
110°
Clear/White
+/- 70°
The conventional location of the white light is on the tail cone or fin tip; however some aircraft have a rear facing light on the trailing edge of each wing tip. “The wing lamps are
20W
Exterior Aircraft Lighting
Systems
Author: Peter Mann
Abstract
There are many forms of lighting on an aircraft and each has its own purpose. Aircraft lighting can be split into two distinct categories: exterior and interior. This technical paper will look at exterior aircraft lighting systems. It will examine the purposes of these exterior lighting systems, their implications on the aircraft as a system of systems, and the regulations surrounding aircraft and tall building lighting.
1.0
Introduction
Lighting is installed on aircraft for a number of reasons. These are comprised of, but not limited to: safety, servicing, operational needs and passenger comfort.
Exterior aircraft lighting is, for the most part to be considered a necessity and has only relatively recently been used for aesthetic purposes on predominantly commercial airliners. As well as lighting on the actual aircraft itself; the topic of external lighting also extends to lighting on the ground, such as runway and approach lights.
manoeuvres of the aircraft. Regulations exist that define the location, colour and beam divergence such that the aircraft is visible from any viewing angle.
[2]
Starboard
Wing
Port
Wing
Tail
2.1.1. Navigation Lights
Navigation (also know as position) lights are compulsory in order for the aircraft to be allowed to fly. As mentioned above, they are usually filament lamps. These provide an uninterrupted illumination and are positioned at the extremities of the aeroplane (as shown in Figure 1). To an observer, they provide an indication of the direction and instantaneous
Colour
Green
Divergence
110°
Red
110°
Clear/White
+/- 70°
The conventional location of the white light is on the tail cone or fin tip; however some aircraft have a rear facing light on the trailing edge of each wing tip. “The wing lamps are
20W