← Back to Aviation Glossary
Position Lights
Navigation lights that show an aircraft's orientation: red on the left wingtip, green on the right, and white on the tail. Approved position lights are required for night VFR under 14 CFR 91.205(c) and help other pilots judge relative position in the traffic pattern.
Want to go beyond the definition? This term is covered in depth in AviatorPro's Private Pilot License ground school.
Learn more in Private Pilot License →Related Terms
- Precision ApproachAn instrument approach that provides both lateral and vertical electronic guidance to the runway, such as an ILS, GLS, or PAR. RNAV (GPS) LPV and LNAV/VNAV procedures also provide vertical guidance and are flown to a decision altitude, but the FAA classifies them as approaches with vertical guidance (APV) rather than precision approaches.
- Preflight ActionThe pilot-in-command duty under 14 CFR 91.103 to become familiar with all available information concerning a flight before departure. Required items include runway lengths, takeoff and landing distances, weather reports and forecasts, fuel requirements, alternatives if the flight cannot be completed, and known ATC delays; "all available information" includes NOTAMs.
- Preflight InspectionA thorough visual and physical inspection of the aircraft performed by the pilot before each flight. The preflight checks fuel quantity and quality, oil level, control surfaces, tires, lights, and overall aircraft condition using the manufacturer's checklist.
- Pressure AltitudeThe altitude shown on the altimeter when it is set to the standard pressure of 29.92 inHg (1013.2 hPa). In an unpressurized airplane, cabin altitude is generally close to pressure altitude; pressurized airplanes can keep cabin pressure altitude much lower than the airplane's altitude.