Question on required lighting

Murdoughnut

Murdoughnut

Well sized member
I'm sure this is a stupid question that will demonstrate how out of step I am with my PPL training, but is the beacon required equipment for night VFR? I checked the FAR's for the exact wording and it says an "anti-collision lighting system" I was going to take the a/c up tonight and noticed the beacon was burned out. Nav, strobe, and landing lights were all operational.

What's the definition of anti-collision lighting system? Do the nav lights suffice?
 
Your reference is in part 23. 23.1389, 1397, and 1401 all cover it.

In short, your strobes are an approved system. Sometimes planes may need a third strobe in the tail, but you'd have to read up on that. (The wingtip strobes must emit light to the front and back of the aircraft to 1200 feet.)
 
Read FAR 91.205 (C)
"Visual Flight Rules (night)"

To answer your question, Yes you do need your anti collision light.
If your airplane was manufactured before August 11, 1971 the rules are a little different but if that rule applys to you then research it.

An easy acronym for VFR (night) is - "FLAPS"

F - Fuses
L - Landing Light
A - Anticollision Light
P - Position Lights (nav lights)
S - Source of Electric (battery)
 
FrankiegPilot said:
Read FAR 91.205 (C)
"Visual Flight Rules (night)"

To answer your question, Yes you do need your anti collision light.
If your airplane was manufactured before August 11, 1971 the rules are a little different but if that rule applys to you then research it.

An easy acronym for VFR (night) is - "FLAPS"

F - Fuses
L - Landing Light
A - Anticollision Light
P - Position Lights (nav lights)
S - Source of Electric (battery)
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He knows that already. His question asked if the "anti-collision light" referred only to the beacon, or could the strobes be anti-collision lights too.
 
I've heard one of the mx guys at the FBO say the beacon needs to flash something like 40times in a minute so I'm guessing it's required.
 
23.1401 and 25.1404 should pretty much give you the answer:

Sec. 23.1401 - Anticollision light system.
(a) General. The airplane must have an anticollision light system that:
(1) Consists of one or more approved anticollision lights located so that their light will not impair the flight crewmembers' vision or detract from the conspicuity of the position lights; and
(2) Meets the requirements of paragraphs (b) through (f) of this section.
(b) Field of coverage. The system must consist of enough lights to illuminate the vital areas around the airplane, considering the physical configuration and flight characteristics of the airplane. The field of coverage must extend in each direction within at least 75 degrees above and 75 degrees below the horizontal plane of the airplane, except that there may be solid angles of obstructed visibility totaling not more than 0.5 steradians.
(c) Flashing characteristics. The arrangement of the system, that is, the number of light sources, beam width, speed of rotation, and other characteristics, must give an effective flash frequency of not less than 40, nor more than 100, cycles per minute. The effective flash frequency is the frequency at which the airplane's complete anticollision light system is observed from a distance, and applies to each sector of light including any overlaps that exist when the system consists of more than one light source. In overlaps, flash frequencies may exceed 100, but not 180, cycles per minute.
(d) Color. Each anticollision light must be either aviation red or aviation white and must meet the applicable requirements of §23.1397.
(e) Light intensity. The minimum light intensities in any vertical plane, measured with the red filter (if used) and expressed in terms of "effective" intensities, must meet the requirements of paragraph (f) of this section.


Sec. 25.1401 - Anticollision light system.
(a) General. The airplane must have an anticollision light system that --
(1) Consists of one or more approved anticollision lights located so that their light will not impair the crew's vision or detract from the conspicuity of the position lights; and
(2) Meets the requirements of paragraphs (b) through (f) of this section.
(b) Field of coverage. The system must consist of enough lights to illuminate the vital areas around the airplane considering the physical configuration and flight characteristics of the airplane. The field of coverage must extend in each direction within at least 75 degrees above and 75 degrees below the horizontal plane of the airplane, except that a solid angle or angles of obstructed visibility totaling not more than 0.03 steradians is allowable within a solid angle equal to 0.15 steradians centered about the longitudinal axis in the rearward direction.
(c) Flashing characteristics. The arrangement of the system, that is, the number of light sources, beam width, speed of rotation, and other characteristics, must give an effective flash frequency of not less than 40, nor more than 100 cycles per minute. The effective flash frequency is the frequency at which the airplane's complete anticollision light system is observed from a distance, and applies to each sector of light including any overlaps that exist when the system consists of more than one light source. In overlaps, flash frequencies may exceed 100, but not 180 cycles per minute.
(d) Color. Each anticollision light must be either aviation red or aviation white and must meet the applicable requirements of §25.1397. (e) Light intensity. The minimum light intensities in all vertical planes, measured with the red filter (if used) and expressed in terms of "effective" intensities, must meet the requirements of paragraph (f) of this section.
 
You guys are killing me. :)

Look - becaons OR strobes are fine as long as certain requirements are met.

Here's 23.1401

PART 23—AIRWORTHINESS STANDARDS: NORMAL, UTILITY, ACROBATIC, AND COMMUTER CATEGORY AIRPLANES
Subpart F—Equipment
Lights
Browse Previous

§ 23.1401 Anticollision light system.

