aa73

Like you said, depends on that particular airline's FOM.

AA's FOM states that strobes are only to be turned on when takeoff clearance is received. That is why you will generally never see an AA aircraft in position and hold - even at night - with strobes on. From what I've seen, this is different from most airlines (SHOCKER!! AA does it different from everyone else!) I personally think that having the strobes on when in position would help prevent another Skywest/USAir LAX crash.

That said, AA does not have a very progressive "lights on" policy. We don't even have any guidance in our FOM for illuminating all of our lights when crossing runways. If you are ever in position and hold waiting for crossing traffic, the completely dark aircraft will almost always be an AA aircraft: it is simply not taught, nor is it in our manuals, to illuminate when crossing. Again, I strongly disagree with this. Not much I can do about it in the 75/76, as all the light switches are the CA's territory, but I always suggest it. When I was on the 737 and MD80, as I had control of some of the lights, I always illuminated what I could.

All lights on for safety when crossing, strobes/wing illumination/runway turnoffs when in position. Simple and safe!

DeadHead

Personally, I could careless what the aircraft ahead of me decides to do with his strobes. The only thing I consider toolish is chiming in over the radio with a snide comment.

Different companies have different policies on how and when to turn the strobes on. Regardless I don't think it's a reason to get all wrapped around the axle.

DeadHead

Agree with all that 100%.
Seems as though majority of airline operators actually have specific guidance on how and when aircraft should be utilized.
Giving grief to guy over the radio for doing something the way his company wants him to do it is toolish anyway you look at it.

lakehouse

I am surprised since Eagle is a copy/paste of AA most the time. On the EMB our manual is all lights on when crossing a runway, it just says dont blind people with your strobe when you do it.

450 would know better IOE/checkrides but I think our book is like your, strobes on when cleared to go ( BUT ONLY at night or limited vis.)

Quick question, does any AA plane have a logo light?

aa73

Nope... The 777s came with logo lights but they were immediately deactivated. Same with the TWA MD80s. AA has never liked logo lights... unnecessary expense. Dumb, if you ask me.. just one more safety-oriented thing out the door.

Strange that all Eagle aircraft have them, despite the fact that we are all under the same umbrella.

aa73

And while we're on the subject of lights, don't get me started on the MD80 lights policy.

Since they are retractable and extend out from under the wings, AA in its infinite cost-saving wisdom has in the manual NOT to use those landing lights whenever possible: apparently they waste fuel when extended and we can't have that now, can we?

Same manual also says that the ground flood lights and wing illumination lights (on the F/O's panel) don't have to be on either.

Result: you will often see an MD80 on final, at night, with the gear not yet extended, COMPLETELY DARK.

Rolf

I think it's time to move from lights etiquette to the finer points of rudder pedal position for aircraft terminators. I lay awake at night, wondering if I positioned them correctly for the next crew.

UnderOveur

What a coincidence. Speaking of tools, that's an apt description of the minds of the cast/crew/audience of "The View", too!

captjns

You are close... The guy in recurrent who saves his questions til 16:59, that requires, not only graphs or illustrations, but a 20 minute response.

Sonny Crockett

Spot on sir!