I live near a major airport and see commercial planes with huge front headlights shining in the night sky. What could they be good for way up in the sky, though? I get that when they are taking off/landing headlights are necessary. Why not give them lights like a boat, with a green in front and a red in back?
Easy to remember:
Red is on the opposite side from Right
“No red port left in the bottle”
Red lights are on the Port side which is Left for the nautically challenged.
Left on read
From which orientation?
Straight of course.
The pilot’s point of view
The one where red is on the left.
red right returning for boats/buoys
Working on the ramp we learned “if the red is on the right, you’re in the wrong place.” I.e., planes have the right-of-way over anyone else normally.
And Starboard has 2 R’s which makes it the right.