Except in Alaska, during what time period must lighted position lights be displayed on an aircraft?

Lighted position lights must be displayed on an aircraft from sunset to sunrise. This requirement serves a crucial purpose in aviation safety by enhancing the visibility of an aircraft during times of low light, allowing both air traffic and ground personnel to see the aircraft more clearly during nighttime operations.

Understanding the terminology used here is important. "Sunset to sunrise" defines the specific times when the sun is below the horizon, ensuring that the lights are used appropriately during full darkness and twilight conditions. In contrast, other options do not encompass the entire necessary timeframe or are focused on contexts not applicable to the requirement. For instance, mentioning "dusk to dawn" could imply a shorter period that might not fully cover necessary visibility times, and the implications of positional lights being displayed "only during flight" or "daytime flights only" do not comply with the regulations, as lights are required for nighttime operations to ensure safety in various phases of flight and ground movement.