Flashing landing lights?

A couple days ago I saw an airliner coming into Boise, in final
approach, with its landing lights flashing. They were alternating high
beam to low beam (I never knew they had that capability) on the left,
then on the right. left, right, left, right...

What was that all about? Onboard emergency as in sick passenger?

"Potatora" wrote in message
...
A couple days ago I saw an airliner coming into Boise, in final
approach, with its landing lights flashing. They were alternating high
beam to low beam (I never knew they had that capability) on the left,
then on the right. left, right, left, right...


The flashing lights enhance visibility.

On Oct 29, 11:41*am, "John Kunkel" wrote:
"Potatora" wrote in message

...

A couple days ago I saw an airliner coming into Boise, in final
approach, with its landing lights flashing. They were alternating high
beam to low beam (I never knew they had that capability) on the left,
then on the right. left, right, left, right...

The flashing lights enhance visibility.

Well, duh, I guess the would. But why would visibility need to be
enhanced? It was unlimited already, not a cloud in the sky. Why have I
never seen any other airliner doing that?

I am NOT talking about the 'strobe' light, or the red and green
running lights. I'm talking about the *landing* lights, the really
bright ones on the wing.

Potatora wrote:

The flashing lights enhance visibility.


Well, duh, I guess the would. But why would visibility need to be
enhanced? It was unlimited already, not a cloud in the sky. Why have I
never seen any other airliner doing that?
/snip/

No, he means that the flashing enhances the visibility of the aircraft
to others in the area. The human eye picks up on movement/change much
faster than on something in a steady state. While this type of landing
light feature is a common add-on to smaller aircraft, it is, for some
reason, fairly un-common on large aircraft.

Happy Flying!
Scott Skylane

On Oct 29, 2:38*pm, Scott Skylane wrote:

No, he means that the flashing enhances the visibility of the aircraft
to others in the area. *The human eye picks up on movement/change much
faster than on something in a steady state. *While this type of landing
light feature is a common add-on to smaller aircraft, it is, for some
reason, fairly un-common on large aircraft.

Why was THIS airliner using it and not others?

I KNOW it would enhance visibility. The question is why would THIS ONE
airplane use it. SEE?

Potatora wrote:

On Oct 29, 2:38 pm, Scott Skylane wrote:


No, he means that the flashing enhances the visibility of the aircraft
to others in the area. The human eye picks up on movement/change much
faster than on something in a steady state. While this type of landing
light feature is a common add-on to smaller aircraft, it is, for some
reason, fairly un-common on large aircraft.


Why was THIS airliner using it and not others?

I KNOW it would enhance visibility. The question is why would THIS ONE
airplane use it. SEE?

Read my last sentence, and understand it. SEE???

Potatora wrote:
On Oct 29, 2:38 pm, Scott Skylane wrote:

No, he means that the flashing enhances the visibility of the aircraft
to others in the area. The human eye picks up on movement/change much
faster than on something in a steady state. While this type of landing
light feature is a common add-on to smaller aircraft, it is, for some
reason, fairly un-common on large aircraft.

Why was THIS airliner using it and not others?

I KNOW it would enhance visibility. The question is why would THIS ONE
airplane use it. SEE?

When safety enhancements are retrofitted to a fleet, there will always
be a time when most aircraft do not have the enhancement.