When is the aircraft beacon required to be active?

When is the aircraft beacon required to be active?

• A. Only on the ground
• B. Only during daytime operations
• C. From engine start to engine shutdown
• D. Only during flight

Answer: (D)

Beacons are used to signal that the aircraft is active and to make it visible to other aircraft and ground personnel. They should be illuminated whenever the aircraft is powered, which starts with engine start and continues through taxi, run-up, takeoff, flight, landing, and until engine shutdown. This means the beacon is active for the entire time the systems are energized, not just during flight or only on the ground. The other timings (ground-only, daytime-only, or flight-only) would miss periods when the aircraft is actively powered and moving.

Beacons are used to signal that the aircraft is active and to make it visible to other aircraft and ground personnel. They should be illuminated whenever the aircraft is powered, which starts with engine start and continues through taxi, run-up, takeoff, flight, landing, and until engine shutdown. This means the beacon is active for the entire time the systems are energized, not just during flight or only on the ground. The other timings (ground-only, daytime-only, or flight-only) would miss periods when the aircraft is actively powered and moving.