Which option correctly describes the nav-light protocol before the first turn out of the park?

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

Answer: (D)

Nav lights on the ground are used to indicate your aircraft’s status and position to people around you. Before you begin moving, it’s best to keep most lights off and only leave the lights that help ground personnel see where the airplane is located active. Keeping nav lights on at the chocks and at the EOR provides visibility of the aircraft’s presence and position without suggesting that it’s about to taxi or depart. Once you’re cleared to move and you start your first turn out of the park, you switch to the normal sequence and illuminate the remaining lights as you taxi.

Other options would either light the aircraft too much while it’s stationary, which can be distracting or misleading to others, or fail to provide the necessary visibility of a parked aircraft.