How often do aircraft lights burn out?

Question

Like the position lights.

Answer 1

Generally they are replaced at specific intervals to stop them burning out.  Depending on the manufacturer and type this can be anywhere from 100-300 to over 4,000 hours.

Answer 2

I've broken more of them than I've replaced burned out ones.  They bounce about four times and then they shatter.

Answer 3

Very rarely.  I have yet to see a burned out light on any of my airliners.  I currently have about 3k hours in Part 121 operations.

Answer 4

All of the lights are part of your pre-flight check.  Not all of them are required to fly during the day, but you are required to check them all.

The plane I learned in would burn out landing lights all the time.  That's because the students would take off and never turn it off.  They'll be out flying for 2 hours with their landing light on.

During the 50+ hours of my flight training, I believe I noted the landing light being out 2 or 3 times.

Answer 5

Other good answers already Zach. In my experience (9000+ flight hours), the answer is not very often (more reliable than incandescent light bulbs at home), but often enough to be annoying, depending on the type of bulb. Landing lights and position light are notorious for burning out and I have to replace one or two every couple hundred hours in my personal plane and a little less often in the one I fly for a job. This is why modern airliners have two position lights at each location (the MEL allows one to be burned out at night), plus multiple landing and taxi lights, and redundant or emergency lighting for just about everything in the cockpit and cabin. For a small aircraft, it's a good idea to carry spare bulbs for position lights and cockpit lights.

Answer 6

Are you kidding?  I mean, I know you are trying to learn as much as you can because you want to fly for a living.  But, longevity of position lights?  I'm sure you can come up with something better than that.  If an examiner asked me this on an oral, I would probably start laughing.  I would suggest that you get some basic aviation books and start reading.  Asking questions like this are going to teach you just about nothing.  I'm trying to be helpful, really I am.