Definition
High-intensity white flashing lights mounted on an aircraft, typically at the wingtips and sometimes on the tail, used to make the aircraft highly visible to other pilots and ground personnel. Strobes are part of the aircraft's anti-collision light system and are generally required to be on during flight, but are turned off on the ground when they could blind other pilots, ground crew, or controllers, such as while taxiing near other aircraft or holding on a busy ramp.
Plain English
Bright white flashing lights on the wingtips and tail that help others see the aircraft. They are kept on in flight and turned off on the ground when they would dazzle people nearby.
Context Anchor
You encounter this term during ground operations, especially when entering or leaving a runway and when setting exterior lights after landing.
Derivation
From the Greek 'strobos' meaning 'whirling' or 'spinning.' The name reflects the rapid, repeating flash that makes the light hard to miss.
Why Pilots Care
They greatly reduce the chance of mid-air collisions by making the aircraft stand out against the sky or ground.
Intuition Check
Do not think of strobe lights as headlights. They are warning and visibility lights, not lights used to see the ground ahead.
Example Sentence 1
After clearing the runway and stopping past the hold-short line, the pilot turned off the strobe lights to avoid blinding the aircraft waiting to depart.
Example Sentence 2
During the preflight, the instructor confirmed that both wing strobe lights were working properly.