Flying a plane is no easy task, and that’s why pilots who fly the biggest planes have tens of thousands of hours of experience, but this expertise and experience can often pale in comparison to the difficulty faced during a troublesome flight or landing. This is where plane lights come in, as the ones on the ground allow pilots to safely navigate the skies and figure out how to land safely even when visibility is low, and the ones on the plane are vital in showing their location at all times.
- Using LEDs
Aircraft lights, though they may be a simple piece of technology, are heavily relied upon by pilots and professionals on the ground to conduct safe and simple flights, which is why they need to be as durable and reliable as possible. In the past, these lights were made using incandescent bulbs, but as the worldwide aviation industry expands and there is a greater need for security, LEDs have quickly been adopted by airlines and airports around the world. These lights can get brighter, are easier to install wherever needed, and, most importantly, can be used for years without any issues, making them a must-have for any plane.
- Landing lights
Visibility is an important part of conducting a flight safely, and landing lights play a crucial role in that since pilots need to be able to see the runway under any circumstances, especially in emergencies when visibility is low and automated systems can’t be relied upon. Landing lights are typically found on the wing of a plane and allow pilots to shine bright lights on the runway whenever needed, making flights that take place at night much easier and allowing for more safety during rain or fog. Without these lights, it would be nearly impossible to see anything outside of the plane in any condition besides bright, direct sunlight.
- Taxi lights
Taxi lights are another type of airplane lights that allow pilots to smoothly conduct and control the plane, and they’re especially useful on the ground. In contrast, the plane is being positioned before takeoff or after landing. These taxi lights can illuminate the ground and the taxiway the plane is on and show off all of the lights that have been carefully placed to provide a clear path for the plane. Since airports are massive and runways can have multiple planes at once, taxi lights serve as a great way of identifying where planes are on the runway, which can reduce the chance of a collision during takeoff.
- Trends
There have been many trends emerging in the plane lights sector of the aviation industry, especially because of how integral they are to the overall process of a flight, but the main and potentially most impactful changes include lights that may be able to change their intensity on their own, based on the ambient light conditions in the surroundings, which would make working with and using these lights more effective and less prone to human error. This change would also reduce energy costs, as having the option to dim the lights instead of turning them off or on completely is something that many airports and pilots would prefer to do.
- Benefits
The benefits of plane lights are immense, as flying a plane is far different from any other mode of transportation, and knowing the exact location of a plane is vital. Though flying is perhaps the safest way to travel, there are a lot of safeguards in place to ensure that remains true, and that includes having lights that allow pilots to navigate every situation effectively, as well as indicators on the plane that show traffic control technicians where the plane is at all times, virtually negating the risk of a crash.
Conclusion
Plane lights have become an integral part of the flying experience, especially as safety becomes more and more of a concern, as these lights are safety measures for pilots in every scenario, whether there’s low visibility or if there’s terrible weather, fog, and low sunlight that results in much more difficulty while assessing the situation. The development that has gone into these lights has ensured that flights worldwide are being performed safely and without incident, even in bad weather.