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4 Answers

Are position lights required for IFR?

Asked by: 3553 views
FAA Regulations, Flight Instructor, Instrument Rating, Weather

I’m a CFI working on my CFII…I’m also the maintenance officer for our flight school. We have an aircraft with a short in the left position light and it keeps burning out bulbs so I put a limitation on the aircraft for day VFR only. The owner of the flight school said, “no its still available for IFR, you just can’t fly it at night!” I was instructed to had me reread 91.205 and I did. Is my understanding incorrect…don’t you need position lights to fly IFR (whether you’re filed in VMC or IMC…day or night) according to the FARs?  

(c) Visual flight rules (night). For VFR flight at night, the following instruments and equipment are required:

(1) Instruments and equipment specified in paragraph (b) of this section.

(2) Approved position lights.

(3) An approved aviation red or aviation white anticollision light system on all U.S.-registered civil aircraft. Anticollision light systems initially installed after August 11, 1971, on aircraft for which a type certificate was issued or applied for before August 11, 1971, must at least meet the anticollision light standards of part 23, 25, 27, or 29 of this chapter, as applicable, that were in effect on August 10, 1971, except that the color may be either aviation red or aviation white. In the event of failure of any light of the anticollision light system, operations with the aircraft may be continued to a stop where repairs or replacement can be made.

(4) If the aircraft is operated for hire, one electric landing light.

(5) An adequate source of electrical energy for all installed electrical and radio equipment.

(6) One spare set of fuses, or three spare fuses of each kind required, that are accessible to the pilot in flight.

(d) Instrument flight rules. For IFR flight, the following instruments and equipment are required:

(1) Instruments and equipment specified in paragraph (b) of this section, and, for night flight, instruments and equipment specified in paragraph (c) of this section.

(2) Two-way radio communication and navigation equipment suitable for the route to be flown.

(3) Gyroscopic rate-of-turn indicator, except on the following aircraft:

(i) Airplanes with a third attitude instrument system usable through flight attitudes of 360 degrees of pitch and roll and installed in accordance with the instrument requirements prescribed in §121.305(j) of this chapter; and

(ii) Rotorcraft with a third attitude instrument system usable through flight attitudes of ±80 degrees of pitch and ±120 degrees of roll and installed in accordance with §29.1303(g) of this chapter.

(4) Slip-skid indicator.

(5) Sensitive altimeter adjustable for barometric pressure.

(6) A clock displaying hours, minutes, and seconds with a sweep-second pointer or digital presentation.

(7) Generator or alternator of adequate capacity.

(8) Gyroscopic pitch and bank indicator (artificial horizon).

(9) Gyroscopic direction indicator (directional gyro or equivalent).

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4 Answers

  1. Best Answer


    John Scarry on Mar 11, 2022

    The owner is correct. You quoted the relevant regulation: “and, for night flight, instruments and equipment specified in paragraph (c) of this section.”

    I don’t understand why you are confused.

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  2. John D Collins on Mar 12, 2022

    Just as an aside, I don’t see how a short can burn out a bulb. A short is likely to pop the CB which will drop power to the light. An open in the wiring will not cause the CB to pop, but the light will not get power. If the light itself is repeatedly failing, something else is going on.

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  3. Kris Kortokrax on Mar 17, 2022

    You have a separate issue to consider. You are operating an aircraft with inoperative equipment.
    Look at 91.213(d). I’m assuming that the school is not using an MEL for the airplane.

    91.213(d) requires deactivation and an “Inoperative” placard. If the circuit breakers are flush (there is not a knob that you can pull out), you will need a mechanic to deactivate it and that will require a maintenance log entry.

    The problem should be repaired at the next inspection, because the mechanic has to put a statement in the log that the aircraft has been inspected in accordance with an Annual / 100 Inspection and found to be airworthy. He cannot make that statement if the light is still broken.

    Another possible consideration is that many aircraft opted for the cheapest installation for ADS-B, which is the unit integrated with the tail position light. If the position lights are deactivated, you cannot operate the ADS-B. 91.225(f) requires that if ADS-B is installed, it must be operated, unless authorized by the FAA for national defense, law enforcement, etc. or if you are directed by ATC to turn it off.

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  4. KevinB on Mar 23, 2022

    Your feedback is much appreciated and I see where my interpretation went off the tracks. Where I got a little tripped up was reading the KOEL where it states position lights are required for day & night IFR.

    There wasn’t a short in the wing after all, just a few 12v position lights bulbs in 24v boxes! Trust but verify…can’t trust the packaging of bulbs when you do replacements. Really good lessons learned all around from this group! Thx all.

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