The FAA has issued a http://www.faa.gov/aircraft/draft_docs/media/taxi-public-comment.pdf”target=”_blank”>policy statement addressing concerns that it hasin the past approved taxi, landing and recognition lights for Part 23aircraft without reference to the effects of those lights on requiredlights or electromagnetic interference issues. To clarify approveduse of lights, the FAA asserts that taxi lights may reduce the areacovered by required position or anti-collision lights because theyare designed for “the taxi phase of flight” (presumably, that “phaseof flight” that takes place on the ground). Landing lights for use inapproach and landing phases of flight may also reduce the areacovered by required lighting. Part 23 does not, however, requireforward-facing recognition lights, and the statement says thoselights are acceptable if they supplement but do not reduce therequired field of coverage of position lights or anti-collisionlights, do not cause a hazard and do not cause EMI. “Logo lights”used to illuminate parts of the aircraft fall under those same rules.This policy statement clarifies FAR 23.1383 through 23.1395and 23.1401 for installing required and non-required lights on part23 aircraft. It applies to normal, utility, acrobatic and commutercategory airplanes. It also applies to non-rigid airships (ADCsections 6.24 through 6.30 and 6.32) certified in the normal category(FAR 21.17(b)) with nine passenger seats or less. The policystatement contains precise details on how the FAA in this caseintends to define “hazard,” EMI and logo lights.
