Flashing Headlights?

g0g · 30-10-2014 11:31am #1

Sorry, might be a complete beginner question but hopefully someone can help. I was just driving West from Kilshane Cross (approx 10-15 mins ago) and looked up at a plane on what I assume was/is final approach? Don't think it was on FR24, but it was I think in just before an Oslo flight and looked like a private jet with the two engines towards rear of aircraft.

Anyways my question is re lights. The plane had turned on what I believed to be headlights. They were positioned roughly I think on the front of each wing as close to the fuselage as possible. They were bright white lights so I assume headlights - also plane was heading towards me and I could see them. And they were alternating flashing on/off each. Never seen this before. Is there a reason a plane would do this? Was I just seeing things? I don't think I'm mixing up with those strobe lights or anything else, they did seem to be headlights.

Thanks

YbFocus · 30-10-2014 11:54am

They are landing lights, you'll see them on every plane. They won't be alternating though, it was probably due to the movement of the plane.

g0g · 30-10-2014 12:00pm

YbFocus wrote: »

They are landing lights, you'll see them on every plane. They won't be alternating though, it was probably due to the movement of the plane.

Thank for that. Yeah I did think at first that it might be the plane making minor left/right adjustments that was causing the effect, but as it went overhead I was convinced that they were actually going on/off too. I guess I was just seeing things!

Growler!!! · 30-10-2014 12:04pm

I've seen it a few times in the US but only once here in Ireland.
On some aircraft the landing lights will operate alternately (Southwest have the option fitted to their 737's) supposedly to scare birds. Not sure if it works though:)

Simon Gruber Says · 30-10-2014 12:05pm

It's possible they were flashing. I've seen some biz jets on approach to Dublin with alternating flashing landing lights on each side. Seems like it makes it easier to spot the aircraft.

g0g · 30-10-2014 12:23pm

Simon Gruber Says wrote: »

It's possible they were flashing. I've seen some biz jets on approach to Dublin with alternating flashing landing lights on each side. Seems like it makes it easier to spot the aircraft.

Thanks yeah defo looked like a private/business jet. Glanced up for a second but couldn't read the numbers on it as was driving. At least now I think I probably wasn't seeing things!

30-10-2014 1:11pm

YbFocus wrote: »

They are landing lights, you'll see them on every plane. They won't be alternating though, it was probably due to the movement of the plane.

They were landing lights but YES on a good number of exec jets they alternate in intensity.

martinsvi · 30-10-2014 2:04pm

not quite related, but in scandinavia/baltics some pilots flash landing lights when turned to a tower if they know the ATCO, sort of like a greeting

MarkR · 30-10-2014 2:06pm

Cops ahead?

YbFocus · 30-10-2014 2:16pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

They were landing lights but YES on a good number of exec jets they alternate in intensity.

Genuinely never noticed this.
You learn something everyday

EchoIndia · 30-10-2014 9:17pm

This is the sort of system used, I think: http://www.pulselite.ca/pulselites.html

Stovepipe · 30-10-2014 10:08pm

Common on business jets, quite common in the USA.

Razor44 · 30-10-2014 10:25pm

A bizz jet came in this eve about 4ish, it had flashing lights from what i could see as it flew past the window

smurfjed · 30-10-2014 10:57pm

A bizz jet came in this eve about 4ish

Was it a Falcon 7X? As others have said you can get pulsating landing lights in increase the visibility of the aircraft.

Alaba320 · 30-10-2014 11:02pm

There is a regular biz jet that comes into Dublin with alternating landing lights. First time I saw it I thought it looked crazy, but yeah, you're right it wasn't your eyes deceiving you.

Alaba320 · 30-10-2014 11:09pm

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uI8lpfIxktM

Wig Wag landing lights on a Boeing

owenc · 31-10-2014 10:57am

I seen this on a Ryanair plane coming in over my house. It's actually just the landing lights at the front wheel.. There's also clear lights at the wing.

smurfjed · 31-10-2014 11:20am

There's also clear lights at the wing

What do you mean by clear flights?

Growler!!! · 31-10-2014 11:25am

I always thought the landing lights were on the wings of a 73 and the taxi lights were on the front wheel. Everyday is a school day.

Razor44 · 01-11-2014 1:58am

smurfjed wrote: »

Was it a Falcon 7X? As others have said you can get pulsating landing lights in increase the visibility of the aircraft.

Don't think so smurfjed, im not great on biz jets, twin engined with a (sort of) T tail. There was vertical stabiliser above the t section.

A320 · 01-11-2014 12:00pm

Growler!!! wrote: »

I always thought the landing lights were on the wings of a 73 and the taxi lights were on the front wheel. Everyday is a school day.

Landing lights are on the Wing root and outboard flap fairing on a B737 Classic,Wing root and motorized drop down lights under the belly on the 737NG,the nose gears have a Turn-off,taxi and take-off lights,i presume the take off light is also on for landing

smurfjed · 01-11-2014 12:20pm

the nose gears have a Turn-off,taxi and take-off lights

Please have a look at this...

http://www.smartcockpit.com/plane/BOEING/B737NG.html

It has a slide show of the walk around listed on the right side, from the photograph of the nose gear it only show ONE light. So where are the Turn-off and Takeoff lights?

BTW, I believe that Growlers comments were in jest following a pervious post

Growler!!! · 01-11-2014 12:26pm

We need a sarcasm button.......

endacl · 01-11-2014 12:29pm

Had the plane in front just flashed its hazards to say 'thanks for letting me into the queue'? Maybe the pilot was just saying 'you're welcome'?

smurfjed · 01-11-2014 12:32pm

Strangely enough, we do have rear ward facing mirrors, but we can't see directly behind us, so no need to say think you to anyone behind/in front....

A320 · 01-11-2014 12:35pm

Growler!!! wrote: »

We need a sarcasm button.......

Whoops,I do hate the B737NGs with the Disco ball underneath

Strumms · 01-11-2014 5:32pm

Definitely saw a biz jet on a fair few occasions into DUB with alternating flashing landing lights. Not sure of the exact aircraft type. Never saw them on a heavy jet though.

bkehoe · 01-11-2014 6:54pm

smurfjed wrote: »

Please have a look at this...

http://www.smartcockpit.com/plane/BOEING/B737NG.html

It has a slide show of the walk around listed on the right side, from the photograph of the nose gear it only show ONE light. So where are the Turn-off and Takeoff lights?

BTW, I believe that Growlers comments were in jest following a pervious post

Nose landing gear only has the taxi light.
Turnoff lights are in the wing root light cluster also with the landing lights.
Retractable landing lights are underneath the fuselage. Many airlines sop is to only switch these on when cleared for landing or takeoff.

*Kol* · 01-11-2014 9:06pm

Growler!!! wrote: »

I always thought the landing lights were on the wings of a 73 and the taxi lights were on the front wheel. Everyday is a school day.

I would be of the same thoughts. Inboard landing lights in the root of the wing and outboard extendable lights in the flap track fairing. There can be a single taxi light on the front of the nose leg but some operators remove it due to problems with the wiring harness. B737-300/400/500 I don't know about the NG much. I think there may be a landing light in the bottom of the wing or wing to body fairing?

pclancy · 01-11-2014 9:11pm

Have seen several different types do this, not just bus jets but smaller turboprops such as the Dash 8 and Beechcraft 1900D that Air New Zealand use.

I was told it was an added measure towards bird scaring as they notice flashing lights quicker then one that stay on and hence hopefully get out of the way.

Flashing Headlights?

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