Beacons/anticollision lights and engines

Kingfish wrote:
Mxsmanic wrote:
I understand that one normally turns on beacons or anticollision
lights whenever an aircraft's engines are running. Is this a
regulation, or just a polite custom?


Hmmm. Do you turn on your virtual strobe before you start your virtual
engine, so as not to endanger anyone with your virtual prop?

Can't he just read the regulations? He's obviously got access to
internet.

§ 91.209 Aircraft lights.

No person may:

(a) During the period from sunset to sunrise (or, in Alaska, during the
period a prominent unlighted object cannot be seen from a distance of 3
statute miles or the sun is more than 6 degrees below the horizon)—

(1) Operate an aircraft unless it has lighted position lights;

(2) Park or move an aircraft in, or in dangerous proximity to, a night
flight operations area of an airport unless the aircraft—

(i) Is clearly illuminated;

(ii) Has lighted position lights; or

(iii) is in an area that is marked by obstruction lights;

(3) Anchor an aircraft unless the aircraft—

(i) Has lighted anchor lights; or

(ii) Is in an area where anchor lights are not required on vessels; or

(b) Operate an aircraft that is equipped with an anticollision light
system, unless it has lighted anticollision lights. However, the
anticollision lights need not be lighted when the pilot-in-command
determines that, because of operating conditions, it would be in the
interest of safety to turn the lights off.

Emily writes:

Can't he just read the regulations? He's obviously got access to
internet.

§ 91.209 Aircraft lights.

No person may:

(a) During the period from sunset to sunrise (or, in Alaska, during the
period a prominent unlighted object cannot be seen from a distance of 3
statute miles or the sun is more than 6 degrees below the horizon)—

(1) Operate an aircraft unless it has lighted position lights;

(2) Park or move an aircraft in, or in dangerous proximity to, a night
flight operations area of an airport unless the aircraft—

(i) Is clearly illuminated;

(ii) Has lighted position lights; or

(iii) is in an area that is marked by obstruction lights;

(3) Anchor an aircraft unless the aircraft—

(i) Has lighted anchor lights; or

(ii) Is in an area where anchor lights are not required on vessels; or

(b) Operate an aircraft that is equipped with an anticollision light
system, unless it has lighted anticollision lights. However, the
anticollision lights need not be lighted when the pilot-in-command
determines that, because of operating conditions, it would be in the
interest of safety to turn the lights off.

Nothing in this quoted section mentions engines, so it doesn't answer
my question.

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Recently, Mxsmanic posted:

Emily writes:

Can't he just read the regulations? He's obviously got access to
internet.

§ 91.209 Aircraft lights.

No person may:

(a) During the period from sunset to sunrise (or, in Alaska, during
the period a prominent unlighted object cannot be seen from a
distance of 3 statute miles or the sun is more than 6 degrees below
the horizon)-

(1) Operate an aircraft unless it has lighted position lights;

(2) Park or move an aircraft in, or in dangerous proximity to, a
night flight operations area of an airport unless the aircraft-

(i) Is clearly illuminated;

(ii) Has lighted position lights; or

(iii) is in an area that is marked by obstruction lights;

(3) Anchor an aircraft unless the aircraft-

(i) Has lighted anchor lights; or

(ii) Is in an area where anchor lights are not required on vessels;
or

(b) Operate an aircraft that is equipped with an anticollision light
system, unless it has lighted anticollision lights. However, the
anticollision lights need not be lighted when the pilot-in-command
determines that, because of operating conditions, it would be in the
interest of safety to turn the lights off.

Nothing in this quoted section mentions engines, so it doesn't answer
my question.

Then, go read the rest of the regs to discover what "Operate and
aircraft..." means.

Neil

Neil Gould wrote:
Recently, Mxsmanic posted:

Emily writes:

Can't he just read the regulations? He's obviously got access to
internet.

§ 91.209 Aircraft lights.

No person may:

(a) During the period from sunset to sunrise (or, in Alaska, during
the period a prominent unlighted object cannot be seen from a
distance of 3 statute miles or the sun is more than 6 degrees below
the horizon)-

(1) Operate an aircraft unless it has lighted position lights;

(2) Park or move an aircraft in, or in dangerous proximity to, a
night flight operations area of an airport unless the aircraft-

(i) Is clearly illuminated;

(ii) Has lighted position lights; or

(iii) is in an area that is marked by obstruction lights;

(3) Anchor an aircraft unless the aircraft-

(i) Has lighted anchor lights; or

(ii) Is in an area where anchor lights are not required on vessels;
or

(b) Operate an aircraft that is equipped with an anticollision light
system, unless it has lighted anticollision lights. However, the
anticollision lights need not be lighted when the pilot-in-command
determines that, because of operating conditions, it would be in the
interest of safety to turn the lights off.
Nothing in this quoted section mentions engines, so it doesn't answer
my question.

