NIGHT FLIGHT Advantages: –Air smoother –Less air traffic –May be easier to detect other aircraft due to aircraft lights Disadvantages: –Visual horizon may be less distinct –Difficult to select emergency landing site

NIGHT FLIGHT Difficult to see clouds Difficult to see horizon in poor visibility Difficult to see horizon over large body of open water without any lights on surface Horizontal visibility significantly less than directly down in haze/fog Haze and open water combine to lead to loss of spatial orientation

NIGHT FLIGHT Eyesight dependent on physical condition; detriments: –Fatigue –Colds –Alcohol –Smoking –Medication –Altitude (Hypoxia; susceptible at lower altitude at night)

NIGHT FLIGHT Pilot Equipment (FAR91.205): –Approved position lights –Anti-collision light system –Spare set of fuses, accessible to pilot –Flashlight (& set of spare batteries) not required, but strongly recommended

NIGHT FLIGHT FAA “Operation Lights On” recommended for night operations within 10 miles of any airport –Also for daytime in limited visibility –In areas of activity of bird flocks

NIGHT FLIGHT Pilot Equipment (OPNAVINST1710.2): –Flashlight required –For cross-country at night: gyroscopic rate-of-turn indicator slip-skid indicator artificial horizon directional gyro clock displaying hours, minutes and seconds operable VOR or ADF

NIGHT FLIGHT FAA night VFR minimums: –1,000 ft ceiling and 3 miles visibility in controlled airspace OPNAVINST night VFR minimums –2,500 ft ceiling and 5 miles visibility

NIGHT FLIGHT Currency: –FAA: 3 takeoffs and landings, to full stop within preceding 90 days, to carry passengers; pilot may do solo takeoffs/landings to become recurrent –OPNAVINST: 3 takeoffs and landings, to full stop, within preceding 90 days to act as PIC; pilot must take dual with CFI to become recurrent

NIGHT FLIGHT OPNAVINST Pilot Restrictions: –No simulated forced landings, at night, off-field –No night flight outside local area unless instrument rated or have received adequate instrument training; logbook endorsement required –If not instrument rated, but having 100 logged pilot hours, may fly local VFR at night to authorized fields, but must maintain visual contact with an airport