Can small planes see lights on the ground?

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I live about 5 miles from a small airport. At night, during rain or snow storms when I imagine there would be poor visibility, I always turn our outside house lights on, in case they could possibly help a little plane in distress. Am I crazy?

weather

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asked Sep 6 at 20:51

Christian DeVito

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Christian DeVito is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  You're not crazy, you're considerate. Thanks for thinking about people in little planes.
  – Dan Pichelman
  Sep 7 at 13:56
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Thank you, Dan.
  – Christian DeVito
  Sep 7 at 17:10
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  This might be a nice gesture and the fact that you think about things like that shows your keen to learn. BUT it really is not neccessary! If visibility is an issue, the pilot is/should be flying IFR anyway. Reducing your power consumption might help the planet more...
  – Julian Bernhuber
  Sep 7 at 20:22
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Thanks, I appreciate that. I won't do it anymore.
  – Christian DeVito
  Sep 8 at 0:12
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
8
down vote

favorite

I live about 5 miles from a small airport. At night, during rain or snow storms when I imagine there would be poor visibility, I always turn our outside house lights on, in case they could possibly help a little plane in distress. Am I crazy?

weather

share|improve this question

asked Sep 6 at 20:51

Christian DeVito

434

New contributor

Christian DeVito is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  You're not crazy, you're considerate. Thanks for thinking about people in little planes.
  – Dan Pichelman
  Sep 7 at 13:56
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Thank you, Dan.
  – Christian DeVito
  Sep 7 at 17:10
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  This might be a nice gesture and the fact that you think about things like that shows your keen to learn. BUT it really is not neccessary! If visibility is an issue, the pilot is/should be flying IFR anyway. Reducing your power consumption might help the planet more...
  – Julian Bernhuber
  Sep 7 at 20:22
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Thanks, I appreciate that. I won't do it anymore.
  – Christian DeVito
  Sep 8 at 0:12
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
8
down vote

favorite

up vote
8
down vote

favorite

I live about 5 miles from a small airport. At night, during rain or snow storms when I imagine there would be poor visibility, I always turn our outside house lights on, in case they could possibly help a little plane in distress. Am I crazy?

weather

share|improve this question

asked Sep 6 at 20:51

Christian DeVito

434

New contributor

Christian DeVito is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

I live about 5 miles from a small airport. At night, during rain or snow storms when I imagine there would be poor visibility, I always turn our outside house lights on, in case they could possibly help a little plane in distress. Am I crazy?

weather

share|improve this question

asked Sep 6 at 20:51

Christian DeVito

434

New contributor

Christian DeVito is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

share|improve this question

share|improve this question

asked Sep 6 at 20:51

Christian DeVito

434

New contributor

Christian DeVito is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

asked Sep 6 at 20:51

Christian DeVito

434

asked Sep 6 at 20:51

Christian DeVito

434

434

New contributor

Christian DeVito is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

New contributor

Christian DeVito is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

Christian DeVito is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  You're not crazy, you're considerate. Thanks for thinking about people in little planes.
  – Dan Pichelman
  Sep 7 at 13:56
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Thank you, Dan.
  – Christian DeVito
  Sep 7 at 17:10
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  This might be a nice gesture and the fact that you think about things like that shows your keen to learn. BUT it really is not neccessary! If visibility is an issue, the pilot is/should be flying IFR anyway. Reducing your power consumption might help the planet more...
  – Julian Bernhuber
  Sep 7 at 20:22
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Thanks, I appreciate that. I won't do it anymore.
  – Christian DeVito
  Sep 8 at 0:12
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  You're not crazy, you're considerate. Thanks for thinking about people in little planes.
  – Dan Pichelman
  Sep 7 at 13:56
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Thank you, Dan.
  – Christian DeVito
  Sep 7 at 17:10
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  This might be a nice gesture and the fact that you think about things like that shows your keen to learn. BUT it really is not neccessary! If visibility is an issue, the pilot is/should be flying IFR anyway. Reducing your power consumption might help the planet more...
  – Julian Bernhuber
  Sep 7 at 20:22
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Thanks, I appreciate that. I won't do it anymore.
  – Christian DeVito
  Sep 8 at 0:12
  

  
  
  
  

3

3

You're not crazy, you're considerate. Thanks for thinking about people in little planes.
– Dan Pichelman
Sep 7 at 13:56

