A Project on

AIRCRAFT EXTERNAL LIGHTS SYSTEM

Submitted in partial fulfilment of the award of

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE

IN AERONAUTICS

(AVIONICS )

By

Miss. Anjali N Hedaoo

Miss. Mansi M deshpande

Under the guidance of

Dr. M Suresh Kumar

Ph.D. M.Tech B. Tech MCSE

University of Mumbai

1
 PSD SHASTRI EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION WINGSSS

COLLEGE OF AVIATION TECHNOLOGY,

Affiliated to University of Mumbai

S.No 85, NDA Road, Shivane, PUNE, 411023

2020-21

WINGSSS COLLEGE OF AVIATION TECHNOLOGY

Approved by Director General of Civil Aviation, Government of India affiliated to

University of Mumbai

S.No. 85 Shastri Campus near Prestige public School road, NDA Road, Shivane,

Pune, Maharashtra 411023

Website: www.wcat.in/

2
 BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that project report titled “AIRCRAFT EXTERNAL LIGHT SYSTEMS", is
a bonafide record of work carried out by ku.ANJALI NITIN HEDAOO during the final semester
from February 2021 to May 2021 under my guidance, in partial fulfillment of the

requirements for the award of Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics (Avonic).

Prof. Dr. M Suresh Kumar

Principal

3
 DECLARATION

We hereby declare that the project entitled —'Aircraft External Lights Systems". which is
being submitted Project Of 6th semester in avionics to wings college of aviation and
technology, Pune is an authentic record of our genuine done under the guidance of prof. Dr.
Suresh Kumar and prof. Pankaj salunkhe

Date-

Place- Pune
Anjali .N. Hedaoo

4
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

It is our pleasure to be indebted to various people, who directly or indirectly contributed in the
development of this work and who influenced our thinking, behavior, and acts during the course of
study.
We express my sincere gratitude to my Project Guide Dr.M Suresh Kumar for providing us an
opportunity to work under him. We are thankful to him for his support, cooperation and motivation
provided to us during the project for constant inspiration, presence and blessings.

We also extend my sincere appreciation to Prof. Pankaj salunkhe who provided his valuable suggestions
and precious time in accomplishing our project.
Lastly, we would like to thank our parents for their moral support and our friends with whom we shared
our experience and received lots of suggestions that improved our quality .

Anjali .N. Hedaoo(2018-A-019)

Mansi .M.Deshpande(2018-A-013)

5
 PROJECT NAME

AIRCRAFT EXTERNAL LIGHTS SYSTEM

PROJECT RECORD BOOK

Name of the Students:

• MANSI .M.DESHPANDE- (ROLL NO.-2018-A-013)

• ANJALI .N.HEDAOO - (ROLL NO.-2018-A-019)

Class & Branch :

• B.Sc. Aeronautics 3rd Year

6
Semester :

• 6th Semester
Stream:-

● Avionics

INDEX

• Abstract

• Introduction

• Aircraft Lights 1)Exterior Lighting

• Components Used In Project

• Printed Outline Of Aircraft Design

• Project procedure

• Project Circuit Diagram

• Conclusion

7
 • Reference

ABSTRACT
Aircraft lighting system provides illumination for both exterior and interior use. Lights on the
exterior provide illumination for such operation as landing at night, inspection of icing condition, and
safety from midair collision. Interior lighting provides illumination for instrument, cockpits, cabins,
and other sections occupied by crewmember and passengers. Certain special lights, such as indicator
and warning lights, indicate the operation status of equipment.

Fig no. 1.1

8
 INTRODUCTION
The lighting system provides interior and exterior illumination of the aircraft. In addition,
Lights provides information and guidance to passengers in normal and emergency situation.
External lights, in genral terms, serve one of the three purposes:

1) To make the aircraft more visible too their aircraft

2) To improve pilot visibility during critical phases off lights

OR
3) To provide illumination for some other specific purposes

9
 AIRCRAFT LIGHTS
Planes are equipped with a variety of lights that are used for navigation, safety and to improve

visibility during flight or when taxing on the ground.The external light on the aircraft fall

into two categories.The first is navigation light or beacons that are always illuminated while the
aircraft is in operation. As second typeinclude take off and landing lights that are used to
improve visibility when the plane is close too on the ground.

The lighting systems includes:-

1) Exterior lighting
2) Flight compartment lighting

3)Passenger compartment(cabin) lighting

4)Service lighting

5)Emergency lighting

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Description

The exterior lighting system is controlled from the EXTERNAL LTS panel or the LANDING LTS
panel, and consists of the following:

1)Navigation lights;

2)Beacons lights;

3)Anti-collision lights;

4) Logo lights;

10
5) Wing inspection lights;

6)Landings lights; and

7)Recognition/taxi lights

11
 NAVIGATION LIGHTS:
The navigation lights are located in each wing tip, fuselage tail cone tip,and at the tip of the stabilizer
fairing. A wing tip assembly contains two navigation lights that work simultaneously.

