The Rules of the Air Regulations 1996

SECTION III LIGHTS AND OTHER SIGNALS TO BE SHOWN OR MADE BY AIRCRAFT

General

8.—(1) For the purposes of this section of these Rules the horizontal plane of a light shown in an aircraft means the plane which would be the horizontal plane passing through the source of that light, if the aircraft were in level flight.

(2) Where by reason of the physical construction of an aircraft it is necessary to fit more than one lamp in order to show a light required by this section of these Rules, the lamps shall be so fitted and constructed that, so far as is reasonably practicable, not more than one such lamp is visible from any one point outside the aircraft.

(3) Where in these Rules a light is required to show through specified angles in the horizontal plane, the lamps giving such light shall be so constructed and fitted that the light is visible from any point in any vertical plane within those angles throughout angles of 90° above and below the horizontal plane, but, so far as is reasonably practicable, through no greater angle, either in the horizontal plane or the vertical plane.

(4) Where in these Rules a light is required to show in all directions, the lamps giving such light shall be so constructed and fitted that, so far as is reasonably practicable, the light is visible from any point in the horizontal plane and on any vertical plane passing through the source of that light.

Display of lights by aircraft

9.—(1) (a) By night an aircraft shall display such of the lights specified in these Rules as may be appropriate to the circumstances of the case, and shall not display any other lights which might obscure or otherwise impair the visibility of, or be mistaken for, such lights.

(b) By day an aircraft fitted with an anti-collision light shall display such a light in flight.

(2) A flying machine on a United Kingdom aerodrome shall:

(a) display by night either the lights which it would be required to display when flying or the lights specified in rule 11(2)(c) unless it is stationary on the apron or part of the aerodrome provided for the maintenance of aircraft;

(b) subject to paragraph (3), display when stationary on the apron by day or night with engines running a red anti-collision light, if fitted.

(3) A helicopter to which article 27 of the Order applies may, when stationary on an offshore installation, switch off the anti-collision light required to be shown by paragraph (2) provided that is done in accordance with a procedure contained in the operations manual of the helicopter as a signal to ground personnel that it is safe to approach the helicopter for the purpose of embarkation or disembarkation of passengers or the loading or unloading of cargo.

(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section of these Rules the commander of an aircraft may switch off or reduce the intensity of any flashing light fitted to the aircraft if such a light does or is likely to:

(a) adversely affect the performance of the duties of any member of the flight crew; or

(b) subject an outside observer to unreasonable dazzle.

Failure of navigation and anti-collision lights

10.—(1) In the United Kingdom, in the event of the failure of any light which is required by these Rules to be displayed at night, if the light cannot be immediately repaired or replaced the aircraft shall not depart from the aerodrome and, if in flight, shall land as soon as in the opinion of the commander of the aircraft it can safely do so, unless authorised by the appropriate air traffic control unit to continue its flight.

(2) In the United Kingdom, in the event of a failure of an anti-collision light when flying by day, an aircraft may continue to fly by day provided that the light is repaired at the earliest practicable opportunity.

Flying machines

11.—(1) A flying machine when flying at night shall display lights as follows:

(a) in the case of a flying machine registered in the United Kingdom having a maximum total weight authorised of more than 5700 kg or any other flying machine registered in the United Kingdom which conforms to a type first issued with a type certificate on or after 1st April 1988 the system of lights in paragraph (2)(b);

(b) in the case of a flying machine registered in the United Kingdom which conforms to a type first issued with a type certificate before 1st April 1988 having a maximum total weight authorised of 5700 kg or less, any one of the following systems of lights:

(i) that specified in paragraph (2)(a), or that specified in paragraph (2)(b); or

(ii) that specified in paragraph (2)(d), excluding sub-paragraph (ii);

(c) in the case of any other flying machine one of the systems of lights specified in paragraph (2).

(2) The systems of lights referred to in paragraph (1) are as follows:

(a) (i) a steady green light of at least five candela showing to the starboard side through an angle of 110° from dead ahead in the horizontal plane;

(ii) a steady red light of at least five candela showing to the port side through an angle of 110° from dead ahead in the horizontal plane; and

(iii) a steady white light of at least three candela showing through angles of 70° from dead astern to each side in the horizontal plane;

(b) (i) the lights specified in sub-paragraph (a); and

(ii) an anti-collision light;

(c) the lights specified in sub-paragraph (a), but all being flashing lights flashing together;

(d) the lights specified in sub-paragraph (a), but all being flashing lights flashing together in alternation with one or both of the following:

(i) a flashing white light of at least twenty candela showing in all directions;

(ii) a flashing red light of at least twenty candela showing through angles of 70° from dead astern to each side in the horizontal plane.