Then, go read the rest of the regs to discover what "Operate and
aircraft..." means.

No good deed, it appears....

Mxsmanic wrote:


Nothing in this quoted section mentions engines, so it doesn't answer
my question.


Those are the regulations. As it doesn't mention engines, there
is no requirement having anything to do with engines. Many people
put the beacon on when the master (not the engine) is turned on.
I used to do that as well (it's also a good reminder that your
master is on after you get out of the plane). However, I only
have strobes now, and I don't run those until I'm on the runway
now.

Ron Natalie writes:

Those are the regulations. As it doesn't mention engines, there
is no requirement having anything to do with engines.

OK, thanks.

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On Sat, 14 Oct 2006 15:34:12 +0200, Mxsmanic
wrote:

Emily writes:

Can't he just read the regulations? He's obviously got access to
internet.
...
(b) Operate an aircraft that is equipped with an anticollision light
system, unless it has lighted anticollision lights. However, the
anticollision lights need not be lighted when the pilot-in-command
determines that, because of operating conditions, it would be in the
interest of safety to turn the lights off.

Nothing in this quoted section mentions engines, so it doesn't answer
my question.

Yes it does. In the excerpt here, "Operate" means running the engines.
That means all conditions, day or night, except for the exclusion.
That's also mentioned in section 3 of the AIM, "Airport Operations."
In that section, they mention the risk from jet/prop blast. I've read
other FAA articles that discuss the risk of propeller accidents, which
might be prevented with lighted anti-collision lights. A spinning
propeller may not be immediately evident to someone walking across the
ramp. Walking into a propeller can not only cause serious injury or
death, but even worse, may require an expensive engine teardown to
inspect for damage. Any measure that helps prevent that can only be a
good thing.

RK Henry

RK Henry writes:

Yes it does. In the excerpt here, "Operate" means running the engines.

According to whom?

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On Sat, 14 Oct 2006 20:52:59 +0200, Mxsmanic
wrote:

RK Henry writes:

Yes it does. In the excerpt here, "Operate" means running the engines.

According to whom?

1. In FARs part 1.1, Definitions, "Operate" is defined:

"Operate, with respect to aircraft, means use, cause to use or
authorize to use aircraft, for the purpose (except as provided in
§91.13 of this chapter) of air navigation including the piloting of
aircraft, with or without the right of legal control (as owner,
lessee, or otherwise)."

If you're planning on using the airplane for flying, I'd interpret
that as beginning with the moment you turn the key 'til the airplane
is back in the hangar. I suppose it could exclude running the engine
at the shop, since that's not for the purpose of air navigation, but
the mechanics usually turn on the beacon too.

2. The mention in the AIM about lights isn't regulatory, but it may as
well be. It's good operating practice, and a pilot ignoring good
operating practice could conceivably be caught by the catch-all
regulation, FAR 91.13, Careless or reckless operation. Especially if
someone got hurt. And of course, none of us wants anyone to get hurt.

Running the anti-collision system is low-cost insurance. Except for
cases like not operating strobes around people, it's better to just go
ahead and use it. It could save someone's life.

RK Henry

RK Henry writes:

1. In FARs part 1.1, Definitions, "Operate" is defined:

"Operate, with respect to aircraft, means use, cause to use or
authorize to use aircraft, for the purpose (except as provided in
§91.13 of this chapter) of air navigation including the piloting of
aircraft, with or without the right of legal control (as owner,
lessee, or otherwise)."

I don't see the word "engine" anywhere in the quoted text--again.

It's best to read what regulations say, and not try to guess what
you'd like them to mean. Legal documents are generally explicit;
imagination is neither required nor recommended.

If you're planning on using the airplane for flying, I'd interpret
that as beginning with the moment you turn the key 'til the airplane
is back in the hangar.

So it's your interpretation; it's not written in the regulations.

Running the anti-collision system is low-cost insurance. Except for
cases like not operating strobes around people, it's better to just go
ahead and use it. It could save someone's life.

I never expressed any objection to it.

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