When must taxi lights be turned off?

• A. When aircraft is stationary for longer than 5 minutes
• B. When aircraft is stationary for longer than 10 minutes
• C. When aircraft is stationary for longer than 15 minutes
• D. When aircraft is stationary for longer than 20 minutes

Answer: (B)

Taxi lights are used to illuminate the taxiways while the aircraft is moving on the ground, but when the aircraft is parked there’s no need for that illumination. The standard rule is to switch taxi lights off after the aircraft has been stationary for about 10 minutes. This saves electrical power and reduces glare for ground personnel. Short holds shorter than that would interrupt normal operations, while waiting longer than 10 minutes wastes energy. So, after 10 minutes of being stationary, taxi lights should be turned off.