Big Pistons Forever wrote:But the number one killer of light aircraft landing light is ground operation, because they do not get the cooling airflow over the bulb that you get in flight. This goes double for cowl mounted lights as they also get hurt with all the engine/cowl vibration. Want to kill your cowl mounted light dead ASAP. Taxi out with it on so the bulb get nice and hot and then do a run up with light on, something I see regularly at my home airport
I don't think lack of cooling is the killer. Landing and taxi light pods on the Husky have plexi covers, there is no direct airflow over the bulb. I have both landing lights on all the time in flight, both taxi lights on when moving on the ground. I typically get 6 - 12 months out of the bulbs, either the 4509 regular or halogen 12v variety.
I agree with the vibration issue, that kills the bulbs. My lights are out on the wings, I think that's why they last longer. I recently started to use the LED replacement lights in the taxi position, they are brighter white, a wide dispersion pattern and should last forever. I leave them on all the time in the air now, they also draw almost no power, and no alternator whine in the headset.
Yes I think you are correct the vibration inherent in cowl mounted lights definitely is bigger problem then just a general cooling issue which is why Cessna went back to wing mounted lights in the restart singles. With respect to wing mounted lights several commercial operator I know have drilled some cooling holes in the plexiglass cover of wing mounted lights on Cessna's and this does seem to extend the bulb life.
The best solution as you say is to go to a LED bulb. The price is coming down rapidly and they have a 5000 hr life as well as drawing much less power.
FL500 wrote:
Great list the only thing I would add would be landing light on in the pattern during daylight hours especially when its busy to make myself more visible to others. I would like to ask those who did/do instruct if you encourage your students to use lights like this. I remember a flight school I trained at and the instructors were always saying ohh we don't need the taxi/landing light, and I would always wonder if maintenance was perhaps complaining of having to change out the bulbs or something. I could not see why it wouldn't be better to make yourself more visible especially in a busy training environment where someone is more likely not see to see you. Especially newer pilots.
I teach Landing light on when approaching and in ATZ/Control Zone, when in a practice area, and enroute in low viz (less than 6 mi) or hazy/flat light conditions. I ignore complaints from management or maintenance about the cost of bulb replacements, it is my ass on the line.
Butthe number one killer of light aircraft landing light is ground operation, because they do not get the cooling airflow over the bulb that you get in flight. This goes double for cowl mounted lights as they also get hurt with all the engine/cowl vibration. Want to kill your cowl mounted light dead ASAP. Taxi out with it on so the bulb get nice and hot and then do a run up with light on, something I see regularly at my home airport
Does the same apply to using taxi lights on ground as I believe they are located side by side at least on some aircraft?
The taxi light for small singles is usually just the same bulb as the landing light for maintenance convenience and night time redundancy if the landing light burns out. There are taxi light light specific bulbs available which have a lower power and a wider beam but it is still essentially the same as a landing light and will be just as adversely affected by vibration when cowl mounted.
didn't want to re-post the thread on strobes again, so I just read all your comments and found only one person mention that use of strobes is ok when your cross active runways. I have a habit from my previous job to use them only when lining up or clearing the runway after landing, BUT also anytime you are going to CROSS another active runway. So at my current job, I kept on the 'tradition' but couple of the folks I fly (ok really only one ) is not kosher with this crossing the runway strobe use?
) is not kosher with this crossing the runway strobe use? 
