Abstract: An improved aircraft illumination apparatus and improved circuitry for operating the illumination apparatus. Light sources are mounted on the interior of the aircraft landing gear doors for providing illumination ahead of the central portion of the aircraft. A reliable electrical circuit is provided for automatically turning the light sources on when the landing gear doors open and for automatically turning them off when the doors close. The circuit includes a power circuit for carrying the relatively heavy load current and a control circuit for carrying a smaller control signal for controlling the load current. The landing gear door switch means is connected in the control circuit, and controls application and interruption of the load current.