Aircraft Navigation Lights

[Bonzo 2000]

Where can I get information on civilian and military aicraft navigation light configurations. I assume they follow an agreed pattern similar to shipping to help identify the type, size and heading of an aircraft in the dark.

[Ewood27]

They are indeed similar to ships' lights, in that the port (left) light is red, the starboard is green and the rear light is white. The red light has to be visible from dead ahead to 120 degrees round (i.e. 30 degrees abaft the beam), the green light covering the same angle on the right side and the white light the tail. In addition, on aircraft they have to be visible from right above to right below. Ships have additional lights to indicate size and steam ships as against sailing vessels. Aircraft do not have these, but aircraft of any size (don't know the precise rules) have to have red flashing anti-collision lights. That's all the mandatory lights for an aircraft, but many also have white flashing strobe lights to make them more visible, and floodlights illuminating the tail as voluntary extras.

[Clanad]

The rules may vary somewhat from country to country... the US no longer requires the red anti-collison light. It may be a white strobe. Additionally, although not required, most aircraft have forward facing "recognition lights". These are seperate from the landing lights. As ewood states, other lighting systems may be added as desired, as long as they are approved.