In an emergency situation, what is one limitation on the operation of emergency lights?

In an emergency situation, the operation of emergency lights is typically limited to a short duration, as they are designed to provide illumination for a specified period that allows for evacuation or essential procedures to be conducted safely. The correct answer reflects that the emergency lights can only operate for 5 minutes, as this duration is often determined by the power source, which may provide sufficient energy for a brief but critical time frame.

For operational safety and efficiency, the lights are expected to function long enough to assist in the evacuation or necessary emergency protocols but not beyond this limit to conserve battery life and avoid potential failures later when needed. This constraint helps ensure that the system is reliable in an emergency scenario.

Different regulations and aircraft designs may allow for varying durations of emergency light operation, but the provided limit is a common standard that prioritizes sufficient illumination without compromising the functionality of other emergency systems.