Q for the real pilots: what’s the protocol for using landing lights when a flight isn’t going over FL100? Do you leave them on for the whole flight? Turn them off when you hit your planned cruise altitude? Turn them of when you feel you’re far enough from the departure airport’s airspace?
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I wondered myself until I found this detailed information about it: Airbus Lights: What you didn't (need to) know! With a Real Airbus Pilot in Flight Simulator - YouTube
Very good site to follow. Learned a lot about all aircraft actually 
320 Sim Pilot - YouTube
I love 320 SP’s videos - they are indeed very informative.
I’m asking about the NON-airline procedures for landing lights, though – I know how airliners use them. But what if I’m tooling around in my 310 at 6000’? What’s the protocol for landing lights then? That’s what I’d like to know…
There are rules and recommendations for use of LLs at different altitudes and at different distances from airports.
That set aside when flying at night in VFR conditions we always had the lights on, because “see and avoid“ works best if the other airplanes can see you and avoid hitting you
Our Saratoga had LED light fixtures in her wing tips and one more in the nose bowl. And I know from other pilots flying in the area that she was easy to spot.
During the day to be honest the lights make almost no difference so if I was still flying with regular bulbs I would probably use them only when in airport range and of course at night (though at times it is also good to practice a landing or two without landing lights)
In the sim bulbs don’t break because a glowing piece of wire vibrates too much and if they do they don’t cost any real money
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Most airlines turn of their landing lights when they reach 10,000ft.
They also turn on when they reach 10000ft… 
Hi, i am not a real pilot, but I once dig deep into that matter. There is no standard PROTOCOL. And if you really want to be sure , you would have to look into the law of the country you are flying in. In most countries, as a non commercial small ga aircraft landing lights is not required during the entire flight. And in some laws it is not even called landing light, but only “white lights”. So dont put too much thought into this in the sim, else you are going nuts, because you will hear a lot of different answers. In real life you would also make it dependend on your aircraft manual. If you have a “weak” alternator and your landing lights want a lot of amps, you most likely would not have it on the entire time if not necessary. And it would never be “wrong” to leave them on the whole time. “See and be seen”. So if you think the landing lights aid you in your safety and your aircraft can handle the amps and spare bulbs arent that expensive in the sim - just let them on. If you think you dont need them, then let them off, until you come near the airport for landing.
I had my first flight earlier in the week and after landing I realized the lights had been on the whole time when the instructor did post landing checklist and configured for taxi.
I’m not sure if he didn’t want to reach over while I had the controls (since they are behind the yoke) or if you just leave everything on for daytime VFR. I often forget in the sim and feel like a goof. But perhaps it’s okay? The training grounds get a bit crowded, so visibility is good.
Most default airplanes in the sim are like landing without lights! Although I don’t know if it’s that bad IRL. Take the TBM 930, it’s a 5 million dollar airplane and I can’t see more than 5 feet in front of me without using a community mod.
What is the reason, to practice a failed equipment scenario?
These days the lights are often LED, which are more efficient and less prone to breaking while hot and under vibration, like the old incandescents were. So leaving the landing or rec lights on isn’t a big deal during the day when it’s not otherwise going to be a distraction.
Well the old style landing light bulbs really did not put out much light in GA…sort of what you see in MSFS in the C150 or so without a mod.
Most owners have upgraded to LED where possible because they last much longer and are usually a lot better at illuminating the area you need to see.
I really can’t believe the lights in the TBM are even remotely as bad as in MSFS, as you say this is a rather expensive airplane and these folks usually are not going to put up with needing a wingwalker to find their way.
My PPl training included night landings with the landing light off using peripheral vision to gauge height over the runway, in case the light malfunctioned.
Is that something you need to coordinate with the tower on?
Given how bad sim lighting is, it seems like something we get practice with.
No, tower doesn’t care about the landing light. The landing light isn’t even required unless you’re operating for hire.