Wing tip navigation light Fig no.1.2

12
APPLICATION:

* Navigation lights gives the information of aircraft position, heading and status.

*When taxing or flying in the night when it is more difficult to tell the direction the plane is going
without them.

*The position lights shows your position and relative direction.

*Make it possible for an outside observer,such as the pilot of another aircraft, to determine which
direction the plane is flying.

BEACON LIGHTS:

13
APPLICATION:

*The Aircraft Beacon Lights are red in color and either flash or rotate to provides a pulsating warning
lights. *The beacon lights is normally turned on prior to engine start and turned off after engines
have been shut down. *Constantly, working beacons lights help the ground engineers

External Lighting

14
The anti-collision lights consist of the two wing tips strobe light, located in the wing tip
assembly, and one strobe light at the tip of the fuselage tail cone, co-located with the
navigation light.

The A/COLL switch control the anti-collision strobe light.

15
 Fig no. 1.5 : Anti Collision light (White & Red) APPLICATION:

*The strobe lights is a safety light to war no their aircraft, especially in congested areas.

*A white strobe light is second type of anti-collision light that is also common.

LOGO LIGHTS:

The logo lights are located on top of the aircraft engine pylons.When selected, these lights
illuminate the aircraft’s vertical stabilizer.

The LOGO switch controls the logo lights.

16
 Fig no. 1.6 – Logo light

APPLICATION:

*The logo lights is used to see if there are any other aircraft crossing the taxiway or apron.
*It’s just better to have a big, bright, illuminated area, instead of the few small light.

*ATC and the pilot can visually identify the companies name.

WING INSPECTION LIGHT:

There are two wing inspection lights located on fuselage, forward of each wing root.

17
The WING-INSP switch control the left and right wing inspection light.

Fig no. 1.7: Wing Inspection lights

APPLICATION:

*wing inspection lights also known as ice inspection lights or wing scan lights.

*give your pilots the illumination they need to check for ice formation and other hazards.

18
LANDING LIGHTS:

There are four landing lights on the aircraft.Two lights are located in the nose,and one light is located in
each wing, at the root.
The NOSE switch, located on the LANDING LTS panel,control both nose landing lights
simultaneously.

The LEFT switch and the RIGHT switch,located on the LANDING LTS panel, control each wing
landing lights respectively.
NOTE: Turning on the left or right landing light turns on the respective side recognition/taxi lights.

Fig no.1.8 - Landing lights

19
APPLICATION:

*Landing lights are installed in aircraft to illuminates runways during night landings.

*Landing lights are directed by the parabolic reflector at an angle providing a maximum range of
illumination.

TAXI LIGHTS/RECOGNITION:

There are two taxi lights, co-located outboard of the wing landing lights.

The RECOG/TAXI LTS switch, located on the LANDING LTS panel, control the taxi light.

Fig no. -1.9 : taxi light

20
APPLICATION:

*Taxi lights are designed to provide illumination on the ground while taxing or towing the aircraft
to or from a runway, taxi strip,or in the hanger area.

*Taxi lights are also mounted in the recessed areas of the wing leading edge, often in the same
area with a fixed landing light.

21
 COMPONENT USED IN PROJECT

The proposed Aircraft lighting will include:

1) Plywood.

2) LED (Light Emiting Diode) of Red, White and Green colors.

3)Two Transformer of 4V and 12V.

4) 5 Toggle swithes.

5) Single conductor wire for connection.

6) Printed outline of the aircraft diagram of “A1Size”

Detailed Description Of Components.

Now we are going to discuss the details of the components that we have been used in our project
one by one.

▪ Plywood

We have used the 12mm plywood. The Size of the plywood is 3ft *2ft of our project.

▪ Led (light emiting diode)

22
A light emitting diode (LED) is a semi conductor light source that emits lights. When
current flows through it.Electron in a semi conductor re-combine with electron holes,
releasing energy in the form of photons.

The color of the light (corresponding to the energy of the photons) is determined by the energy
required for cross the band gap of the semi-conductor.White light is obtained by using multiple
semi-conductor or a layer of light emitting phosphor on the semiconductor device.

ANODE:-The anode is now defined as the electrode at which electrons leave the cell and
oxidation occurs.

CATHODE:-Cathode as the electrode at which electron enters the cell and reduction
occurs.

23
 Fig no. -1.10 ; LED

In this project we have used Red, White, Green Leds. Where Red leds indicates beacons light and two
navigation lights. White Leds indicates Strobes/Anti-collision lights, Landing and Taxing Lights.
An done Navigation light. Green Leds indicates Navigation Lights.

▪ Transformers:-

24
 A transformer is a passive electrical device that transfers electrical energy from one
electrical circuit to another, or multiple circuit. A varying current in any one coil of the
transformer produces a varying magnetic flux in the transformer core, which induces a
varying electro motive force across any other coils wound around the same core.
Electrical energy can be transferred between separate coils without a metallic
(conductive)connection between the two circuits.

