Importance of Aircraft Lighting

Exterior aircraft lights help pilots navigate, avoid collisions, land, taxi, and signal other aircraft. Because of this, the design and testing process is pivotal. Aircraft lights are typically tested by using physical prototypes under difficult conditions. Engineers can simulate these conditions digitally and test things like photometry, colorimetry, homogeneity, and overall performance in situations such as landing, takeoff, and landing. These digital simulations are easier on the budget and get the lights to market sooner.

The lights inside the cabin provide comfort, safety, utility, and general illumination. In modern commercial aircraft, lights are used to help passengers beat jet lag by recreating the time of day or night at their destination. While it’s nice to have a lighting setup that creates a pleasant experience for every passenger, the most important lights in the cabin are the emergency lights. In the case of these lights, aircraft designers are tasked with making them subtle enough to not interfere with passenger’s peace of mind while still clearly directing passengers toward exits.

Cockpit lighting plays a similar role to that of the cabin, in the sense that it provides comfort, utility, and safety. The main difference, however, is that these light systems affect how pilots perform. For example, the cockpit will be lit and colored differently depending on time of day, weather, and other external factors. Lumens produced by the cockpit instruments are optimized to allow pilots to see important data without obscuring the view of other important equipment through glare, reflection, and general eye strain.

Finding the right lighting equipment for your aircraft is an important, if overlooked, aspect of owning an aircraft. At ASAP Aviation Supplies, owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor, we can help you find all the aircraft lighting components for the aerospace, civil aviation, and defense industries. We’re always available and ready to help you find all the parts and equipment you need, 24/7-365. For a competitive quote in fifteen minutes or less, email us at sales@asapaviationsupplies.com or call us at 1-720-923-2840.