"Cub Driver" usenet AT danford DOT net wrote in message
news

I've always called the lights on wingtip and tail "navigation lights,"

As does the rest of the aviation world, including the FAA.

but of course they aren't for navigation; they're to mark the aircraft
to avoid collision, or so that one plane can fly in formation with
another.

They borrow the term from nautical use, as is the case with many other
airplane terms. The usage may seem archaic, but I don't see it as entirely
unreasonable. To "navigate" can mean a broad range of activities, all
related to piloting a ship (or airplane). This includes guiding the ship in
the presence of other ships, for which the navigation lights are very useful
(at least at night).

What's the name that suggests this purpose? Recognition lights?

I certainly wouldn't recommend "recognition lights" as a replacement.
Navigation lights tell you only that an airplane is near and what direction
it's headed. It doesn't help you to recognize it. That's what true
recognition lights are for. They are found only on larger commercial
airplanes, and illuminate the distinguishing marks on the tail and fuselage.
There are, of course, false recognition lights as well -- various blinking
lights marketed to the light aviation crowd for the purpose of helping to
make your own airplane more noticeable -- and, while I disagree with the use
of the term in this context, the fact that it's already in use further
precludes the use of the term to describe navigation lights.

I think most pilots are quite satisfied with the use of the term "navigation
lights". They do aid in one very specific aspect of navigation, and in any
case aviation includes a variety of other terms that aren't strictly
accurate but which we use anyway. If we "fix" "navigation lights", we'll
have to go after all the other terms too (including "navigation"...flying
airplanes has nothing to do with making progress over the water, except for
seaplane operations, so that term itself would be prohibited if we want
everything nice and neat). What a pain in the neck.

Given that there's no actual confusion regarding the use of the term
"navigation lights", I see no reason to suggest a change.

Pete