You see flashing lights when a plane is fling, one on top and one below. What is the purpose of it?

Question

You find the similar lights on police vehicles. But the purpose is different.

Answer 1

The flashing lights top and bottom are Anti-Collision Lights (self explanatory, as far as purpose).

Answer 2

The lights allow other pilots to locate the aircraft at night and to determine where the aircraft is in relation to the other aircraft's position. The lights also show the direction the plane is flying. The left wingtip has a red light, the right wingtip has a green light, and the tail has a white light. So, for example, if you see a red and white light, you can determine that tha plane is traveling from right to left. If you see a green and white light, the plane is traveling from left to right. If you see a green and red light, the plane is traveling directly towards you and if you see a white light only, the plane is traveling away from you. The plane you most likely saw was a Beechcraft Bonanza. They typically have red strobes on the belly and top of the plane.

Answer 3

The red flashing lights on the top and bottom indicate the engine is running. These are called rotating beacons but they can also be strobes.

This is turned on is usually the first step of the "engine start" checklist. Some checklists have this one or two items down the line but always before engaging the starter. Some lists also have this in the "before engine start" check list.

This is done so people on the ramp can see you have either an engine running or you are going to start. So people can beware of the intake of the jet, or the spinner prop, spinning rotor blades, etc.

Uncle Cyril isn't talking about the nav lights, landing lights, or anti collision lights.

Answer 4

The purposes are not entirely different. The ones on a law enforcement vehicle are to avoid collisions when going through intersections, etc. The flashing lights on aircraft are for the same purpose; to be seen by other aircraft in the air and avoid collision.
Aircraft are equipped with different modes of lighting. Taxi and landing lights are bright lights on the wings, cowl, or landing gear that light up runways and taxiways for takeoff/landing as well as being lit for purposes of visibility when landing/departing an airport. Aircraft also have navigation lights that burn steadily: red on the left wingtip, green on the right, and white at the tail. These are turned on at night or in poor visibility conditions. The colors indicate to other pilots seeing them the direction the plane is traveling. Anti collision lights as you described are revolving, intermittent (on and off) or strobes mounted on wingtips, fuselage top, belly, and/or tailfin and are for greater visiblity.

Answer 5

Are called Navigation Lights (or Nav Lights). The sole purpose is to spot the Aircraft, to see its size and to see if is coming or going (flight attitude), according to the color of lights as reference points.

On vehicles serves somewhat the same purpose like Semi Trailers and such. You always see red at the tail and white at the front with yellow on the sides. That way you know the size and if is coming or going. On Emergency Vehicles applies the same rules but they add flshing colors like Blue for Police, Yellow for maintenance and Red for Fire/Rescue.

Answer 6

These navigational lights are useful to visibly spot the aircraft from a distance since the speed of light is faster than speed of sound. This helps Air Traffic Control and the other aircraft to judge the relative position in a better way.

Answer 7

They are called Anti Collision Lights. The Red ones on the top and bottom of the body are called Rotating Beacons. Usually they are located on the midpoint of the main body. Smaller aircraft haev them as well, but only one light, and on the top of the tail.

Answer 8

These are known as 'anti collision beacons'. Apart from these you have the strobe lights and the navigation lights
which are mandatory under IFR conditions.

The purpose of all these lights is to warn other aircraft in the vicinity of its presence.

Police vehicles also have beacons to warn other traffic that they must give way when required.

Answer 9

the flashing red lights are beacons .. when they are on that means the aircraft is running or moving... the white flashing lights are strobes there are usually one on each wing tip sometimes the tail also.. those are for visability.(so you see them... the red/green/white lights that are steadily on are position lights.. they are always red on left,green on right,white in the rear. they are called position lights they tell you which direction the the plane is headed...

Answer 10

Aircraft have different color lights so other pilots can tell top from bottom and left wingtip from right wingtip. You can than deduce the direction of travel to avoid mid-air collisions