How do I control aircraft lights in FSX?

In FSX and FSX: Steam Edition, press L to toggle all standard aircraft lights, O for strobes, Ctrl+L for landing lights and Shift+L for panel lights. Use cockpit switches for separate beacon, navigation, taxi, logo or wing lights; they require electrical power and support from the aircraft model.

FSX aircraft light keyboard controls

The standard FSX keyboard controls provide direct shortcuts for all lights, strobes, landing lights and panel lighting.

The aiming controls do nothing on aircraft without a movable landing light. They also require the numeric keypad rather than the number row. Our downloadable FSX keyboard-command reference covers the other flight, engine and view controls.

L is a toggle, not a guaranteed “set every light on” command. If you have already created a realistic mixture with the cockpit switches, pressing L may change lights you intended to leave alone. A common question is whether one key can operate everything; yeah, L can send the group toggle, but separate switches give predictable control.

How do I control beacon, taxi, navigation and wing light switches?

Separate beacon, navigation, taxi, logo and wing lights are normally operated from the aircraft’s 2D panel or virtual cockpit.

Look for a panel labelled LIGHTS, often on the main instrument panel, overhead panel or a side console. The names vary slightly between aircraft:

• BCN or BEACON controls the red anti-collision beacon.
• NAV or POSITION controls the red, green and white position lights.
• TAXI controls the forward-facing light used while moving on the ground.
• LDG or LANDING controls the brighter take-off and landing lights.
• STROBE controls the flashing white anti-collision lights.
• LOGO, WING or INSPECTION controls the corresponding decorative or inspection lighting, if modelled.

There is no universal default Wing Ctrl keyboard shortcut in FSX. The same is generally true of separate beacon, navigation, taxi and logo commands. Check the simulator’s control-assignment list for a suitable event; if none is exposed or the aircraft ignores it, use the cockpit switch.

A light can only work if the aircraft includes the necessary switch, configuration and visual effect. A two-position switch shown in the cockpit is not proof that every variant of the model has a separate exterior light attached to it.

Where are the light controls in the Baron G58 or Baron 58?

The stock FSX aircraft is the Beechcraft Baron 58, whose individual exterior lights are operated from its cockpit switch panel rather than through one combined Baron-specific shortcut.

If your aircraft is labelled Baron G58, it may be an FSX add-on or the aircraft supplied with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 or 2024. Do not assume its bindings match FSX. Use the labelled light switches in that aircraft’s cockpit and the control-assignment system belonging to the simulator in which it is installed.

Can Switches Plus or a flight-simulator switch panel control the lights?

Switches Plus, also written SwitchesPlus, can control an FSX light only when its assignment sends an event that the loaded aircraft recognises.

The same principle applies to a home cockpit, button box or other flight-simulator switch panel. For Japanese readers, フライトシュミレータースイッチ means flight-simulator switches; the assignment and aircraft systems still determine which light each switch can operate.

• Use individual light events for maintained physical switches whenever the interface provides them. Assigning every switch to L operates the whole group rather than one light.
• Avoid toggle desynchronisation. A maintained hardware switch can show ON while the simulated light is OFF if both the cockpit and hardware send simple toggle commands.
• Remove duplicate assignments. Two devices bound to the same light can repeatedly reverse one another’s commands.
• Expect custom-aircraft exceptions. Complex add-ons may use their own electrical variables and cockpit logic instead of standard FSX events.

“Ça ne fonctionne pas”: why won’t my FSX aircraft lights turn on?

A non-working light is usually caused by missing electrical power, a changed assignment, custom add-on logic or an aircraft that does not model that light.

1. Establish electrical power. Turn on the battery or master electrical switch. Start or connect the required generator, alternator or external power source if the aircraft’s electrical system demands it.
2. Check the dimmer. Panel and instrument lights may have a rheostat set to zero even though the panel-light switch is on. Dome and flood lights can also be separate from Shift+L.
3. Test in darkness and from outside. Navigation, beacon, logo and wing lights can be hard to see in daylight. Change to dusk or night and inspect both sides of the aircraft in an external view.
4. Use the correct key. Strobes use the letter O, not the number zero. Landing lights require Ctrl+L, while L affects the wider light group.
5. Operate the cockpit switch. If the switch works but the keyboard does not, the aircraft probably uses a custom command or the default assignment has been changed.
6. Check the assignment and controller conflicts. Review the keyboard and controller control lists for removed, duplicated or reassigned commands.
7. Test a stock aircraft. If a default FSX aircraft works under the same conditions, the problem belongs to the add-on rather than the simulator-wide controls. Use our step-by-step checks for add-on exterior-light failures to isolate its configuration, effects and electrical logic.

If the landing-light switch and lamp visibly change but no beam appears on the ground, the keyboard command is working. Some FSX aircraft provide a bright lamp or halo without a convincing pool of light on the surface; that is a limitation of the aircraft’s lighting implementation.

Are aircraft taxi lights the same as airport taxiway lights?

No. An aircraft taxi light is mounted on the aeroplane, while taxiway lights are part of the airport scenery.

If the aircraft has no working taxi lamp, first confirm that it includes a separate taxi-light switch; some FSX models combine it with another light or omit it entirely. Our guide to configuring aircraft taxi-light switching covers models whose default setup needs adjustment.

If the aeroplane’s light works but the blue edge lights or green centreline lights are absent from the airport, changing the aircraft switch will not help. Instead, troubleshoot the missing airport taxiway lights as a scenery or display problem.

Which aircraft lights should I use during an FSX flight?

Use the beacon around engine or propeller operation, taxi lights while moving on the ground, strobes on the runway and in flight, and landing lights for take-off and landing.

These are common operating conventions, not a universal checklist. The procedure supplied with the aircraft takes precedence, particularly for airliners and complex add-ons with custom lighting logic.