why commercial airplanes have different colors lights on the wings extremity?

Question

My daughter asked me and i couldn't tell her. We saw a plane with one wing with a green light and the other with red. thanks

Answer 1

Position, anti-collision, landing, and taxi lights are common examples of aircraft exterior lights. Some lights, such as position lights and anti-collision lights, are required for night operations. Other types of exterior lights, such as wing inspection lights, are of great benefit for specialized flying operations.

Position Lights
Aircraft operating at night must be equipped with position lights that meet the minimum requirements specified by the Federal Aviation Regulations. A set of position lights consist of one red, one green, and one white light. Position lights are sometimes referred to as "navigation" lights. On many aircraft each light unit contains a single lamp mounted on the surface of the aircraft. Other types of position light units contain two lamps and are often streamlined into the surface of the aircraft structure.

The green light unit is always mounted at the extreme tip of the right wing. The red unit is mounted in a similar position on the left wing. The white unit is usually located on the vertical stabilizer in a position where it is clearly visible through a wide angle from the rear of the aircraft.

At night if you see a white light it means you are approaching another aircraft from the rear. Same goes for the green and red lights it will let the pilot know which side the aircraft is on as they approach each other to avoid a collsion.

The wingtip lamps and the tail lamps are controlled by a double-pole, single-throw switch in the pilot's compartment. On "dim", the switch connects a resistor in series with the lamps. Since the resistor decreases current flow, the light intensity is reduced. On "bright", the resistor is shorted out of the circuit, and the lamps glow at full brilliance.
On some types of installations a switch in the pilot's compartment provides for steady or flashing operation of the position lights. For flashing operation, a flasher mechanism is usually installed in the position light circuit. It consists essentially of a motor-driven camshaft on which two cams are mounted and a switching mechanism made up of two breaker arms and two contact screws. One breaker arm supplies D.C. current to the wingtip light circuit through one contact screw, and the other breaker arm supplies the tail light circuit through the other contact screw. When the motor rotates, it turns the camshaft through a set of reduction gears and causes the cams to operate the breaker which opens and closes the wing and tail light circuits alternately.

This more information than a child can understand, but it hepls dad to understand.

Answer 2

There are offset colors on the wingtips as well as white strobes. The left side has a steady Red light and the right side has a steady Green or Aqua. This is so that when a pilot sees another aircraft at night , he can tell which direction it is heading. There is also a steady white light at the base of the tail by the exhaust port for the APU. The white strobes are to make it more noticable from a distance. There are bright white landing lights on the wings and nose gear. There are also red flashing red beacons on the top and bottom of the fuselage. These are mostly for movement on the ground, but also remain lit in flight to make the aircraft more noticable.

Answer 3

These are aircraft navigation lights, and work the same as marine navigation lights... Red on the Port (Left side), Green on the Starboard side (Right side) and a white light on the tail.

The different colors allow pilots to determine another airplane's relative position and direction of travel in the air. For example, if you see a red light and a white light off to your right, the airplane is moving away from you, but if you see a green light off to your right, the other airplane could be on an intersecting path with your aircraft, and you should use caution.

Answer 4

Jet Doc explains it very well.

With Position Lights (or Navigation Lights) of Red on the Left wing, Green on the Right wing, and White on the Tail, it allows other pilots to tell whether the plane is coming at them or going away AND at what relative angle.

The motto used to be: "Red Right, Receeding, Red Left, Look Out!"

These lights aren't limited to Commercial aircraft either... they are on ALL military aircraft as well... though in combat we obviously turn them off.

Answer 5

So that the pilots can make out whether an aircraft is approaching or going away. Red light on left wing, green on right wing is the standard arrangement the world over.

Answer 6

Planes have these lights for the same reason boats have red and green bowlights. when another plane or boat is coming towards they can see the lights and tell which direction the plane is flying. Heps to take the confusion out of navigating traffic in the skies.

Answer 7

Military planes have them also.
Green on the right side (starboard)
Red on the left (port)
That way, at night someone (like another plane) can look at which sides the red/green is on in relationship to themselves, and tell which direction the other plane is traveling (towards them, away from them, etc).

Answer 8

They are called navagation lights. Red on the left, green on the right. They show position, dimention of the aircraft and direction of travel.

Answer 9

My guess is that it's so other planes and aircraft can tell which way they are going... If one plane is heading toward another, then red would be on one side and green on the other; if they were going in the same direction, the lights would switch sides...
Don't know for sure...

Answer 10

Different Color Lights