2006-11-25 09:49:15 · 26 answers · asked by lynn 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
to help them see when they're landing?
2006-11-25 09:50:52 · answer #1 · answered by I know nothing! 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Two reasons. One is so they can be seen. Without lights, planes are almost invisible in the sky. The colored lights on the wing tips are so other pilots know which direction the planes are travelling. The other reason for the headlights is so the plane can see the runway when they are landing or taking off, or, if not on a runway, can see the ground that they are using for takeoff or landing.
2006-11-25 17:58:32 · answer #2 · answered by old lady 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Airplanes have landing and taxi lights to help one see when taking off, landing, and taxiing. You can get by without landing lights when using an illuminated runway, but for a pilot the hardest part of any flight is trying not to get lost taxiing around an airport at night.
2006-11-25 17:53:38 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If they are flying to a destination and another air plane comes toward the other airplane in the night, they wouldn't be able to see the other plane and crash if they didnt have headlights.
2006-11-25 17:58:56 · answer #4 · answered by Brittneyyyyyy 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At the levels most big airliners fly at, there is a distinct possibility of flying into the wehahwe bird, which tends to roost during the day, but loves nocturnal thermals. They are, however, rather shortsighted, and as such tend to see the planes too late to get out of the way.
2006-11-25 18:21:34 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Head lights specify front end of plane. Left and right wings have either a red or green light - (cant remember which is left and which is right) but it is so other pilots can tell which direction the plane is headed in less than optimal conditions.
2006-11-25 17:58:39 · answer #6 · answered by ellemck 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Aeroplanes have:
Landing lights, so that they can see the ground on approach (usually mounted in the wings).
Taxi lights, for moving around on the ground - mounted on the nosewheel undercarriage leg.
Really meant for poor weather and at night, but you will have noticed that landing lights are always on during any landing
2006-11-25 18:05:26 · answer #7 · answered by Bill N 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are used to iluminate the runway/taxiways during taxi time, and to help be seen during final approach to air controlers and others on the ground.
2006-11-25 17:52:38 · answer #8 · answered by missourim43 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its for having the ability to see the runways/taxiways at night and to avoid a birdstrike near the ground cause light even at daytime may scare birds off
2006-11-25 18:01:59 · answer #9 · answered by blondnirvana 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
so that it lights up the runway during landing and to help see other planes in the night, it might also be for looking through fog
2006-11-25 17:53:08 · answer #10 · answered by tmswainyboy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For the same reason road vehicles and trains do - they only use them on take off and landing at night.
2006-11-25 17:52:56 · answer #11 · answered by Stephen L 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