Helicopter lights[PDF]

INTRODUCTION

Helicopter lights are very similar to aeroplane lights

These pictures represent a AS332 Helicopter light configuration

We can see 4 types of lights:

• Position lights
  
• Anti collision lights
  
• Search light
  
• Landing light
  

LIGHTS DESCRIPTION

POSITION LIGHTS

Position lights show the relative position of an aircraft.

This picture represents a AS332 Helicopter light configuration

These lights consist in three colors:

• Green: this light is located on the right hand side of the aircraft.
• Red: this light is located on the left hand side of the aircraft.
• White: this light is located on the tail of the aircraft.
  

USE

These lights show us the relative position of an aircraft:

If green light is visible on the left and red light on the right, the aircraft is approaching in front of us; collision is possible

If green light is visible, the aircraft is going from left to the right; collision is hardly possible

If red light is visible, the aircraft is going from right to the left, collision is hardly possible

If white light is visible in the middle, red light on the left and green light on the right, the aircraft is flying in the same heading in which we are flying, collision is remote

These lights are usually used as soon as the aircraft have some type of electrical power

ANTI-COLLISION LIGHTS

Anti-collision lights are located at the top and/or at the bottom of the aircraft. These lights are red or white

these lights are used when the aircraft engines are running or when the aircraft is going to make some movement on the platform

This picture represents a AS332 Helicopter light configuration

LANDING LIGHTS

Landing lights are used for night take off or landings; these lights are located at the front of the helicopter, over the auxiliary gear

Landing lights can be used as taxi lights at the moment of performing an aerial or rolled taxi.

These lights are used to illuminate the runway and also to make us visible to other traffic or to the tower.

This picture represents a AS332 Helicopter light configuration

SEARCH LIGHT

Search lights are located at the front of the aircraft above the auxiliary gear or above the main gear, above left or right gear.
This light can be moved with a switch located on the cyclic.

The main use of this light is to search something in the surroundings of the aircraft, and it has more importance in SAR missions.

This picture represents a AS332 Helicopter light configuration

CARGO HOOK LIGHT

Helicopters have one light at the bottom which is used to illuminate the cargo hook during night operations

NVG LIGHTS

Some helicopters are equipped with night vision goggles for NVG flights
External lights are also provided for that:

• Position lights are dimmable because these lights can cause poor visibility with NVG or, if we are in formation flight it can cause pilots of the other helicopter not to see very well because of the intensity of the lights
  
• Anticollision lights are also dimmable for the same reason
  
• Search lights have two options:
  

1. White light for normal night operations
2. IR light to be used during NVG flights; this light is not visible without NVG

CONCLUSION

Lights on an aircraft are very important because its principal mission is to avoid a possible collision with other aircraft.

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See also

• Aeroplane lights

Reference

• ICAO documentation Annex 2 - Rules of the Air - 10th Edition July 2005
• ICAO documentation Annex 6 - Operation of Aircraft - Part I - International Commercial Air Transport - Aeroplanes - 10th Edition July 2016 - Appendix 1

Author

• VID 241036 - Creation