Night Operations

Inoperative Equipment:

• If any other item is inoperative, 14 CFR section 91.405 states that it shall be placarded as required by Sec. 43.11
• Following scheduled inspections:
  • Aircraft shall have discrepancies repaired unless it is permitted to be in operative by 91.213
  • Maintenance personnel shall make appropriate entries in the aircraft maintenance records indicating the aircraft has been approved for return to service

  Passenger Requirements:

  • Passengers may not be carried if one hour after sunset until one hour before sunrise without night currency requirements having been satisfied, per FAR 61.57

  Special VFR Requirements:

  • Special VFR requires certain considerations at night (fixed-wing):
    • Between sunrise and sunset (or in Alaska, when the sun is 6° or more below the horizon) unless:
    • Day requirements, plus:
      • Be instrument rated (as per part 61)
      • Aircraft is equipped in accordance with 91.205(d)
        • VFR during the day
        • IFR at night

        Aircraft Lighting:

        • Airplane position lights are arranged similar to those of boats and ships
        • A red light is positioned on the left wingtip, a green light on the right wingtip, and a white light on the tail
        • This arrangement provides a means by which pilots can determine the general direction of movement of other airplanes in flight
          • If both a red and green light of another aircraft were observed, the airplane would be flying toward the pilot, and could be on a collision course

          Airport and Navigation Lighting Aids:

          A variety of Airport lighting standards exist for the terminal as well as enroute environment

          Control of Lighting Systems:

          Control of lighting systems in the airport environment can be adjusted through ground and air based mechanisms

          Ground Control of Lighting Systems:

          • Operation of approach and runway lighting may be adjusted at the pilot's discretion and is generally controlled by the Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT)
          • At some locations, where there is no control tower in operation, the local Flight Service Station (FSS) may control the lights

          Pilot Controlled Lighting:

          • Radio control of lighting is available at selected airports to provide airborne control of lights by keying the aircraft's microphone
          • Control of lighting systems is often available at locations without specified hours for lighting and where there is no control tower or FSS or when the tower or FSS is closed (locations with a part-time tower or FSS) or specified hours
          • Complete details, can be found under the airport lighting page

          Airport Lighting:

          Lighting around airports are meant to easily identify airport locations and layouts for the safe transition from the enroute to terminal environment

          Obstruction Lights:

          • Obstructions are marked and lit to warn airmen of their presence during daytime and night-time conditions
          • Lighting arrangements consist of:
            • Aviation Red Obstruction Lights
            • Medium Intensity Flashing White Obstruction Lights
            • High Intensity White Obstruction Light
            • Dual Lighting
            • Catenary Lighting

            Airport/Heliport Beacons:

            • Airport and heliport beacons help identify airports/heliports during low-light conditions
            • They have a vertical light distribution to make them most effective from one to ten degrees above the horizon; however, they can be seen well above and below this peak spread
            • The beacon may be an omnidirectional capacitor-discharge device, or it may rotate at a constant speed which produces the visual effect of flashes at regular intervals
              • Flashes may be one or two colors alternately

              Terminal Lighting:

              • With the airport in sight, pilots have runway lights and approach lights to help them orient onto the airfield
              • Once on the ground, taxiway lights guide pilots to their destination

              Runway Status Light System:

              • Although uncommon at general aviation airfields, pilots may be required to observe a Runway Status Light System, designed to increase a pilot's situational awareness of an airfield's status

              Night Weather Considerations:

              • At night, weather phenomena as simple as clouds can be difficult to identify, making an instrument rating a valuable safety mitigation
              • To help find an airport at night, consider dialing the OBS of the HSI or other indicator to the runway heading and if possible, using the airport as a GPS point

              Approaches and Landings:

              • Rotating beacons help locate the airport
              • The runway lights must be identified prior to an approach
              • The tendency at night is to fly a wider pattern
              • Setting a heading bug to the runway direction will help gain and maintain situational awareness
              • Distance can be deceptive
                • Consequently you must be vigilant and paying attention to your instruments
                • Fly at or above a glide slope if you have one
              • At night, the judgment of height, speed, and sink rate is impaired by the scarcity of observable objects in the landing area
                • The inexperienced pilot may have a tendency to flare too high until attaining familiarity with the proper height for the correct round-out
                • To aid in determining the proper round-out point, continue a constant approach descent until the landing lights reflect on the runway and tire marks on the runway can be seen clearly
              • Blackout landings (landings without runway lights) should always be included in night pilot training as an emergency procedure
                • Runway lights are not a requirement for landing at night; pilots may utilize lighted, and non-lighted runways all the same
              • If there is no tower and the airport is unlit:
                • 3 clicks = low intensity
                • 5 clicks = medium intensity
                • 7 clicks = high intensity
                  • If unable to located the airport, consider high intensity
              
              

              Night Operation Techniques:

              • Night operations take more time, from preflight, to the conduct of the flight, and post-flight requirements
              • Carry extra lights and batteries just in case lighting is insufficient during flight
              • Avoid the use of electronics that produce excessive flight, both from the perspective of night vision and general distraction
              • Increasing altitude in the night gives additional time and safety margin for troubleshooting
              • Be cognizant of aeromedical considerations like hypoxia, the higher you fly
              • Increase instrument cross-reference with the view outside of the cockpit
                • Stars can become street lights, slow movements can produce disorientation quickly
                • Fading of environmental lighting or turning on a landing/taxi light to look for "bluming" may help avoid flight into clouds

                Night Emergencies:

                • If the engine fails at night, several important procedures and considerations to keep in mind are:
                  • Maintain positive control of the airplane and establish the best glide configuration and airspeed
                  • Turn the airplane toward an airport or away from congested areas
                  • Check to determine the cause of the engine malfunction, such as the position of fuel selectors, magneto switch, or primer
                  • If possible, the cause of the malfunction should be corrected immediately and the engine restarted
                  • Announce the emergency situation to Air Traffic Control (ATC) or UNICOM
                  • If already in radio contact with a facility; do not change frequencies, unless instructed to change
                  • If the condition of the nearby terrain is known, turn toward an unlighted portion of the area
                    • Plan an emergency approach to an unlighted portion
                    • This may facilitate rescue or help, if needed

                    Night Hazards:

                    Night Illusions:

                    • Pilots should already be aware that the eye can induce illusions
                    • On a clear night, distant stationary lights can be mistaken for stars or other aircraft
                    • Dark nights tend to eliminate reference to a visual horizon
                    • Illusion awareness coupled with a disciplined instrument scan practiced more frequent than during the day help mitigate illusions in flight

                    Unmanned Aircraft Systems Night Operations:

                    • Night operations are permitted under 14 CFR Parts 91, Part 107, and Section 44809
                      • The remote pilot in command of the small unmanned aircraft must have completed an initial knowledge test or training, as applicable, and;
                      • The small unmanned aircraft must be operated with lighted anti-collision lighting visible for at least 3 statute miles that has a flash rate sufficient to avoid a collision
                        • The remote pilot in command may reduce the intensity of, but may not extinguish, the anti-collision lighting if he or she determines that, because of operating conditions, it would be in the interest of safety to do so

                        Private Pilot (Airplane) Night Preparation Airman Certification Standards:

                        • To determine that the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with Night Preparation
                        • References: FAA-H-8083-2 (Risk Management Handbook), FAA-H-8083-3 (Airplane Flying Handbook), FAA-H-8083-25 (Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge); AIM; POH/AFM
                        • Private Pilot - Night Preparation Lesson Plan