system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
Eli5: why do the lights on planes flash instead of remaining illuminated like car headlights?
gpt
It makes them easier to spot visually.

Planes have several types of lights.  The navigation lights (solid red/green on the left/right wing tips, and a solid white light on the tail) help pilots determine which way an airplane points. The red beacon light is a red rotating or pulsating light to warn people on the ground that the aircraft is running or about to start. Solid taxi/takeoff/landing lights illuminate what's ahead so pilots can taxi/takeoff/land safely. And the white flashing strobe light allows pilots to pick out an airplane at great distances and track it.