You're not crazy, you're considerate. Thanks for thinking about people in little planes.
– Dan Pichelman
Sep 7 at 13:56

Thank you, Dan.
– Christian DeVito
Sep 7 at 17:10

Thank you, Dan.
– Christian DeVito
Sep 7 at 17:10

1

1

This might be a nice gesture and the fact that you think about things like that shows your keen to learn. BUT it really is not neccessary! If visibility is an issue, the pilot is/should be flying IFR anyway. Reducing your power consumption might help the planet more...
– Julian Bernhuber
Sep 7 at 20:22

This might be a nice gesture and the fact that you think about things like that shows your keen to learn. BUT it really is not neccessary! If visibility is an issue, the pilot is/should be flying IFR anyway. Reducing your power consumption might help the planet more...
– Julian Bernhuber
Sep 7 at 20:22

Thanks, I appreciate that. I won't do it anymore.
– Christian DeVito
Sep 8 at 0:12

Thanks, I appreciate that. I won't do it anymore.
– Christian DeVito
Sep 8 at 0:12

add a comment | 

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

up vote
5
down vote



accepted

They can see your lights, but they don't help. "Black hole" approaches (where there aren't any lights on the ground except for the runway) can be difficult and unnerving, but even if that's the case for that airport, one set of house lights isn't going to appreciably affect the situation.

share|improve this answer

answered Sep 6 at 21:27

Ralgha

2,6051321

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Thank you, Ralgha. I won't do it again.
  – Christian DeVito
  Sep 7 at 17:10
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  It doesn't hurt either, and I must disagree with the other answer in that respect. If someone confuses house lights for runway lights, they need more practice and shouldn't be flying hard IFR at night.
  – Ralgha
  Sep 8 at 18:04
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
6
down vote

Yes we can see lights on the ground from small planes, but your extra lights do not help approaching aircraft. If anything they may serve to disorient pilots. In low visibility situations, provided the pilot is properly rated and the aircraft is properly equipped they may be flying IFR. Under these types of operations when popping out of the clouds we may be looking for runway lighting. Other lights on the ground can (and have been) confused for runway lights in the past.

share|improve this answer

answered Sep 6 at 21:27

Dave

56.5k3101207

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Thanks, Dave. I'm glad I asked.
  – Christian DeVito
  Sep 7 at 17:11
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

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2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

active

oldest

votes

active

oldest

votes

up vote
5
down vote



accepted

They can see your lights, but they don't help. "Black hole" approaches (where there aren't any lights on the ground except for the runway) can be difficult and unnerving, but even if that's the case for that airport, one set of house lights isn't going to appreciably affect the situation.

share|improve this answer

answered Sep 6 at 21:27

Ralgha

2,6051321

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Thank you, Ralgha. I won't do it again.
  – Christian DeVito
  Sep 7 at 17:10
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  It doesn't hurt either, and I must disagree with the other answer in that respect. If someone confuses house lights for runway lights, they need more practice and shouldn't be flying hard IFR at night.
  – Ralgha
  Sep 8 at 18:04
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
5
down vote



accepted

They can see your lights, but they don't help. "Black hole" approaches (where there aren't any lights on the ground except for the runway) can be difficult and unnerving, but even if that's the case for that airport, one set of house lights isn't going to appreciably affect the situation.

share|improve this answer

answered Sep 6 at 21:27

Ralgha

2,6051321

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Thank you, Ralgha. I won't do it again.
  – Christian DeVito
  Sep 7 at 17:10
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  It doesn't hurt either, and I must disagree with the other answer in that respect. If someone confuses house lights for runway lights, they need more practice and shouldn't be flying hard IFR at night.
  – Ralgha
  Sep 8 at 18:04
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
5
down vote



accepted

up vote
5
down vote



accepted

They can see your lights, but they don't help. "Black hole" approaches (where there aren't any lights on the ground except for the runway) can be difficult and unnerving, but even if that's the case for that airport, one set of house lights isn't going to appreciably affect the situation.

share|improve this answer

answered Sep 6 at 21:27

Ralgha

2,6051321

They can see your lights, but they don't help. "Black hole" approaches (where there aren't any lights on the ground except for the runway) can be difficult and unnerving, but even if that's the case for that airport, one set of house lights isn't going to appreciably affect the situation.

