Aircraft Lighting Systems

Group 5
Alex Simpson
Mark Gabbard
19 September 2006
Overview
 Exterior Lighting
 Interior Lighting

 Emergency Lighting
Exterior Lighting
 Specifically regulated by FAR
 Requires several systems for transport
category aircraft
 Landing lights (FAR 25.1383)
 Position lights (FAR 25.1385-95)
 Anti-collision lights (FAR 25.1401)
Exterior Lighting

Anti-collision
lights
Landing lights

Position lights

C-130 from www.af.mil

 Landing Lights
 Light for night landing
 On wing leading edge
or landing gear
 28V DC or 115V AC
 600W
 Taxi lights, 250W
Boeing 757 from
www.pbase.com/airlinerphotos
/aviation_night
Position Lights
 Also called
Navigation lights
 Red on left wingtip
 Green on right
 White on tail
 28V DC or 115 V AC
http://www.aopa.org/online_gallery/
Anti-Collision Lights
 Red or white flashing
 40-100 cycles per min
 Must illuminate the vital areas
 Red beacon on vertical tail
 White strobes on wingtips
 Strobes or beacons on top and bottom
of fuselage
Other exterior lights
 Cargo loading lights
 Wing icing detection
lights (required)
 Cannot cause glare
or reflection that
impairs crew (FAR
25.1403)

C-17 from www.af.mil

Interior Lighting
 Cockpit lighting
 Instrument lighting
 Cabin lighting
 Cockpit Lighting
 Instrument lighting
 Must illuminate each
essential instrument
and switch
 Direct rays must be
shielded from pilot’s
eyes
 Must provide dimming
control A340 cockpit from
www.mmlane.com/flying/
Cockpit Lighting
 Interior lights to
allow crew to
perform other
functions
 Not regulated
 Often red to
preserve night vision
767 Cockpit from www.boeing.com
Cabin Lights
 Varies significantly
by aircraft type and
purpose
 Usually overhead
fluorescent lights
 28 volts DC

767 cabin from www.boeing.com

Emergency Lighting
 Required by FAR 25.812
 Must include exit marking signs, general
cabin illumination, floor escape path
lighting, and exterior emergency lighting
 Must be battery powered and separate
from main electrical system
Conclusion
 Exterior Lighting
 Interior Lighting

 Emergency Lighting
References
 Federal Aviation Regulations
http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_
and_Guidance_Library/rgFAR.nsf
 Pallett, E. H. J. Aircraft Electrical
Systems. Longman Scientific &
Technical. 1987.
 Eisman, T. K. et.al. Aircraft Electricity
and Electronics. McGraw-Hill. 1989.
QUESTIONS?