Position lights must be displayed from Sunset to Sunrise, except in Alaska.

Position lights must be displayed from Sunset to Sunrise, except in Alaska.

• A. Always required
• B. Sunset to Sunrise
• C. Only during darkness
• D. Not required

Answer: (B)

Position lights are there to make your balloon visible to other aircraft when it’s dark or visibility is reduced. The practice rule is to have these lights on from sunset to sunrise, which covers the period when darkness affects conspicuity. The Alaska exception is a regional note, but the general requirement you’ll be tested on is that you display position lights during the hours of darkness. The other options would either imply lights are always on, only during total darkness without referencing the official time frame, or not required at all, which isn’t consistent with safety rules for visibility at night.

Position lights are there to make your balloon visible to other aircraft when it’s dark or visibility is reduced. The practice rule is to have these lights on from sunset to sunrise, which covers the period when darkness affects conspicuity. The Alaska exception is a regional note, but the general requirement you’ll be tested on is that you display position lights during the hours of darkness. The other options would either imply lights are always on, only during total darkness without referencing the official time frame, or not required at all, which isn’t consistent with safety rules for visibility at night.