Maybe I wouldn't look if I knew they were gonna turn the fargan things on!

 

There comes a point in which you need to weigh if the practice is more beneficial than harmful. The odds of an aircraft appearing out of no where to hit you after ATC has cleared you across the runway is pretty remote. I find it much more likely for the crew that got blinded to miss a sign or hold line while they regain their vision and cause an incursion, which could lead to a disaster.

 

sfo last night a untied 767 being pulled by a tug taxied across an active runway without a clearance, with 1 mile vis i would like for people to have their strobes on while crossing runways

 

 

detpilot, are you a CFI at WMU? I left WMU in August and I never had the strobes on when taxiing in the Cirrus unless I was taxiing onto or across a runway. Last summer they said the use of the nav lights w/o the strobes was perfectly fine on the ground. Did they change things?

 

Yeah, you need to read up on runway incursions. It happens more often than you'd think. You won't think it so remote when it happens to you. Two airliners going splat over some dude turning off his strobes isn't worth it. Make yourself conspicuous when you cross runways, its an easy safety margin to a big problem right now.

 

You seem to put much faith in others if you think that the odds of being cleared onto a runway after someone else has been cleared to land or take-off is a "remote" possibility. Your position also does not account for the instances where people attempt to take-off or land without a clearance on the correct or incorrect runway.

Furthermore, you mean to tell me that in the split second that the strobe catches your eye, after your reflexes cause you to look away or blink, it will cause you to be so blinded that you can no longer see signs or markings?? That, sir, is what I consider highly unlikely. I would have to say that your night vision may already be physiologically impared due to smoking, or vitamin deficiency, or you are staring into the light for an extended period in which case I don't feel sorry for you.

My obligation as the captain of my aircraft is to maintain the safety of MY passengers, crew and aircraft above all else, including your comfort. If it is my determination that the safest operation is to have as many lights on as possible while on any runway, then again no offense, but christmas tree it is!

 

Straight from the American Optometric Association Website:


"While dark adaptation of the rods develops rather slowly over a period of 20 to 30 minutes, it can be lost in a few seconds of exposure to bright light. Accordingly, during night operations aircrew members should be taught to avoid bright lights."

 

Yeah, so if you see that someone has their strobes on, don't continue looking. Muster up the strength to turn your head 1/4"

 

Do you actually look both ways before you cross to see if anyone is coming? I find that more reliable than clicking on the strobes.