Definition
The exterior aircraft lights used for visibility and navigation: position lights (a red light on the left wingtip, a green light on the right wingtip, and a white light on the tail) which indicate the aircraft's orientation to other pilots at night, and landing lights, which are forward-facing high-intensity lights used to illuminate the runway during takeoff and landing and to improve the aircraft's conspicuity to others.
Plain English
The standard set of lights on an aircraft. Position lights (red, green, and white) sit on the wingtips and tail so other pilots can tell which way the aircraft is pointing at night. Landing lights are bright forward-facing lights used to light up the runway and make the aircraft easier to see.
Context Anchor
Seen during preflight inspection, night operations, and preventive maintenance tasks such as checking, replacing, or securing aircraft light bulbs, lenses, and related parts.
Derivation
"Position" comes from Latin positio, meaning placement — these lights show the aircraft's placement and direction in the sky. "Landing" simply names the phase of flight the lights were originally designed to support.
Why Pilots Care
They provide essential visibility to prevent mid-air collisions and allow safe runway alignment in darkness.
Intuition Check
Do not read position lights as lights that help the pilot find the airplane’s position on a map; they show other people where the airplane is and which way it is pointed. Landing lights are not only for the exact moment of touchdown; pilots often use them around takeoff, landing, and low-altitude flight to see and be seen.
Example Sentence 1
Before the night cross-country, the pilot replaced a burned-out bulb in the left wingtip position light, logging it as preventive maintenance.
Example Sentence 2
Preventive maintenance includes cleaning the lenses and confirming the wiring on the position and landing lights remains secure.