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Night Flying
Firstly night is defined as 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise. No pilot may fly during these times unless he holds a night rating or is under training. There is no such thing as VFR at night. All flights are IFR. For obvious reasons landmarks are more difficult to see at night. Pilots will therefore rely more on radio navigation aids. They certainly will need to to know how to fly on instruments as the visual horizon will be impossible to see. Before night flying the pilot has to take extra precautions. Firstly many airfields close early and the pilot must make sure that the airfield is going to be open at the destination and also the alternate is open. Also on route airfields the aircraft passes in case of emergency should also be carefully picked. Extra fuel will need to be carried just in case the runway lights fail and the aircraft has to hold. A special check for terrain and obstacles within 25 miles each side of track is a must. Fog or cloud is more likely early evening and early morning as the temperature drops. This should be remembered. Windshear is common at night with a light wind near the ground and a strong wind above. When sat in an aircraft at night it is very easy for it to move unnoticed by the pilot so ensure the parking brake is on. Before take off dim your lights in the cockpit and avoid trying to look into bright lights. It takes time for your eyes to get used to the dark. taxiway edges are lit with blue lights and the taxiway centre light have green lights. It is very easy to taxi to fast at night so be careful here. Try not to dazzle other pilots with your headlights especially if they are taking off or landing. Turn them off if need be. Check your DI and compass when lined up for take off ensure you are on the correct runway by checking the heading. On the first 400 ft after take off you will need to be on instruments very quickly watch your airspeed and bank angle. Ensure you are climbing. On a clear night you will then get your reference points . Never assume you are straight and level check the artificial horizon. You normally would not turn until at least 500ft off the ground. I will now discuss the relevance of navigation lights on the aircraft. These lights are set at angles. depending where aircraft are the pilots may not see all the other lights on an aircraft. To remember easily which light is which remember being a disappointed drinker. IE There is no more red port left. Therefore you will remember by saying that that the red light is on the port side of your aircraft Port is left. As you fly along there may be aircraft near you. Remember where your light colour is nearest to the other aircraft. If the colours are the same there is no problem IE an aircraft out to your left in front and you can see a red light that is not a problem, it is going away from you. Your light is red on the left so its red light to red light. Likewise if you saw a green light on the right of you that is ok as well he is going away from you. The problem is if you see a green light on your left, or a red light on your right from another aircraft. That aircraft is coming towards you. You may have to take avoiding action. Remember if an aircraft is coming head on both of you must turn right unless you can pass safely. Draw two aeroplanes on paper and put the navigation lights on them then move them about in different positions and you will see what I mean about lights. If you were both
flying up a road at night then both of you should stay on the right hand side. If you are using NDB's at night beware of distortion of signals especially on the coastal NDB's It is harder to flare out on landing at light watch for the runway lights to rise Pilots tend to flare to early when they start flying at night. With training this can be overcome. Remember your eyes can play tricks on you. I have kept this
basic I hope you have enjoyed it. The quadrant and semi circular rule applies at
night with regard to cruising levels. The Minimum Height rule also applies.
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