From take-off to landing: lights, digital maps and essential checks. It’s always a good time to get to the heart of Air Dolomiti’s operations.

This time, we delve into the universal codes that govern flight: systems, instruments, checklists and sequences that pilots rigorously repeat time and time again.

Every light switched on, every piece of data validated and every fuel check performed helps to turn the enormous complexity of flight into a reliable and safe experience for those on board.

Aircraft lights: how to interpret a plane in the dark 

In aviation, lights are not just about visibility, but about communication, signalling and safety. They communicate to pilots, other aircraft and the control tower through a language of colours and intensity that can be understood in every airport and airway in the world.

Seen from the ground or from another cockpit, an aircraft can be ‘read’ even in the dark thanks to the aircraft lighting system, regulated by international standards (ICAO Annex 2, FAA AIM). 

Each light has a specific role: 

• Navigation lights > green on the right wing, red on the left wing and white on the tail. They are mandatory from dusk to dawn and allow the direction and relative position of an aircraft to be determined when flying at night.
• Taxi lights > lights positioned on the front landing gear or under the wing, used exclusively on the ground during taxiing.
• Landing lights > powerful white beams mounted near the fuselage or on the wings. EASA regulations require them to be lit up to 10,000 feet to increase visibility to other aircraft.
• Strobe lights > wide, high-intensity white lights, activated from runway entry to exit. These are the unmistakable sign of a plane flying at night.
• Logo lights > as well as illuminating the aircraft’s tail for aesthetic and branding purposes, they also serve the practical purpose of making the aircraft more visible on the ground during night operations.

Did you know?…

- The light switches are located on the overhead panel and are activated sequentially, following precise operating procedures.

- Landing lights are designed to withstand high aerodynamic stresses. They can reach powers of over 600 watts and are cooled by airflow in flight!

EFB and digital maps: the new cockpit 

The cockpit once housed folders of manuals and maps weighing over 15 kilos. Today, everything is accessible on a tablet.

The Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) has become a key aviation instrument. 

Onboard Air Dolomiti’s Embraer aircraft, the EFB (Class B device – EASA AMC 20-25) integrates operational documents, manuals, checklists, performance tables and digital mapping updated in real time.

With a quick tap, the pilots can consult the en-route charts and digital maps, which show:

• Alternate airports for any diversions
• Waypoints and ATS (Air Traffic Service) routes
• Minimum safe altitudes to ensure distance from obstacles
• Forecast turbulence areas and high-altitude winds

The EFB revolution

According to EASA, the EFB has reduced navigation errors and improved situational awareness. Digital information accelerates operational decisions, reducing turnaround times and improving environmental efficiency.

Fuel checks in the cockpit: how and why they are done every 60 minutes

Fuel checks are done before ignition, before take-off, at 60-minute intervals during flight, and after landing, with the engines off.

In the first 60 minutes of the flight, the fuel check is done twice.

Besides the amount of fuel, the pilots also check:

• Symmetry between tanks (so as not to create imbalances)
• Consumption relative to the flight plan
• Any need to use fuel crossfeed, a system that balances the fuel between the two main tanks if there is any asymmetry

Cockpits and innovation: technology for the benefit of passengers

For decades, landing lights were incandescent or halogen: powerful but energy-intensive, with an average lifespan of a few hundred hours and the need for frequent replacements. 

Today, however, Embraer aircraft and many modern fleets use LED landing lights, capable of guaranteeing over 20,000 hours of use and a more than 40% reduction in energy consumption.

It’s not just about technical efficiency: LED technology increases operational reliability and reduces the risks of unscheduled maintenance. The greater light intensity also improves mutual visibility between aircraft, contributing to flight safety.

This detail is invisible to passengers, but it represents the ever-evolving cockpit, with innovations to make every flight safer, more efficient and more sustainable.

What we shared with you in words, you can now experience in images.