Kill the Strobes!
01-11-2008 | 01:09 PM
#41
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: May 2006
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From: 737 CA
Pilots used to tell me all the time to turn off my strobes when I flew the ATR's. I always said, "I'm sorry, the switch says off, but I'll flip it the other way." I turned the strobes "on" for them to see the difference. The beacon was white on the ATR. 
FAA requires a "red or white" anticollision light. ATR had a white one.
GA aircraft are the worst and they don't listen when you tell them to turn their strobes off. I sat in a run-up area once in SJC with a Baron doing his run-up with all lights on including the strobes. He wouldn't turn them off when asked.
Crossing a runway: all lights are fair game. Safety first.
FAA requires a "red or white" anticollision light. ATR had a white one. GA aircraft are the worst and they don't listen when you tell them to turn their strobes off. I sat in a run-up area once in SJC with a Baron doing his run-up with all lights on including the strobes. He wouldn't turn them off when asked.
Crossing a runway: all lights are fair game. Safety first.
01-11-2008 | 01:11 PM
#42
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Aeroplanes
That wouldn't be good. What if while you were crossing the runway somebody was trying to takeoff or land? If you were to look at them, you might be blinded by their strobe, or even worse in this case, their landing lights.
01-11-2008 | 01:11 PM
#43
Line Holder
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Trying not to crash
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?
Excerpt from the SR-20 POH:
01-11-2008 | 01:15 PM
#44
Doing One Pilot's Job
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 7,887
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I look both ways when I cross a road...but you turn strobes on so the airplane you didn't see doesn't land on top of or take off into you. Its happened before, it can easily happen again.
If you don't like strobes on the ground, at night, when crossing an active runway, you simply don't have to look at aircraft that have that practice. If they leave them on AFTER crossing the runway, that is a legitimate gripe.
If you don't like strobes on the ground, at night, when crossing an active runway, you simply don't have to look at aircraft that have that practice. If they leave them on AFTER crossing the runway, that is a legitimate gripe.
01-11-2008 | 01:20 PM
#45
On Reserve
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 18
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From: SF340 CA
Thats what they tell me...
They should always be on in the daytime. Congratz on the job, btw.
No change, however the "nav w/o strobe on the ground" is only for night time, because the strobes are distracting at night (The "safety of flight" loophole). However, no argument can be made that the strobes are disorienting during the day, so we've gotta use them.
Excerpt from the SR-20 POH:
They should always be on in the daytime. Congratz on the job, btw.
No change, however the "nav w/o strobe on the ground" is only for night time, because the strobes are distracting at night (The "safety of flight" loophole). However, no argument can be made that the strobes are disorienting during the day, so we've gotta use them.
Excerpt from the SR-20 POH:
Thanks. Yeah I should've clarified nighttime only. I always had the strobes on during the day.
01-11-2008 | 01:41 PM
#46
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Joined: Jan 2008
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I don't think a quick strobe flash is going to blind you to the point of not being able to read signs or lines. I do a lot of driving at night, in the rain, towards taxiing aircraft (some with strobes on) and have never been blinded to the point of not being able to see markings.
01-11-2008 | 03:12 PM
#49
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Joined: Nov 2006
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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."
"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."
Oh well, I didn't mean to pee in your Wheaties about the whole thing, but at least next time that I cross a runway at night, I will know who is behind the wheel if an RJ drives into the grass next to me and I'll be sure to get out and help push!
01-11-2008 | 03:12 PM
#50
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: CRJ
Sorry texas,, seems like you are the only one who thinks this is a problem. I have never been close enough to someone that their strobes were blinding me. even when holding short of the runway and someone is position and hold with their strobes on it doesn't bother me.
As soon as i cross or go into position on any runway the strobes go on. that is just common sense in a time where airports are maxed out to capacity and the threat of runway incursions are greater. it helps the tower and your fellow pilots gain the visual cues they need to help them be safe also.
As soon as i cross or go into position on any runway the strobes go on. that is just common sense in a time where airports are maxed out to capacity and the threat of runway incursions are greater. it helps the tower and your fellow pilots gain the visual cues they need to help them be safe also.
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