Flashing Light Tail Logo

[Mekanikel]

Hi, on the balcony tonight at about 6:30 pm I noticed a Qantas aircraft (my best guess is a 737) on approach to Perth Airport and the tail logo lights were flashing, approximately once every two seconds the lights would go off and come on again a second later. Is this an advertising event or does it have some other aeronautical meaning? Thanks.

 

 

[Guest Chainsaw]

Ahh, nice spotting.

 

This has been mentioned on another forum. My understanding is that this is the only QF B737 that has this 'feature'. I don't think it was even intended to be like this as it is just a wiring issue, but on low priority to fix it.

 

Mind you, my contact could be wrong (ex QF LAME).

 

 

[Guest Darren Masters]

According to the airline it is to increase vis on the ground and to hopefully deter birds from the a/c.

 

 

[Mekanikel]

Thanks for the reply. I did search other forums for an answer and the closest I came to was a reference to this issue in 2006, on a B737. I was going to dismiss it as the same fault, however there was no definitive closure on the discussion, more like an opinion, or a friend of a friend told me...... My personal evaluation is that it is most likely a wiring fault, which would raise questions of maintenance, and given the exposure of the aircraft, it also interested me if Qantas has been requested for an explanation. I have some reservations as to if it's the same A/C as reported in 2006, but overall a rare sight, one which I'll keep my peepers open for in future.

 

Regards.

 

(ref to 2006 incident http://www.jetspotter.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=5486)

 

 

[Mekanikel]

According to the airline it is to increase vis on the ground and to hopefully deter birds from the a/c.

Hi Darren, Vis was clear, and bird deterrent may be feasible, but wouldn't that be more prevalent?

 

 

[Guest Darren Masters]

I really don't know how affective strobing lights are to bird control.

 

 

[Todd M]

Strobing runway and taxi lights are a visibility feature, from what I have been told. There is also an option on the Logo Light to strobe as well. I have asked a Captain about the flashing tail lights before, and he just said "It is just a feature on the switch".