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?
Something further to add here is that planes get a little close at landing and line up in the air as they’re coming in. There’s actually something akin to roads in the sky so the increased visibilty is definitely handy