top of page

Airplane Lighting: Making Aircraft Visible and Understandable

Updated: Dec 19, 2025

Aircraft lighting isn’t just about being seen—it’s about being understood by others in the air and on the ground.



Study this full length lesson (video, podcast, flashcards, and quiz) here: Full Length Lesson >


Position (Navigation) Lights

Position lights are on from sunset to sunrise and indicate an aircraft’s orientation.

  • Red light – Left wing

  • Green light – Right wing

  • White light – Tail


From these three lights, another pilot can instantly determine:

  • Direction of travel

  • Relative movement (approaching, receding, or crossing)


If you see red and green, the aircraft is coming toward you. If you see only white, it’s moving away.


Anti-Collision Lights

Anti-collision lights increase an aircraft’s visibility and draw attention to its movement.


These include:

  • Rotating beacons (typically red)

  • Strobe lights (usually white)


Beacons are often used:

  • Before engine start

  • Anytime the aircraft is running


Strobes are most effective in flight but may be turned off on the ground or in clouds if they create disorientation or glare.


Landing and Taxi Lights

These lights serve both visibility and safety roles.

  • Taxi lights illuminate the ground during ground movement

  • Landing lights provide forward visibility during takeoff, landing, and low-level flight


Landing lights also make aircraft significantly more visible to others, especially in traffic patterns or near busy airports.


Recognition and Logo Lights


Some aircraft include:

  • Recognition lights (pulsing forward-facing lights)

  • Wing or tail logo lights


While not required, these lights:

  • Improve visibility

  • Enhance aircraft identification

  • Add redundancy to anti-collision systems


Airport Beacon Lights: Identifying Airports at Night

One of the most recognizable sights in night aviation is the rotating airport beacon. These high-intensity lights are designed to be visible from miles away, helping pilots locate airports in darkness or reduced visibility.


Civilian Airport Beacons

Most civilian airports use a white and green rotating beacon.

  • Green flashes indicate a civilian land airport

  • White flashes alternate with green


This combination tells pilots not just that an airport is nearby—but what type it is.


Military Airport Beacons

Military airfields use a different color pattern:

  • Two quick white flashes

  • Followed by one green flash


This distinction helps prevent confusion, especially in areas with multiple airfields.


Seaplane Base Beacons

Seaplane bases are marked by:

  • White and yellow flashes


The yellow component signals water operations, distinguishing them from land-based airports.


Heliport Beacons

Heliports use a more subtle combination:

  • Green, yellow, and white flashes


These beacons help rotorcraft pilots identify landing areas that may otherwise be difficult to see at night.


When Airport Beacons Are On (and Off)

Airport beacons are typically:

  • Turned on from sunset to sunrise

  • Activated during reduced visibility conditions


At some airports, the beacon may be:

  • Pilot-controlled

  • Turned off if the airport is closed or well-lit


Importantly, a beacon does not guarantee:

  • That the runway lights are on

  • That the airport is open or staffed


Pilots must still verify runway lighting and availability.


Common Night-Flying Misconceptions

  • “I see a beacon, so the runway lights must be on.” Not always. Runway lights may need to be pilot-activated.

  • “Strobes must always be on.”Pilots may turn them off if they reduce safety due to glare or disorientation.

  • “A bright light means an airport.”Towers, wind farms, and industrial sites can mimic airport lighting patterns.


Why Lighting Knowledge Matters

At night, pilots lose many visual cues:

  • Terrain features

  • Horizon definition

  • Distance judgment


Lighting becomes the primary source of situational awareness. Knowing how to interpret airplane and airport lights helps pilots:

  • Avoid midair conflicts

  • Navigate confidently

  • Reduce workload

  • Make better decisions under pressure


Final Thought

Night aviation isn’t about seeing everything—it’s about recognizing the right things. Airplane lights tell stories of movement and intention, while airport beacons quietly mark safe havens in the dark.


For pilots, fluency in this language of light transforms night flight from intimidating to intuitive—and keeps the sky orderly long after the sun goes down.



Study Full Aviation Courses:

wifiCFI's full suite of aviation courses has everything you need to go from brand new to flight instructor and airline pilot! Check out any of the courses below for free:


Study Courses:


Checkride Lesson Plans:


Teaching Courses:



 
 
bottom of page