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Plane Answers: Wing inspection lights and a recent severe turbulence encounter
Welcome to Gadling's feature, Plane Answers, where our resident airline pilot, Kent Wien, answers your questions about everything from takeoff to touchdown and beyond. Have a question of your own? Ask away!Alex asks:
Hi Kent,
I recently flew on a 737 and returned on a different airline on an MD- 80. Both flights were only about 40 minutes long and the wing lights remained on for the duration of each flight. I thought those lights were usually turned off once the plane has reached a certain altitude and/or a certain distance from the departure airport. I don't remember the wing lights staying on during previous flights. Is it left to pilot's discretion for these lights or is there an FAA regulation covering when to leave them on?
Hi Alex. It's up to each airline to set procedures regarding when the wing inspection lights are used illuminate the leading edges of the wings and to provide an extra level of collision avoidance.
At my company, we use the wing lights from takeoff until 18,000 feet, and then again descending below 18,000 feet until turning off the runway after landing. That said, they they may be left off at the pilot's discretion.
Ron asks:
Hey Kent!
I know you've mentioned turbulence several times, but I have a turbulence question. I fly a decent amount, over 100K miles a year, and being a huge aviation geek, turbulence doesn't bother me, in fact sometimes I like it.
Today in the angry skies over Texas on a flight from Houston to Boston, I experienced turbulence I didn't like!
As we waited in line to takeoff, I noticed ATC was spacing planes really far apart, and in my experience, that's never really a good sign. We took off, and minutes later the turbulence started, it felt a lot like being on space mountain, but it didn't end. The plane would bank from one side to the other, while bobbing up and down. Anything that was not bolted down was flying around. My question is, does this kind of turbulence phase pilots and when, if ever, does it become too much for you?
You're right Ron, I've had a lot of turbulence questions, but it's a question worth revisiting from time to time.
Most pilots will start looking for a smoother altitude by asking ATC, other airplanes or their dispatch soon after the seatbelt sign goes on. Sometimes, like when flying over the Rockies, it's apparent that there just aren't any smooth altitudes available.
As soon as it becomes uncomfortable or annoying to passengers, you can be assured that it's not much fun for the pilots either. I swear the ride gets worse the moment we get our meal or if we're writing something in the logbook.
It takes a significant amount, far more than most any of us have experienced, to cause structural damage to an aircraft. That said, if I were in the turbulence you describe, I would be concerned for the safety of passengers and flight attendants that aren't sitting with their seat belts fastened.
Our options at that point would be to change altitude, change course, or even to turn around and go back.
But of all the things to worry about on a flight, turbulence shouldn't really be one of your top ten concerns.
I hope your next flight is much smoother.
Do you have a question about something related to the pointy end of an airplane? Ask Kent and maybe he'll use it for the next Plane Answers. Check out his other blog, Cockpit Chronicles and travel along with him at work.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
chris Sep 4th 2009 4:15PM
Hmm. Of all the things to worry about on a flight, what *should* my top-ten concerns be?
;-)
Kent Wien Sep 4th 2009 4:16PM
That could be a good future Plane Answers. Let me think about that.
GazP Sep 4th 2009 10:31PM
Good post Kent. I know that turbulence is en vogue at the moment with AF447 still out there and great to see the measured response of a pro.
Tough challenge on listing what we should worry about - paper overloading, iPhone failure leading to pilot anguish?:-)
Bpov Sep 5th 2009 7:10PM
Is this the same with landing, nose, turnoff, and tail lights? Are
there special procedures with inside lights too?
Kent Wien Sep 5th 2009 7:17PM
Landing lights are used after taking the runway and cleared for takeoff up to 10,000 or 18,000 feet at our airline at the captain's discretion. Taxi lights come off after takeoff (since the gear is retracted anyway) and needs to be on while on final approach or earlier at night.
Strobe lights usually stay on from taking the runway until turning off the runway after landing.
Inside lights are at the discretion of the flight attendants, but they're usually dimmed for landing at night.
Alex Sep 7th 2009 5:07PM
Hey Kent! Thanks for answering my question about the wing inspection lights. That was a pretty quick response too. My MD-80 flight was on your airline by the way. You were definitely right about the cabin being very quiet during cruise. Even though I was in row 25 it was a smooth and quiet ride except for the two blabber mouths sitting directly behind me cackling like little kids at a playground. Oh that grinds my gears!
Thanks,
Alex