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Night Operations

Objective​

To understand the risks and challenges for operating aircraft at night.

Motivation​

Night flying is a privilege of a private pilots, and involves numerous additional risk factors from day flying. We want to know how to identify and mitigate those risk, and fly effectively when its dark.

Timing​

45 minutes

Format​

Elements​

  • The Eye and Night Vision
    • Vision Types
    • Dark Adaptation
    • Factors Affecting Eyesight
  • Night Illusions
    • False Horizon
    • Autokinesis
    • Flicker Vertigo
    • Black Hole
    • Bright Approach Lights
    • Using Landing Lights in Clouds
  • Legal aspects of night operations
    • Legal Definitions of Night
    • Night Flying Equipment
    • Night VFR - Required Equipment (91.205c)
    • Position Light Requirements (91.209)
    • Knowledge Check: Position Light Recognition
    • Knowledge Check: Position Light Recognition
  • Airport lighting
    • Rotation Beacons
    • Runway Lights
    • Runway Lights (cont.)
    • Pilot-Controlled Lighting (PCL)
    • Taxiway Lights
    • Runway Guard Lights - Hold short bars
  • Night operations
    • Start, Taxi, and Runup at Night
    • Night Takeoffs
    • Night Navigation
    • Beacons on a Sectional
    • Night Approaches and Landings
    • Emergencies at Night

Knowledge Checks​

  • You are flying at night and see a white light and a green light ahead of you. What is the other aircraft's relative position?
  • You see a light on the ground that has two white flashes, then a green flash. Can you land at that airport?
  • Your engine fails at night. You are flying above and Interstate highway. Would you land on the highway? What are some of your concerns?
  • You are on a long cross-country flight at night in eastern Washington. You are flying over a large area of unlit terrain. In the distance you see a group of synchronized flashing red lights. What do you think they are?

References​