Beacons/anticollision lights and engines

Emily wrote:

I think most pilots have problems with strobes in IMC at night. I don't
run them then or on the ground but I know a few who do. An beacon is
sufficient to meet the regs in both those cases, although I'm sure there
are some pilots who think strobes are required at all times.

The nature of the anticollision lights is a certification (the rules
changed over the years progressively) issue. There's no need to
operate a beacon to meet the regs in any of the cases you describe.
If the pilot decides that there is conditions warrant they should
be off, he can turn them off. If conditions are not such that
they need to be off, they should be on while operating the aircraft.

I don't have a beacon. I'm not even required to have any anti-collision
lights, but I have an STC for strobes. I don't use the strobes in
dim or dark conditions on the ground. I'm also careful where I point
my not required by the regs landing light as well at night.

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?

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

"A Lieberma" wrote in message
. 18...
Anybody know of a better newsgroup reader (freeware) then what I am using?

40tude, Free Agent, Thunderbird, Outlook Express, to name a few.

I use OE and it works fine. Filtering via anything more complicated than
just ignoring an entire thread or blocking a particular poster is a pain,
but at least OE doesn't break URLs when you post them, even if they are
longer than the normal line length limit you've set. It's a standard
component that comes with IE, so it's almost certainly already installed on
any Windows computer you might be using.

Others will swear up and down OE is a piece of junk. Those people are
blinded by their own prejudice. But that said, there are plenty of
non-Microsoft choices available if you'd rather not use OE, for whatever
reason.

Pete

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?

Turning on the Beacon prior to engine start is taught from the
beginning. It is visual warning that something is about to or is
happening. Engine running or aircraft moving.

It is common sense.
Strobes go on at the end of the runway. So not to blind others on the
ground.

Michelle P

"Ron Natalie" wrote in message
...
[...] I'm not even required to have any anti-collision
lights

Why not?

In article ,
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?

NO! You turn them on after your runup and when you are ready to take the
runway. In fact, it is bad form to operate the strobes on the ground
when near other aircraft.

"A Lieberma" wrote

Anybody know of a better newsgroup reader (freeware) then what I am using?
Xnews just drives me nuts sometimes esepcially with word wrapping.

Most will do that.

Try putting a at the beginning (no space and at the end (no space) and see if
that helps. As in this:

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?&c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title14/14tab_02.tpl
--
Jim in NC

granfather'ed



"Peter Duniho" wrote in
message ...
| "Ron Natalie" wrote in message
| ...
| [...] I'm not even required to have any anti-collision
| lights
|
| Why not?
|
|

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