Surface illumination system of an aircraft and like vehicles

Abstract

A surface illumination system is provided that includes a lighting system mounted upon a vehicle body, such as an aircraft body. The lighting system is adapted to illuminate the surface beneath and around the periphery of the aircraft. For example, the lighting system is preferably adapted to illuminate the surface beneath at least one of the tail and distal ends of the wings. A further embodiment of the lighting system is adapted to illuminate the surface in a non-static manner. By increasing the illumination about the periphery of the aircraft, the surface illumination system draws increased attention to the aircraft and provides ground vehicles, taxiing aircraft, and landing aircraft advanced warning of the presence and position of obstacle aircraft on the ground, thereby reducing the possibility of collisions.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.