Well I figured some think its so safe to have their ice lights on while in position for TO. I still am waiting to hear who you expect to see those lights?

Are you saying you just do it just because you can, or do you have a reason?

 

I appreciate you not trying to night blind me, and I can understand about company rules.

But I am still curious as to who is going to see those lights while you are in position for TO?

 

Turning ice lights on while crossing helps aircraft that are in position and holding to see you, in addition to the landing lights and strobes.

It also helps people waiting to take the runway see you when you are in position; you'd be amazed how people can be bone-headed and not see blinking lights.

Some ice lights are rather powerful as well, and can light up a wing such that it could be seen from behind and above.

 

Use the minimum number of lights per the regulations that keep you from colliding with other vehicles, etc. or to keep others from smacking into you!

 

He was talking about ice lights when instructed to taxi into position and hold....do you find that a lot of people line up for landing perpendicular to the wrong runway and are going to land sideways on you???

I could care less about strobes. But when I'm #1 for departure waiting for the guy on the runway to get outta there and his ice lights are on while he's just sitting there is retarded. The only person that's seeing you to avoid you is the guy waiting for you to leave. But hey, more light is great!

 

You're right...the logo light, landing lights, taxi light, beacon, and strobes aren't enough to warn the guy who followed you to the runway that you're getting ready to takeoff....you should probably shine a light directly into the cockpit just to be sure.

 

I use the wing lights while I taxi into position, once I make the turn to line up I turn them off.

 

I'm guessing one person? They'd also have to be boneheaded enough to hear instructions for the wrong aircraft, pull the parking break, run a few checklists and miss the 50k+ of metal sitting directly in front of them. I know it happens.... ALL THE TIME. You would be amazed how often. Personally I carry one of these http://www.hammacher.com/publish/734...cm_cat=1414665
Trust me, 5million candle power won't do the job. You'll need to spring for the 15. I know it's pitch black out there where lights should stand out but you're asking for trouble if you don't pack one of these in your bag. They work great, are portable, reliable, and I find the front legs are easy to put in between the chart holder and the window so it props itself up. All you do is taxi into place, kick on the ice lights, then hit the power button on this guy. With their eyelids melted they'll have no other option but to finally notice you. This puts an end to the already nonexistent threat of people not noticing you're on a runway when 50ft away, lights on, dark, in a shiny jet after having taxied behind you for the past 15min and two miles.

Duck

Oh yea remember to pack extra batteries.

 

This isn't the place for sarcasm.

 

Here's a perfect example of not seeing lights... Granted the strobes weren't on, but the nosewheel landing and taxi/rec lights were, as well as logo and beacon. Perhaps having the strobes and ice light on would have prevented serious damage to an aircraft that had less than 100 hrs on the airframe:








On October 24, 2002, at 2020 central daylight time, a Bombardier CL-600-2B19, N681BR, sustained substantial damage during a collision with a bus while taxiing for takeoff at the O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Chicago, Illinois. The 14 CFR Part 121 passenger flight was operated by Atlantic Coast Airlines as United Express Flight 7719, and was bound for the Portland International Jetport Airport, Portland, Maine. The pilot, first-officer, cabin attendant, and one passenger on-board the airplane received minor injuries. The remaining 48 passengers were not injured. The driver of the bus received minor injuries. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.

The airplane was taxiing to the northwest on taxiway B, between the taxiway A8 and A7 intersections, when a United Airlines employee shuttle bus struck it. The bus was traveling west-southwest on a service road when the collision occurred. The bus impacted the right side of the fuselage about 2 feet in front of the galley service door. The rear of the bus impacted the outboard leading edge of the right wing during the collision.

An inquiry of ORD driver records showed that the driver of the bus held priveledges to operate ground vehicles on the airport. Those priveledges had been in effect since her hire date of March 15, 1999.

The ORD Ground Vehicle Operating Regulations Manual states, in part:

9. C. Non-Movement Areas
When it is not operationally practical to maintain two-way radio communications between the vehicle and the ATCT (Air traffic control tower) or to provide an escort vehicle, vehicles not equipped with two-way radios shall follow the procedures below:

1. Vehicle operators shall yield the right-of-way to all Aircraft at all times:
...
3. Vehicle Operators shall come to a complete stop where posted, prior to crossing any and all taxiways on the service roads. However, vehicles must avoid stopping in the islands between the A- (Alpha), B- (Bravo) and D- (Delta) taxiways. The crossing of these taxiways should not be initiated until the Operator ensures that both taxiways can be crossed in one continuous movement.

Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular AC 150/521-20 paragraph 7 states in part:

Some aspects of vehicle control and identification are discussed below; however, every airport presents different vehicle requirements and problems. Every airport will require individualized solutions to prevent vehicle or pedestrian traffic from endangering aircraft operations. It should be stressed that aircraft ALWAYS have the right-of-way over vehicles when maneuvering on non-movement areas. Aircraft also have the right-of-way on the movement areas, except when the Airport Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) has specifically instructed an aircraft to hold or give way to vehicle(s) on a runway or taxiway.