Nav/Strobe Lights

[Direct C51]

Robbie,

Can you elaborate on why the FSDO did not approve the power burst for nights? What criteria exactly did they not meet?

Thanks.

Nate

[Sonex1517]

Hi Nate

I wish I could. As many will tell you, each FSDO seems to be different. When my inspection was done by the DuPage FSDO the guy doing the inspection (who was awesome and very fair) said it was limited to day VFR only.

I asked why. He said it isn't equipped for night and pointed to my powerburst lights. Now if you read Aveo's website carefully, they are very particular about what they say. So the best I can come up with is the lights are not technically legal. I think by the letter of the law that may be correct but I plead ignorance on the details.

The regs are actually very specific and another local airport wag who knows our FSDO well said it is apparently the Aveo Powerburst lights that they do not like. Things were going so well I did not pursue the subject during the inspection. I fly Sport Pilot, so it does not affect me. If the airplane ever needs to be approved for night flight that can be done with the FSDO per the inspector. I am good with that answer.


Robbie Culver
Sonex 1517
Chicagoland
Tails and Wings complete - finishing fuselage.
N1517S reserved

[ihab]

As a quick note, in case it helps: The Cessna C162 "Flycatcher" ;) I fly has one-piece nav/strobe lights on the wingtips, plus a landing light in the wingtip, all LED, and it is legal for night flight. So there must be at least *some* of these lights that your FSDO would accept without any trouble. Good luck!

Ihab

[Bryan Cotton]

Ihab,
There is no issue per se with LED lights. There are regs that specify brightness, color, and the angles you can view the lights from. A TSO is a shortcut that says the lights meet that spec. If the light is not TSO'ed and you want to use them at night then it is up to you to prove to the FAA that they meet the specs. Good luck with that! I think from Robbie's experience I will spend the extra bucks for a TSO set and be done with it. Fortunately landing and taxi lights are not required unless flying for hire, so any light will do. I was the lucky first responder for the Fresh Aero lights Dennis sold here on Sonexbuilders.

[Sonex1517]

I think Bryan summed it up nicely. I re-read the Aveo website this evening, then looked over some other online info. TSO lights are the way to go if you want to be able to fly legally at night.

Of course, as a Sport Pilot, I cannot. And then there is the tinted canopy, but that is a different subject.


Robbie Culver
Sonex 1517
Chicagoland
Tails and Wings complete - finishing fuselage.
N1517S reserved

[Bryan Cotton]

What is interesting is that you can order the AeroLEDs both with and without the TSO paperwork - same light - huh.

[sonex1678]

For what its worth, I purchased the Whelen Orion 600's during one of the airshows at a "show special" price (TSO'd units but without the official TSO paperwork), and although not yet installed, I can tell you they are a very high quality and great looking product, and are very bright. They combine the position and anti-collision functions, as well as the tail light function. Sometimes I plug them into a portable power supply just for some additional motivation when something in the build overwhelms me. I also have the new duckworks 3-LED lights and they also seem like winners (nice complete installation kit, quality products, and also very bright). Since all the lights are LED, the current draw is minimal....

Doug

[Sonerai13]

What is interesting is that you can order the AeroLEDs both with and without the TSO paperwork - same light - huh.

Yep, the only difference is the price! I have good experience with the AeroLED lights on a number of airplanes I am familiar with, and have purchased a TSO set that will go on my Super Cub this winter. Very nice product.

[Bryan Cotton]

Joe,
Clearly I would need a TSO set to put on a certified airplane. Do you think I would have any issues with the non-TSO set if I wanted my A/W cert to reflect day/night VFR? A big difference from the Aveo is that AeroLED does offer TSO lights.

[Sonex1243]

Joe,
Clearly I would need a TSO set to put on a certified airplane. Do you think I would have any issues with the non-TSO set if I wanted my A/W cert to reflect day/night VFR? A big difference from the Aveo is that AeroLED does offer TSO lights.

This is very interesting, I am installing the AeroLED PULSAR EXP lights (used extensively on the Vans RV12) I bought this year at KOSH in case I ended up flying after dark. Where is the fine line drawn, if any, for experimental aircraft operating after dark? I would really be bumming if you have to have TSO'd lights no matter what.