Dear Delta Brethren, I've been flying out of ATL for the past few months. This week I was holding short of 26L on the north side of the runway awaiting my turn for takeoff. A DAL 757 opposite me is cleared for takeoff and immediately turns on their taxi light directly in our eyes. It felt like a laser event to us. I flashed my taxi light thinking maybe they didn't see the 767 across the runway but they left the lights on. The next plane to go was another DL 757 and guess what he also blinded us. The sun was not quite up so the lights were pretty intense. Next up an Endeavor RJ, they turned on their runway lights but left off their taxi light. When it was our turn we did not turn on our taxi light directly into the eyes of a MD90 but waited until we were lined up to go. Is it in your ops manual to turn on your taxi light no matter if someone is facing you or not? My F/O begged me to turn on ALL our lights the next time a DL plane lines up across from us. Thank you for your consideration.

 

In a nut shell.......It is in our SOP to turn on the taxi lights....but it does state if the lights are a problem to other aircraft to use your best judgment. Sorry that you had to experience the "all about me" crews! You can't fix stup*d.
t

 

This is the same fleet at the same company that needed a bulletin about when the logo light should be on or off so they have tried to fix stupid but with mixed results.

 

Thanks Big3win, Our manual says virtually the same thing that's why I was a little baffled about the lack of courtesy. Thanks again and fly safely.

 

I agree a little professional courtesy is in order; however, the 717 Vol. 1 only grants relief while crossing a runway to avoid using your landing lights if they will affect the vision of other pilots. No such relief for line up and wait or cleared for takeoff for the nose lt.

Omar

 

Omar, Our vision was definitely affected.

 

I understand, there is not normally someone opposite you when you taxi onto the runway for T/O. I think most DL Capts will wait until nose has swept past to turn on the taxi light. My point, however, was that the previous poster was misreading his Vol. 1 lights usage guidance. Mother Delta wants the lights on when you are moving, and any relief is from the landing lights under the wing tips, not the taxi lights.

Omar

 

It's not very often there is someone sitting opposite you in ATL... only the FDX/UPS and corporate departures which are few and far between end up opposite facing. They probably didn't even notice or think about it.

 

Even when the guys turned their light on in their face?

You can't teach common sense.

 

There are thousands of pilots flying around every day. Instead of expecting everyone to be perfect, assume they won't and adapt.

It didn't take long for me to learn to look away as soon as another aircraft gets cleared onto a runway. That doesn't mean close your eyes, just move your focus to something other than the aircraft lights.