Transformer are most commonly used for increasing low AC voltages at high current

(step-up transformer)or decreasing high AC voltages at low current (a step-down

transformer) In electric power application, and for coupling the the stages of signal
processing circuits. Transformer can also be used for isolation, where the voltages in
equals the voltages out, with separate coils not electrically bounded to one another.

Fig no. 1.11 - Transformers

We have used two transformer in this project

 4V

12V

25
 4V transformer is used to operate the landing lights, Taxing lights, Navigation lights. 12V Transformer
is used to operate the Strobe/Anti-collision Light and Beacon light. Though the strobe light and beacon
light are flashing/ blinking lights so we have made the small circuits to operate the leds in flashing
conditions.

Toggle Switches

A toggle switch or tumbler switch is a class of electrical switches that are manually actuated by a mechanic all
ever, handle, or rocking mechanism.

We have used 53 PDT Mini Toggle switches in our project to operate the led s.

(a) (b)

Fig no. – 1.12 : Toggle switch

➢ Single Conductor Wire

26
 Singles tranded wire is made of multiple thin strands of wires that form together one conductor.
The stranded design offers flexibility thus they are suitable for applications where wires need to
be bent or twisted. Electrician prefer stranded over solid because it is easier to route through
pipes in walls dueto its flexibility.
Fig no.1.13

Stranded wire is used when higher resistance to metal fatigue is required. Such situations include
connections between circuit boards in multi-printed-circuit board devices.

27
 PRINTED OUTLINE OF AIRCRAFT DIAGRAM

We have used the printed sheet of aircraft to do this project. The size of the print is A1 size. The sheet
shows that view of the aircraft and Front view of the aircraft. The printed is pasted on the plywood
sheet.

28
29
30
 PROJECT PROCEDURE

i. Procedure of our project is first we have took a sheet of plywood and cut in the size of 3ft*2ft.

ii. After Cutting the sheet we have pasted the Printed sheet of the aircraft on that panel. iii.
After that we have we have drill the panel on the points were we are going to place the
led to show the lights.

iv. The led bulb are used in this project are in colors Red, Green, and White. Were red led is used is
to show navigation lights on port wing and beacon lights on the fuselage. White led is used for
strobe light, landing, taxing and navigation on the tail of the aircraft and the green led is for
Navigation lights on the star board side the aircraft wings.

iv. Used the 53 PDT mini toggle switches to operate the led lights in on and off condition.
For toggle switch we have used a fabric box cover to place the switch on it.

v. We have used the standard wire to give the connection.

vi. To operate and to make the strobe and beacon light in flashing condition have use the 12V
transformer and we have
4V transformer for Navigation lights, Landing Lights and Taxi lights. viii. All the
connection in the project is series we have made one circuit diagram which shows the
connection and wiring of the project.

31
vii. We Have used the AC Supply as the main Source of current (I). viii. The lights will be operated
by Toggles switch to indicate the specific lights have been shown this project.

The main purpose of the project is to explain the students where are the aircraft external lights
located and to explain where the light shave been located on the aircraft.

32
PROJECT CIRCUIT DIAGRAM

Fig no. _1.14 CIRCUIT DIAGRAM

33
i. Circuit diagram explain the connection given in the project.

ii. As we have mentioned above in the procedure we have used AC supply as the main
source of supply.

We have used the two transformers of 4V and 12V.As the 4V

Transformer is for the navigation,Landing and taxing lights and 12V transformer is for
the strobe light and beacon lights. In this project connection are in series

iv. As the transformer flow the current to the switch and when switch is operates In on
condition the led blinks and off condition the led switch offs.

iv. The main use of transformer in this project to control the flow of current. If the current flows in
the high Volt the it can Fuse the leds . So we have used the transformer.

v. So as shown in the circuit the current is flow from the AC supply to the transformers from the
transformer the current is flown to the leds and the leds started blinking. vii. On 12V transformer
2 switches are operated. viii. On 4V transformer 3 Switches are operated.

vi. The input of transformer is high so the transformer helps to reduce the current flow. vii.
After completion of all the connection we have cover the panel form side an back though
the connection should not cause lose contact.

34
 CONCLUSION :

In this Project we have shown the Aircraft Lights System and the uses of lights on aircraft, we
have tried to show the purpose of lights used on the aircraft and how they are operated on aircraft
while aircraft is on ground and flying. We have also shown the simple circuit which is easy to
understand the motive of our project.

In this project, we have shown external light so fan aircraft which areas follows:1. Navigation
lights

2.Strobe/Anti-collision lights

3.Beacon lights

4. Landings lights

5. Taxiing lights

35
 Reference:

• https://www.collinsaerospace.com › ...Web results

Lighting Systems - Commercial Aviation - Collins Aerospace

• https://www.flight-mechanic.com › ...

Aircraft Lighting Systems - Flight Mechanic

• https://cltc.ucdavis.edu › filesPDF

• EXTERIOR LIGHTING GUIDE - California Lighting Technology Cente

• https://en.m.wikipedia.org › wiki  Web result ,Navigation light – Wikipedia 
https://www.skybrary.aero › Externa...

• External Lights - SKYbrary Aviation Safety

36
37