פורסם עם: General Aviation
Dark night VFR
Got your night flying in yet? This is the time of year to meet the night-flying requirements for your private pilot certificate. No more waiting around until late evening to be eligible for legally loggable night flying. As the shortest periods of daylight approach this month, sample night flying at its most accessible.
This may surprise you, but there's more than one variety of nocturnal aviation. There's night flying, and there's dark night flying—an entirely different proposition. Flying under a bright moon, perhaps above a carpet of new snow, bears no resemblance to flight on a moonless night above an unlighted landscape that may not even present a natural horizon reference outside the windscreen. Experience both with your flight instructor!
"Night flying is very different from day flying and demands more attention from the pilot. The most noticeable difference is the limited availability of outside visual references. Therefore, flight instruments should be used to a greater degree in controlling the airplane," explains Chapter 10 of the Airplane Flying Handbook. It will help for you to have already practiced some basic instrument flying before launching on dual night flights. Especially under dark night conditions, you will likely put those basic instrument skills to their first real test.
Another important adjustment to make on every night flight is proper cockpit lighting. Many pilots fly around at night with the lights up too bright, further compromising their outside vision. Use the minimum light level that still illuminates your instrument panel.
Pilotage, too, is a whole different ballgame at night. Even experienced pilots flying familiar routes have been fooled, as this Safety Spotlight from the AOPA Air Safety Foundation demonstrates. The foundation's Safety Hot Spot: Flying Night VFR includes five Safety Quizzes on night operations that will further assist you. See more night flying tips in the October 2008 AOPA Flight Training feature "Don't be afraid of the dark."
To know what kind of night conditions await, add a check of local times for the moon's rising and setting to your flight planning. (The next full moon is on Dec. 12. The full moon rises at sunset.) Then, dress warmly, put fresh batteries in your flashlights, and experience the joys and challenges of flying when the sun is no longer a factor.