Night flight (11-24-15)

[Lachlan]

I am meeting my CFI a little before 1700 this afternoon for a dual night flight. I'm really looking forward to it. I've read up on landings after sunset/full dark and runway height illusions. Tomorrow night there will be a full moon, so it should be nice and bright out. Forecast is for good flying conditions this evening. I think I will really like night flying. Any good stories or advice?

 

[DesertNomad]

I would get your CFI to take you out on a moonless night, away form big city lights and go to a rural airport out in the country. It is a world apart from a night with a moon and lots of lights.

 

[oregonboy109]

I would get your CFI to take you out on a moonless night, away form big city lights and go to a rural airport out in the country. It is a world apart from a night with a moon and lots of lights.

This. I flew back from Pennsylvania at night last spring under a 10,000 foot overcast layer and there is a huge difference between flying over rural land with no lights and suburb/cities. Make sure you experience both with your CFI. I was very happy I had and was comfortable flying over both.

Have fun

 

[jordane93]

Make sure you read up on what kind of lighting your airport has. Know where the beacon is (if it has one) as it can help you locate the runways.

 

[MAKG1]

I would get your CFI to take you out on a moonless night, away form big city lights and go to a rural airport out in the country. It is a world apart from a night with a moon and lots of lights.

It's a good idea to do both. Most people have no idea how much they can see by moonlight, and that's very useful for a cloud dodging pilot.

 

[denverpilot]

I would get your CFI to take you out on a moonless night, away form big city lights and go to a rural airport out in the country. It is a world apart from a night with a moon and lots of lights.

This. Of course one has to decide for oneself if the added risk getting to and from said airport if the engine quits, in a single, is worth it.

Make sure you read up on what kind of lighting your airport has. Know where the beacon is (if it has one) as it can help you locate the runways.

And how to turn on the pilot controlled lighting.

And then go someplace the PCL is NOTAM'd dead or is non-existent, or don't turn them on, and give that a shot.

Whole new ball game when all you can see is what's in the landing light. Very spooky the first time. Not really all that much less spooky after that even.

I still remember the go-around when I was doing a few laps at a black hole airport in eastern Colorado one night and the damn PCL timer ran out -- and the runway environment went absolutely black about a second before the flare.

I'm pretty sure I was pulling chunks of seat cushion out of my butt for a few days after that one.

Pro tip: Always reset the PCL during each lap if you're doing circuits and bumps.

 

[jordane93]

And how to turn on the pilot controlled lighting.

And then go someplace the PCL is NOTAM'd dead or is non-existent, or don't turn them on, and give that a shot.

Whole new ball game when all you can see is what's in the landing light. Very spooky the first time. Not really all that much less spooky after that even.

I still remember the go-around when I was doing a few laps at a black hole airport in eastern Colorado one night and the damn PCL timer ran out -- and the runway environment went absolutely black about a second before the flare.

I'm pretty sure I was pulling chunks of seat cushion out of my butt for a few days after that one.

Pro tip: Always reset the PCL during each lap if you're doing circuits and bumps.

I'd also do a few no landing light landings. But for your first night flight, just go and have some fun!

 

[JCranford]

I really like flying at night. Its certainly different and a little more tense initially, but its really beautiful. My first bird strike was on my first night flight. I thought it was a BIG bug but feathers on the windshield proved otherwise.

Relax, enjoy it and learn some new skills!

 

[James331]

Night flying is quite fun, especially if your CFI is personally comfortable with it.

With work now a good chunk of my flying tends to be at night, it's also nice having less traffic too

 

[Lachlan]

It was GREAT! My CFI loves night flying. Now that the first night lesson is done we're planning a night XC to a small non-towered airport in a week or two.

 

[EdFred]

Having a Central and South American bush pilot as my instructor, we also did no landing light, no runway light landings. When you're a long ways from a towered/lit field, and your electrical craps out on you, you aren't going to be able to turn on the lights, or have any lights.

 

[Lachlan]

I intend to continue to work on night flying, both near and far from lights and (eventually) people. It's a process- learn a little, work on it, build on it, get better at it, learn more, work on it, repeat.

 

[Caramon13]

I flew pretty much exclusively at night for my PPL, loved it. Calm winds, cool weather, quiet ATC. All good.

First night landing I did though I got thrown off by the "glow" of the lights on the runway and put it in like a lawn dart pretty much lol..ugliest 3 pointer you ever did see.

I've done a lot more since then and had instructor's go over landings without the landing light (which are a bit weird, but fun) at night.

Cross countries at night are a blast, here in FL it's like a black hole in the middle of the state at night, also south near the everglades.

One of my instructor's told me a funny joke about emergency landings at night: If you're landing at night without an engine into a black hole and you turn your landing light on and don't like what you see...just turn it off again..

 

[EppyGA]

On your cross country airports you are passing can be good landmarks. As you get close turn the lights on and see if the airport is where you were expecting it to be.

Not sure anyone mentioned carrying a headlamp or two in your bag, actually one on your head would be good.

 

[Lachlan]

Not sure anyone mentioned carrying a headlamp or two in your bag, actually one on your head would be good.

I had a headamp on my head and a small red LED light in my shirt pocket. Probably overkill, but I like being prepared for unexpected events.

 

[Hank S]

I really like flying at night. Peaceful, quiet and often calm(er) weather. It's almost like having your own dedicated controllers, too!

 

[Lachlan]

I really like flying at night. Peaceful, quiet and often calm(er) weather. It's almost like having your own dedicated controllers, too!

Yeah, after my first landing I took off again and the controller called and said I had the runway to myself for a while. That was cool to have my own airport for a bit. The other day I was doing touch-and-gos and there were NINE of us in the pattern for the short rnwy.

 

[AggieMike88]

My first night cross country experience

http://www.pilotsofamerica.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1099961

 

[neilki]

You can never have too many flashlights
A headlamp is great for pre and post flight duties; especially the later. you'll be tired and likely to leave things in the cockpit. Its likely much of what you carry is black, so stick a sliver SOLAS tape on the back of your iPad et l; its easy to find anywhere on the floor of the plane.