Lights Operation
During the walk around, the condition of the external lights needs to be checked.
The first lights to be checked, are the lights installed on the nose landing gear.
The TAXI light is at the top, on the right hand side of the gear strut.
The TAKEOFF light is on the opposite side.
TURN OFF lights are attached onto the lower part of the strut.
A wing light is fitted on each side of the fuselage.
Two red beacon lights are installed, one on the top of the fuselage and one on the lower center fuselage.
A landing light is installed under each wing, near to the main landing gear well. The lights are in their normal retracted position.
Two sets of navigation lights and a strobe light are installed on each wing tip.
Just below the APU exhaust, there are two white navigation lights and a strobe light.
We shall now perform the cockpit preparation. The first lights to be set are the strobe lights.
The STROBE sw controls the operation of the three white strobe lights.
It should be set to AUTO and so, the strobe lights will not come on as long as the main gear struts are compressed.
Note: It has to be set to ON when entering the runway for takeoff. It has to be set to AUTO, after landing when leaving the runway.
The NAV & LOGO sw controls the operation of the logo lights and two sets of navigation lights.
The logo lights are installed in the upper surface of each horizontal stabilizer to illuminate the company logo on the vertical stabilizer, provided the main gear struts are compressed or the slats are extended.
Position 1 turns the logo lights and first set of navigation lights on. Position 2 turns the logo lights and the second set of navigation lights on.
We will continue the cockpit preparation by setting the controls of the cabin signs.
They are used to give instructions to the passengers such as “NO SMOKING”, “FASTEN SEAT BELTS” and “RETURN TO SEAT” in each lavatory.
These switches should be set to ON and to AUTO.
Note: The AUTO position causes the “NO SMOKING” and all “EXIT” signs to come on when the landing gear is extended and to go off when the gear is retracted.
A low tone chime sounds in the cabin when the signs come on and go off.
When an excessive cabin altitude is reached, the “NO SMOKING”, “FASTEN SEAT BELT”, “RETURN TO SEAT” and “EXIT” signs come on automatically regardless of the SEAT BELTS and NO SMOKING selectors positions.
When the “SEAT BELTS” signs are ON or the “NO SMOKING” signs are ON, an associated memo message appears on the E/WD.
The emergency lighting has an:
- Over wing escape route lighting
- Escape slide integral lighting
- EXIT signs
- Overhead emergency lights
- Floor escape path lighting system.
Two different systems are available. Either lighted bands on the cabin floor or lights installed on the seat sides. An aircraft can be equipped with either system.
The EMER EXIT LT selector has three positions.
In the OFF position, the escape path lighting, EXIT signs and overhead emergency lighting are off and the EMER EXIT LT OFF light is amber.