Civil Aviation Forum | Aircraft lit up & sonmetimes not...

Hello, I live in Bolton, I often see aircraft descending on approach to MAN, at night sometimes the aircrafts tail & fusealge is lit uo making it easy to see which airline it is, yet sometimes theyre not lit up. Does anyone know why this is? Is there even a reason for it?

Thank you, Martin.

I was lucking to have a tour of the ATC at MAN back in the 80's and I asked the same question at the time and I was told that it was for recognition purposes. Even during the day the a/c lights can be seen from the tower when the a/c is on the localiser. When I was in the ATC I had the cans on and I could hear all the conversation between the ATC and the a/c. The scary point was that I could hear that a Britannia was given priority because of a low fuel problem! The Canadair C-4 Argonaut accident in Stockport comes to mind!

Recognition purposes? Bear in mind ATC cant see aircraft visibly asround North Manchester. Thanks for quick reply.

some airlines SOP has it that pilot turn on landing lights and tail lights on below 10,000ft to aid
visual contact both to tower and other aircraft

As Ian said, it's all up to the airlines individual preference and procedures

Thanks for replies much appreciated