(a) General. The airplane must have an anticollision light system that:
(1) Consists of one or more approved anticollision lights located so that their light will not impair the flight crewmembers' vision or detract from the conspicuity of the position lights; and
(2) Meets the requirements of paragraphs (b) through (f) of this section.
(b) Field of coverage. The system must consist of enough lights to illuminate the vital areas around the airplane, considering the physical configuration and flight characteristics of the airplane. The field of coverage must extend in each direction within at least 75 degrees above and 75 degrees below the horizontal plane of the airplane, except that there may be solid angles of obstructed visibility totaling not more than 0.5 steradians.
(c) Flashing characteristics. The arrangement of the system, that is, the number of light sources, beam width, speed of rotation, and other characteristics, must give an effective flash frequency of not less than 40, nor more than 100, cycles per minute. The effective flash frequency is the frequency at which the airplane's complete anticollision light system is observed from a distance, and applies to each sector of light including any overlaps that exist when the system consists of more than one light source. In overlaps, flash frequencies may exceed 100, but not 180, cycles per minute.
(d) Color. Each anticollision light must be either aviation red or aviation white and must meet the applicable requirements of §23.1397.
(e) Light intensity. The minimum light intensities in any vertical plane, measured with the red filter (if used) and expressed in terms of “effective” intensities, must meet the requirements of paragraph (f) of this section. The following relation must be assumed:
ec28se91.018.gif


[SIZE=-1]where:
I e=effective intensity (candles).
I(t) =instantaneous intensity as a function of time.
t 2− t 1=flash time interval (seconds).
[/SIZE]
Normally, the maximum value of effective intensity is obtained when t 2and t 1are chosen so that the effective intensity is equal to the instantaneous intensity at t 2and t 1.
(f) Minimum effective intensities for anticollision lights. Each anticollision light effective intensity must equal or exceed the applicable values in the following table.
Angle above or below the horizontal planeEffective intensity (candles)0° to 5°4005° to 10°24010° to 20°8020° to 30°4030° to 75°20

[Doc. No. 4080, 29 FR 17955, Dec. 18, 1964, as amended by Amdt. 23–11, 36 FR 12972, July 10, 1971; Amdt. 23–20, 42 FR 36969, July 18, 1977; Amdt. 23–49, 61 FR 5169, Feb. 9, 1996]
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Ian J said:
He knows that already. His question asked if the "anti-collision light" referred only to the beacon, or could the strobes be anti-collision lights too.
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I know what he is asking . I'm just giving him the answer. But your answer is also right, just involves more then what it should be.
 
FrankiegPilot said:
I know what he is asking . I'm just giving him the right answer.
Click to expand...

Okay - maybe I didn't word my response right - I really didn't mean to be pissy.


Murdoughnut said:
I'm sure this is a stupid question that will demonstrate how out of step I am with my PPL training, but is the beacon required equipment for night VFR? I checked the FAR's for the exact wording and it says an "anti-collision lighting system" I was going to take the a/c up tonight and noticed the beacon was burned out. Nav, strobe, and landing lights were all operational.

What's the definition of anti-collision lighting system? Do the nav lights suffice?
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He looked up what was required for night VFR. He was asking the definition of "anti-collision lighting system." His plane had both a beacon, and strobes, both of which qualify.
 
Ian J said:
Look - becaons OR strobes are fine as long as certain requirements are met.

Here's 23.1401
Click to expand...

I believe that's more of a guidance to the manufacturer than it is to the pilot. I don't read that a pilot has the right (much less the ability) to declare that a particular lighting system is an anti-collision system unless the FAA has approved it as such.

My most recent Skyhawk Information Manual refers to the strobes as "anti-collision" and as "-R" (required), so I infer that this is acceptable as an anti-collision system. The flashing beacon is listed as merely "-S" (standard).

My older C172 IM lists the strobes as just "strobes", leaving open whether these can function solely as an anti-collision system. It's listed as a "-S", rather than "-R", but I don't know whether that proves anything.

It seems like an easy bet to win to say that there are probably some strobe installations that do not meet requirements for an anti-collision system.
 
Good points.

Here is a link that sort of graphically show different installations and quote the associated regs. Sure, they are trying to sell installations - but the pics work well to explain the words in the regs.

http://whelen.com/aviation/catalog/Anit-Collision Systems.pdf

I suppose the only way to really know is if you had an equipment list or a MEL? Or had the lights installed yourself so you know the regs are complied with?
 
Thanks for the help fellas - the plane is a 1972 Skyhawk. I sent an email to the club to let them know that the beacon was out - I'm sure they'll replace it right away. I wasn't sure at the time so I nixed my flight, but it looks like I would have been ok with the strobes and nav lights. Just didn't want the tower to give me a phone number or anything.

Again, I appreciate you guys' help!
 
If you can't see a plane with strobes and nav lights, I don't think a beacon's gonna help.

Turn on the landing light, too just to cover your butt.:)
 
Brand X said:
Whatever you do, just make sure that you taxi with your strobe lights on.
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Huh? I hit the strobes right before I pull onto the runway during the before take off checklist. I dont know many people who taxi with their stobes on.
 
SeanD said:
Huh? I hit the strobes right before I pull onto the runway during the before take off checklist. I dont know many people who taxi with their stobes on.
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He was being sarcastic..it blinds everyone.

I taxi around with them on because some mx guy that wired the a/c lighting switches messed everything up. For me it's either Beacon, anti-collision, and strobes ON or OFF.
 
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