Position Lights

flyingmaniac

flyingmaniac

Well-Known Member
Does anyone know why there is a red light on the left side of the aircraft and green on the other? I could never find it in the FAR/AIM. The question is why are they that way?
 
dont really know the real answer, but perhaps it has something to do with right of way rules?

if you are converging with an aircraft approaching from the right, it will be showing red, and you give way to that aircraft.

If you are converging with an aircraft from the left, he shows green and he gives way to you.
 
Because that was what was (and still is) on ships. So therefore Pan Ams flying boats had to have them.The rest is history.


Why red = left, green = right, who knows.
 
Doug Taylor said:
Boats.
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Oh... so that is why airplanes have props.
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averyrm said:
Because Right-Red is easy to remember, but the government did it so it's bass ackwards.
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Red is NOT right. :)

My S.W.A.G. is that it had something to do with the way ships pass one another at sea. They pass on the right so the red goes on the left?? One of our resident squids ought to know the answer to this.

MF
 
flyingmaniac said:
Is there nothing in the FAR's for the explanation?
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No.

There is no such explanation in the "FARs".


The convention was adopted, carried over if you will, from the convention used in the maritime world. Side light colors and right-of-way rules for passing ships served as the basis for the convention adopted for airplanes.


International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972 (or COLREGs) published by the International Maritime Organization (Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (COLREGs)), or Navigation Rules (NAVRULES) (which observe the international rules and establish United States inland rules, as well) found in 33 CFR 84 (Navigation Rules - Rule 21 Definitions) define "sidelights" to mean "a green light on the starboard side and a red light on the port side each showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 112.5 degrees and so fixed as to show the light from right ahead to 22.5 degrees abaft the beam on its respective side. In a vessel of less than 20 meters in length the sidelights may be combined in one lantern carried on the fore and aft centerline of the vessel, ..." I know little about seaplanes beyond the fact that they float, but it would appear from this regulation (and its specific mention of seaplanes) that they must comply with this regulation as well as the "FARs". It would be confusing, then, to have different requirements for the airplane in the air, and the same vessel on the water. Can you imagine how difficult it would be to have to change light colors upon touchdown? :)


There are more similarities that you have not perhaps considered. Why is the person who manipulates the controls of the airplane called a pilot? A nautical term. Why is the person in charge of the airplane called a Captain? Another nautical term. Why do birds suddenly appear every time you are near? Ooops, that's a different subject. :)




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Minnesota_Flyer said:
My S.W.A.G. is that it had something to do with the way ships pass one another at sea. They pass on the right so the red goes on the left?? One of our resident squids ought to know the answer to this.

MF
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Although I'm a former squid, I never really had to concern myself with navigation and right of way rules. However, I believe you are right, and everyone's favorite internet reference source seems to agree with you.

From Wikipedia:
Right-of-Way lights - On ships, aircraft and manned spacecraft, a red light will be mounted on the left or port side of the craft and a green on the right or starboard side. These help two craft on a collision course determine who has right-of-way: if a pilot sees a craft on a path crossing his own, he will see either its red running light or green running light. If he sees green, he is to the impinging craft's starboard and has the right of way. If the pilot sees the red light, he knows that the approaching craft has the right-of-way, and he is required to deviate from his course to avoid the collision.

We all know that if you are to the right of another plane, you have the right of way, right? So, being to their right, you see the green for "Go" signal. :D
 
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