(3) If the lamp showing either the red or the green light specified in paragraph (2)(a) is fitted more than 2 metres from the wing tip, a lamp may, notwithstanding the provisions of rule 9(1), be fitted at the wing tip to indicate its position showing a steady light of the same colour through the same angle.

Gliders

12.  A glider while flying at night shall display either a steady red light of at least five candela, showing in all directions, or lights in accordance with rule 11(2) and (3).

Free balloons

13.  A free balloon while flying at night shall display a steady red light of at least five candela showing in all directions, suspended not less than 5 metres and not more than 10 metres below the basket, or if there is no basket, below the lowest part of the balloon.

Captive balloons and kites

14.—(1) A captive balloon or kite while flying at night at a height exceeding 60 metres above the surface shall display lights as follows:

(a) a group of two steady lights consisting of a white light placed 4 metres above a red light, both being of at least five candela and showing in all directions, the white light being placed not less than 5 metres or more than 10 metres below the basket, or if there is no basket, below the lowest part of the balloon or kite;

(b) on the mooring cable, at intervals of not more than 300 metres measured from the group of lights referred to in sub-paragraph (a), groups of two lights of the colour and power and in the relative positions specified in that sub-paragraph, and, if the lowest group of lights is obscured by cloud, an additional group below the cloud base; and

(c) on the surface, a group of three flashing lights arranged in a horizontal plane at the apexes of a triangle, approximately equilateral, each side of which measures at least 25 metres; one side of the triangle shall be approximately at right angles to the horizontal projection of the cable and shall be delimited by two red lights; the third light shall be a green light so placed that the triangle encloses the object on the surface to which the balloon or kite is moored.

(2) A captive balloon while flying by day at a height exceeding 60 metres above the surface shall have attached to its mooring cable at intervals of not more than 200 metres measured from the basket, or, if there is no basket, from the lowest part of the balloon, tubular streamers not less than 40 centimetres in diameter and 2 metres in length, and marked with alternate bands of red and white 50 centimetres wide.

(3) A kite flown in the circumstances referred to in paragraph (2) shall have attached to its mooring cable either:

(a) tubular streamers as specified in paragraph (2), or

(b) at intervals of not more than 100 metres measured from the lowest part of the kite, streamers not less than 80 centimetres long and 30 centimetres wide at their widest point and marked with alternate bands of red and white 10 centimetres wide.

Airships

15.—(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), an airship while flying at night shall display the following lights:

(a) a steady white light of at least five candela showing through angles of 110° from dead ahead to each side in the horizontal plane;

(b) a steady green light of at least five candela showing to the starboard side through an angle of 110° from dead ahead in the horizontal plane;

(c) a steady red light of at least five candela showing to the port side through an angle of 110° from dead ahead in the horizontal plane;

(d) a steady white light of at least five candela showing through angles of 70° from dead astern to each side in the horizontal plane; and

(e) an anti-collision light.

(2) (a) Subject to sub-paragraph (b), an airship while flying at night shall display, if it is not under command, or has voluntarily stopped its engines, or is being towed, the following steady lights:

(i) the white lights referred to in paragraph (1)(a) and (d);

(ii) two red lights, each of at least five candela and showing in all directions suspended below the control car so that one is at least 4 metres above the other and at least 8 metres below the control car; and

(iii) if the airship is making way but not otherwise, the green and red lights referred to in paragraph (1)(b) and (c).

(b) An airship while picking up its moorings, notwithstanding that it is not under command, shall display only the lights specified in paragraph (1).

(3) An airship, while moored within the United Kingdom by night, shall display the following steady lights:

(a) when moored to a mooring mast, at or near the rear a white light of at least five candela showing in all directions;

(b) when moored otherwise than to a mooring mast:

(i) a white light of at least five candela showing through angles of 110° from dead ahead to each side in the horizontal plane; and

(ii) a white light of at least five candela showing through angles of 70° from dead astern to each side in the horizontal plane.

(4) An airship while flying by day, if it is not under command, or has voluntarily stopped its engines, or is being towed, shall display two black balls suspended below the control car so that one is at least 4 metres above the other and at least 8 metres below the control car.

(5) For the purposes of this rule:

(a) an airship shall be deemed not to be under command when it is unable to execute a manoeuvre which it may be required to execute by or under these Rules;

(b) an airship shall be deemed to be making way when it is not moored and is in motion relative to the air.