In aviation, lighting systems are more than just a way to see in the dark—they are crucial components that ensure safety, efficiency, and communication. Whether in commercial airliners or military aircraft, airplane lights serve various functions and must meet specific legal requirements for navigation, safety, and visibility during operations both on the ground and in the air. This article explores ten types of aerospace lights commonly found on commercial and military aircraft.

Navigation lights, also known as position lights, are critical for indicating an aircraft’s position and direction in flight. Typically, these lights include red ones on the left wingtip, green ones on the right wingtip, and white ones on the tail. These color-coded lights help other pilots and ground controllers determine the aircraft’s orientation and movement, significantly enhancing the aircraft's visibility in various conditions.

Beacon lights, also known as anti-collision lights, are crucial safety features on aircraft, designed to enhance visibility and indicate the operational status of the aircraft. These bright, flashing lights are usually mounted on the aircraft’s wingtips, tail, or fuselage. They are essential for formation flying and mid-air refueling operations in military applications.

Landing lights are powerful, high-intensity lights used during takeoff, landing, and taxiing to illuminate the runway and the area in front of the aircraft. A switch controls the mode of the landing lights, allowing them to alternate between landing and taxi/recognition modes based on the aircraft's speed. Positioned on the wings, fuselage, or landing gear, these lights help pilots see obstacles and hazards on the runway, making them a vital safety feature in both commercial and military aircraft.

Logo lights, also known as wing illumination lights, are used primarily on commercial aircraft to illuminate the airline’s logo on the tail or fuselage. While their primary function is brand visibility, they also contribute to the overall visibility of the aircraft during nighttime operations. Similar lights may be used for identification purposes in military aircraft.​

Formation lights are unique to military aircraft and are used during night operations to maintain visual contact between planes flying in close formations. Logo lights, on the other hand, are mounted on the horizontal stabilizer to illuminate the airline's logo for visibility and marketing purposes, especially at night. These lights are typically dim and are placed along the aircraft’s fuselage or wings to reduce visibility to the enemy while allowing nearby aircraft to stay in formation.

Cabin lights are essential for ensuring passenger comfort and safety inside the aircraft. Certain lights, such as emergency lighting systems, are a legal requirement to ensure safety and visibility. These include overhead reading lights, general cabin illumination, and emergency lighting systems. In military transport aircraft, cabin lighting is often designed to be dimmed or switched to a red light setting to preserve night vision during tactical operations.

Emergency exit lights are critical safety features that ensure passengers are visible and can find the nearest exit during an emergency. These lights are strategically placed along the cabin floor and around exit doors. These lights may be more robust in military aircraft and adapted for quick evacuation under combat conditions.

Cargo lights illuminate an aircraft’s cargo hold, ensuring that cargo can be loaded and unloaded safely and efficiently. The aircraft fuselage serves as a mounting point for wing inspection lights, which are essential for aiding the crew in monitoring the wings for ice formation and damage. In military transport aircraft, cargo lights are often designed to operate in extreme conditions, providing reliable lighting even in the harshest environments.​

Searchlights are powerful, directional lights used by military aircraft for search and rescue operations and to illuminate ground targets during nighttime missions. These lights are typically mounted on helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft and equipped with advanced features like infrared capability for use in low-visibility situations.

Beacon lights, found on larger aircraft, are activated at engine start-up and serve a crucial safety function by signaling the presence of an aircraft, especially during engine operations.

Aerospace lighting is an integral part of aircraft design, playing a vital role in commercial and military planes’ safety, communication, and functionality. From the bright strobe lights that alert others to an aircraft’s presence to the subtle formation lights used in covert operations, each type of aerospace light serves a unique and essential purpose. Understanding these different lighting systems helps us appreciate the complexity and precision involved in modern aviation.