Curious C130 Encounter

ARFlyer

ARFlyer

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Yesterday while on a x/c with a private student, we crossed paths with a flight of C130 about 500' above us. While the C130s passed by our right wing the lead aircraft flashed a red light at us several times.

Several of the other CFIs have noticed the same time lately. Is this a new way of communicating with civilian aircraft or is the flight crew just messing with the passing aircraft?
 
ARFlyer said:
Yesterday while on a x/c with a private student, we crossed paths with a flight of C130 about 500' above us. While the C130s passed by our right wing the lead aircraft flashed a red light at us several times.

Several of the other CFIs have noticed the same time lately. Is this a new way of communicating with civilian aircraft or is the flight crew just messing with the passing aircraft?
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Did the red light come out of the cockpit window... or the left wing nav light ??:dunno::confused:
 
N801BH said:
Did the red light come out of the cockpit window... or the left wing nav light ??:dunno::confused:
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It was very clearly coming out of the forward window. Plus they passed off our right heading the opposite direction.
 
Maybe that was his way of letting you know he had the right-of-way?
 
Could be one of them pointing (with a flashlight) out to the others in the cockpit your location...I really have no idea since you said it's becoming a regular thing. Otherwise I'd think it'd be the same as someone pointing at something with a pen.
 
Ya think that maybe they were trying to warn the clueless about crossing the wake of a heavy
 
Not sure; you could always call the base and try to get an answer...good luck.
 
Toggle your targeting radar from "STBY" to "ACT" next time :)
 
Talked to a buddy of mine who's in C130 training in Little Rock. Only thing he can think of that fits the description would be a red flashlight in the cockpit that just happened to be visible to the other airplane.

If it was daytime, I don't know why that would happen, but that's all we could come up with.

I dunno if AF pilots ever wear headband-mounted flashlights, but if the pilot was looking out the window trying to spot the traffic, that might explain what the OP saw.
 
Jim_R said:
Talked to a buddy of mine who's in C130 training in Little Rock. Only thing he can think of that fits the description would be a red flashlight in the cockpit that just happened to be visible to the other airplane.

If it was daytime, I don't know why that would happen, but that's all we could come up with.

I dunno if AF pilots ever wear headband-mounted flashlights, but if the pilot was looking out the window trying to spot the traffic, that might explain what the OP saw.
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Huh, ok. Well it was about 30 mins before sunset so that could explain it.
 
Surprised they would have any red lights in the cockpit. Even with the newer red LEDs, still pretty much everyone in the military uses blue/green LED flood lights, finger / lip lights for NVG compatibility.
 
My buddy did mention that "it was possible they were trying to light them up for the NVGs". I told him it was a red light in my original question to him....
 
Jim_R said:
My buddy did mention that "it was possible they were trying to light them up for the NVGs". I told him it was a red light in my original question to him....
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I'd expect NVGs to have plenty of ambient light a half hour before sunset.
 
If it was a half hour before sunset they weren't on NVGs. Most don't go aided until EENT. I've had SOPs require that we didn't goggle up until at least 30 mins after sunset.
 
I know one of the trainers out of LRAFB. Next time I see him, I'll ask. What AGL were you at? Most of the time they are running nap or 500 max. around here. I'm right under a training route and the ground shakes when they scoot through trimming the tree tops.
 
Unit74 said:
I know one of the trainers out of LRAFB. Next time I see him, I'll ask. What AGL were you at? Most of the time they are running nap or 500 max. around here. I'm right under a training route and the ground shakes when they scoot through trimming the tree tops.
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I was at 5500' MSL so about 5000' AGL I'd say.
 
Talked to my buddy who said that doesn't make any sense to him. There is no procedure for shining light at other aircraft and had no idea what they would be doing. He didn't think any equipment on the light deck would cause external light either.
 
Unit74 said:
Talked to my buddy who said that doesn't make any sense to him. There is no procedure for shining light at other aircraft and had no idea what they would be doing. He didn't think any equipment on the light deck would cause external light either.
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Clearly, he didn't want to tell you that that's the signal to turn the chemtrails on. ;)
 
ARFlyer said:
I guess. They past maybe 1/4 of mile off our wing. I had my student turn a bit so we weren't right under them.



Air Force. Students out of the Little Rock Air Force Base.
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Sounds like they have some kind of flashing light for radio black out coms and they discovered it and flashed you with it.
 
Go on 121.5 and ask them. They were probably trying to get your attention. I have seen civil pilots flash a flashlight at others to get their attention as well. Or to warn to get back.
 
KyleT said:
Go on 121.5 and ask them. They were probably trying to get your attention. I have seen civil pilots flash a flashlight at others to get their attention as well. Or to warn to get back.
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Guard isn't to be used for routine questions, it's for emergencies. By the OP's description there was nothing dangerous about the C-130's activity. He saw a red light flashing. A light that could have come from multiple sources and possibly not even directed at him.
 
From what I've gathered from my girlfriend's father. The light was a "Hey we see you, I hope you see us."
 
I guess if your blind...

I saw them from 10 miles out. They should already know that we don't want to be anywhere near them, especially if they're loaded down.
 
They can be hard to spot. From above. Around here they typically fly much lower than typical GA ops. They blend in with the surroundings pretty well. Only stand out certian times of the year.
Several times I've been just above pattern altitude (~1100-1200 agl) and have seen them about 500' below me.
 
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