Which anti-collision lighting practice is correct before engine start?

• A. Turn all lights on during lineup check
• B. Nav lights only in chocks and EOR, leave others off until after making first turn out of park
• C. Prior to engine start, on for one cycle
• D. All lights off until after engine start

Answer: (C)

Activating anti-collision lighting for a brief cycle before engine start communicates to everyone on the ramp that the aircraft is about to begin moving. That short alert helps ground personnel and nearby traffic see that a start and taxi are imminent, reducing the chance of collisions or misunderstandings during the critical startup phase. Doing it for just one cycle ensures visibility without keeping lights on longer than necessary, which can cause glare or drain the battery. Keeping all lights off until after start would miss that important pre-start alert, while turning on every light during lineup or sticking with nav lights only in limited areas either adds unnecessary lighting or reduces clear signaling of impending movement.