share|improve this answer

answered Sep 6 at 21:27

Ralgha

2,6051321

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

answered Sep 6 at 21:27

Ralgha

2,6051321

answered Sep 6 at 21:27

Ralgha

2,6051321

answered Sep 6 at 21:27

Ralgha

2,6051321

2,6051321

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Thank you, Ralgha. I won't do it again.
  – Christian DeVito
  Sep 7 at 17:10
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  It doesn't hurt either, and I must disagree with the other answer in that respect. If someone confuses house lights for runway lights, they need more practice and shouldn't be flying hard IFR at night.
  – Ralgha
  Sep 8 at 18:04
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Thank you, Ralgha. I won't do it again.
  – Christian DeVito
  Sep 7 at 17:10
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  It doesn't hurt either, and I must disagree with the other answer in that respect. If someone confuses house lights for runway lights, they need more practice and shouldn't be flying hard IFR at night.
  – Ralgha
  Sep 8 at 18:04
  

  
  
  
  

Thank you, Ralgha. I won't do it again.
– Christian DeVito
Sep 7 at 17:10

Thank you, Ralgha. I won't do it again.
– Christian DeVito
Sep 7 at 17:10

1

1

It doesn't hurt either, and I must disagree with the other answer in that respect. If someone confuses house lights for runway lights, they need more practice and shouldn't be flying hard IFR at night.
– Ralgha
Sep 8 at 18:04

It doesn't hurt either, and I must disagree with the other answer in that respect. If someone confuses house lights for runway lights, they need more practice and shouldn't be flying hard IFR at night.
– Ralgha
Sep 8 at 18:04

add a comment | 

up vote
6
down vote

Yes we can see lights on the ground from small planes, but your extra lights do not help approaching aircraft. If anything they may serve to disorient pilots. In low visibility situations, provided the pilot is properly rated and the aircraft is properly equipped they may be flying IFR. Under these types of operations when popping out of the clouds we may be looking for runway lighting. Other lights on the ground can (and have been) confused for runway lights in the past.

share|improve this answer

answered Sep 6 at 21:27

Dave

56.5k3101207

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Thanks, Dave. I'm glad I asked.
  – Christian DeVito
  Sep 7 at 17:11
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
6
down vote

Yes we can see lights on the ground from small planes, but your extra lights do not help approaching aircraft. If anything they may serve to disorient pilots. In low visibility situations, provided the pilot is properly rated and the aircraft is properly equipped they may be flying IFR. Under these types of operations when popping out of the clouds we may be looking for runway lighting. Other lights on the ground can (and have been) confused for runway lights in the past.

share|improve this answer

answered Sep 6 at 21:27

Dave

56.5k3101207

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Thanks, Dave. I'm glad I asked.
  – Christian DeVito
  Sep 7 at 17:11
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
6
down vote

up vote
6
down vote

Yes we can see lights on the ground from small planes, but your extra lights do not help approaching aircraft. If anything they may serve to disorient pilots. In low visibility situations, provided the pilot is properly rated and the aircraft is properly equipped they may be flying IFR. Under these types of operations when popping out of the clouds we may be looking for runway lighting. Other lights on the ground can (and have been) confused for runway lights in the past.

share|improve this answer

answered Sep 6 at 21:27

Dave

56.5k3101207

Yes we can see lights on the ground from small planes, but your extra lights do not help approaching aircraft. If anything they may serve to disorient pilots. In low visibility situations, provided the pilot is properly rated and the aircraft is properly equipped they may be flying IFR. Under these types of operations when popping out of the clouds we may be looking for runway lighting. Other lights on the ground can (and have been) confused for runway lights in the past.

share|improve this answer

answered Sep 6 at 21:27

Dave

56.5k3101207

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

answered Sep 6 at 21:27

Dave

56.5k3101207

answered Sep 6 at 21:27

Dave

56.5k3101207

answered Sep 6 at 21:27

Dave

56.5k3101207

56.5k3101207

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Thanks, Dave. I'm glad I asked.
  – Christian DeVito
  Sep 7 at 17:11
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Thanks, Dave. I'm glad I asked.
  – Christian DeVito
  Sep 7 at 17:11
  

  
  
  
  

Thanks, Dave. I'm glad I asked.
– Christian DeVito
Sep 7 at 17:11

Thanks, Dave. I'm glad I asked.
– Christian DeVito
Sep 7 at 17:11

add a comment | 

Christian DeVito is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.

 

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