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PA.XI.A.K3FAA-S-ACS-6C · Nov 2023Knowledge

Airplane equipment and lighting requirements for night operations.

ACS element text (the applicant demonstrates understanding of)

Airplane equipment and lighting requirements for night operations.

Bottom line

Aircraft position lights are required to be lighted on aircraft operated on the surface and in flight from sunset to sunrise.

Key numbers

Key numbers for Airplane equipment and lighting requirements for night operations.
NumberWhat it means
sunset to sunrise, surface and in flightPosition lights
below 10,000 feet, day or nightLanding lights
ceiling less than 1,000 feet and/or visibility less than 3 statute milesAirport beacon

FAA references

  1. AIM 4-3-24 (Use of Aircraft Lights) — AIM Basic 2/20/25 w/ Change 1 (8/7/25) & Change 2 (1/22/26)
  2. RMH ch. 3 (p. 3-7) — FAA-H-8083-2A
  3. PHAK ch. 14 (p. 14-16) — FAA-H-8083-25C (2023)
  4. AIM 10-2-2 (Helicopter Night VFR Operations) — AIM Basic 2/20/25 w/ Change 1 (8/7/25) & Change 2 (1/22/26)
  5. AIM 11-8-3 (Precautions: Flight Over or Near People, Vehicles, Manned Aircraft, and Night Operations) — AIM Basic 2/20/25 w/ Change 1 (8/7/25) & Change 2 (1/22/26)
  6. AFH ch. 17 (p. 17-3) — FAA-H-8083-3C
  7. 14 CFR 61.315(c)(5); 14 CFR 61.329 — Current eCFR checked 2026-11-06
  8. AIM 4-3-13 (Traffic Control Light Signals) — AIM Basic 2/20/25 w/ Change 1 (8/7/25) & Change 2 (1/22/26)
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