®
Lighting Regulations
Light
g Requirements,
q , Locations,, & Distribution Patterns
All aircraft must have an approved anti-collision light and position light system for nighttime operations. The position lights consist of an
Aviation Red on the left side, an Aviation Green on the right and an Aviation White Taillight (REF. FAR 23.1389).
The anti-collision lighting system is required under FAR PART 91.205(c). There are different requirements affecting different aircraft. These
aircraft are categorized by the date of application for type certificate. Home built aircraft are determined by the date of issuance of the
Experimental Operating Limitations. The different categories are as follows:
Aircraft for which type certificate was applied for After April 1, 1957 to August 10, 1971:
These anti-collision systems must produce a minimum of 100 effective candela in Aviation Red or White (REF. FAR 23.1397), 360º around the
aircraft’s vertical axis, 30º above and below the horizontal plane (REF. FAR 23.1401).
Aircraft for which type certificate was applied for After August 11, 1971 to July 18, 1977:
These anti-collision systems must produce a minimum of 400 effective candela in Aviation Red or White (REF. FAR 23.1397), 360º around the
aircraft’s vertical axis, 30º above and below the horizontal plane (REF. FAR 23.1401).
Aircraft for which type certificate was applied for After July 18, 1977:
These anti-collision systems must produce a minimum of 400 effective candela in Aviation Red or White (REF. FAR 23.1397), 360º around the
aircraft’s vertical axis, 75º above and below the horizontal plane (REF. FAR 23.1401).
Note: The position lights must be wired independently of anti-collision lights.
An approved anti-colli- An approved anti-colli-
RI sion strobe light system +75º sion strobe light sys-
BE 0º G 360º +30º +30º
must project light 360° tem must project light
O
HT
Position Position
N GT I P S T R
around the aircraft’s ver- + or - 30° above and
W IN
Red Green
110º 110º tical axis. One or more below the horizontal
G T IP S
strobe lights can be plane of the aircraft.
IF RE
E
RAG
Tail Tail
used. One or more strobe
WI
Position Position
TR
White White
QU
lights can be used. The
FT
O
70º 70º
OV
BE
180º -30º -30º
IR
LE
ED + or - 75° projected
C
TH E -75º
I RD OB light is required since
TAIL STR
July 18, 1977.
Lighting
g g Installation Locations
Wingtip: The major difference in systems is the location of the strobe power supplies which can be mounted locally, one in each wingtip, or
a single power supply can be mounted in the fuselage. Installation time can be greatly reduced if done in conjunction with an annual or one
hundred-hour inspection. Properly installed power supplies and cabling are necessary for the safe operation of Whelen or any light systems.
Fuselage: Fuselage mounted units can be either self-contained with the power supply and lighthead as one unit, or remote lightheads run
off a separate power supply. To meet the field of coverage, one must be on the top of the fuselage and one on the bottom.
Vertical Fin: Finally, if applicable, a single anti-collision light can be mounted on the vertical stabilizer. It can be either a self-contained or
remote lighthead depending on the aircraft.
VERTICAL FIN WINGTIP ENCLOSED WINGTIP FUSELAGE
One anti-collision strobe light mount- Two wingtip strobe lights that pro- Enclosed wingtip anti-collision strobe In a fuselage mounted anti-collision
ed on the vertical fin will meet the trude beyond the wingtip. lights, require a third strobe light on strobe light system, a minimum of
minimum requirements on most air- the tail or vertical fin, to fill in the two strobe lights are necessary to get
craft. A half red and half white lens is required light envelope. This is an the required vertical coverage. This is
recommended. approved anti-collision system. an approved anti-collision system.
Lighting
g g Technologies
g
Lighting Halogen Lamp: S
Strobe Tube: Strobe light consist
sist LED: LEDs are solid state devices
A halogen lamp is an oof a tube containing an inert gas, and are subject to very
Technology incandescent lamp with ssuch as Xenon. Capacitors inside side limited wear and tear if
a tungsten filament tthe light are charged up to a operated at low currents
Glossary contained within an inert
rt rrelatively high voltage, roughlyy and low temperatures.
gas. 3300 volts for small strobes, A square wavelength
tthen discharged via a creates higher visability
ttrigger to create a bright with longer on time.
bburst of light.
NOTE: All non-FAA approved parts in this catalog are signified by a (—) in the approval column. Parts without FAA approval may still be purchased, however, installation
of these parts on U. S. Type Certificated products will require additional FAA approvals.
