11-A: Night Operations

Knowledge

scanning at night:
- scan slowly to permit offcenter viewing
- look to the side of an object and scan slowly
- use peripherial vision by scanning small sectors and utilizing offcenter viewing
dark adaption:
- avoid bright white lights at least 30 minutes before the flight

K2: lighting systems identifying airports, runways, taxieways, and obstructions, as well as pilot controlled lighting

use the same approach angle and airspeed as during daytime

K3: airplane equipment and lighting requirements for night operations

night requirements
- position lights and anti-collision lights
- landing lights only required when operated for hire (Uber)
- lights required between sunset and sunrise
always-on requirements
- anti-collision lights unless they constitute a hazard to safety

K4: personal equipment essential for night flight

night visibilty requirements
- Class G
  - 3 miles
night time
- end of evening civil twilight and beginning of morning civil twilight
fuel requirements
- 45 minutes beyond the first intended point of landing

K6: nigh taxi operations

K7: interpreation of traffic position and direction based solely on position lights

right side:
- star board
- green light
- you see its right wingtip, it's crossing right
left side (no red port left)
- red light
- port side
- you see its left wingtip, it's crossing left
right has right-of-way:
- mnemonic: traffic light:
  - see the red light (i.e., left wing tip)
    - red traffic light = stop
    - confirm: crossing to the left, i.e., it is coming from the right, it has right of way, we need to stop / divert
  - see the green light (i.e., right wing tip)
    - green traffic light = go
    - confirm: crossing to the right, i.e., it is coming from the left, we have right of way, we can go
configurations:
- steady red, flashing red light:
  - aircraft is crossing to the left
    - steady red: left wingtip
    - flashing red: omnidirectional beacon
- steady white, flashing red light:
  - aircraft is flying away from me
    - steady white: tail light
    - flashing red: omnidirectional beacon
- steady red, steady green light:
  - aircraft is approaching head
    - steady red: left wingtip
    - steady green: right wingtip

K8: visual illusions at night

lights

regulation

name	color	interval	direction	regulation
anti collision light: (wing-tip) strobes	white	double flashes	omni	as per 91.209(b), if equipped: always when MASTER ON unless deemed unsafe by the pilot
anti collision light: (tail) beacon	red	rotating/flashing	omni	as per 91.209(b), if equipped: always when MASTER ON unless deemed unsafe by the pilot
navigation/position light: left	red	continuous	110° left and forward	as per 91.209(a), when MASTER ON during night
navigation/position light: right	green	continuous	110° right and forward	as per 91.209(a), when MASTER ON during night
navigation/position light: aft	white	continuous	140° backward	as per 91.209(a), when MASTER ON during night
landing light	white	continuous	forward	needs to be equipped as per 91.205(c)(4) (equipment requirements) on planes for hire, use not regulated.
taxi light	white	continuous	forward	use not regulated.

design (colors, directions, intervals, intensities) regulated in CFR Title 14, Chapter I, Subchapter C, Part 25 (Airworthiness Standards)

pratical use

beacon (flashing red): always on when MASTER ON both during day and night
nav/pos lights (red/green/white continuous): turn on and keep on when MASTER ON during the night
strobes (flashing white): use pilot safety power to override regulation; turn on while entering runway, keep on during flight
landing light (white): no day use (unless for practice); turn on while entering runway or on final
taxi light (white): no day use (unless for practice); turn on before prop start, keep on during taxiing, turn off while holding short; turn on while entering runway or on final

1) there is no red port left in the wine bottle - -> left: port side, red color - -> right: starboard side, green color 2) nav/position lights can be interpreted like a traffic light for right-of-way purposes - if I see a red nav light (i.e., continuous), I stop because I see their left wing tip, meaning they go from right to left, meaning they have the right of way - if I see a green nav light, I can go, because I see see their right wing tip meaning, they go from left to right, meaning I have the right of way

safety concerns

turn on lights only" while entering runway" to avoid distracting other planes during taxiing and when holiding short

forced landings

by night, you can't land on the fields because you don't see them
therefore, you always need to be aware of the cloest airport in case of an engine failure

landing

only land at airports with PAPIs or airports you know to avoid crashing into trees/powerlines on the approach
city lights are usually brighter than airport lights

sensory illusions

somatogravic illusion: attitude disorientation due to acceleration or disorientation
acceleration feels the same way as leaning backward (the liquid in the ear is in the back)
you're accelerating with pitch down but believe you're pitch up
you're erroneously pushing down more

general thoughts on night flying

IMC is harder to spot
Terrain may be hard to spot.
Only fly into airports with operative PAPIs and VASIs. They ensure terrain and obstruction clearance (e.g., over power lines) that are invisble at night.
Stay close due to illuminated areas to enable awareness of emergency landing spots for engine-out scenarios.
Ditiching is impossible, so avoid flight outside of land glide distance.
Adapt eyes for 30 minutes.
Use off-center scanning.
Plan fuel reserve more generously due to difficulties of spotting emergency landing options.
Illusions
- Black-hole illusion (sensory belief of high altitude when ground is very close below) during approach induces dangerously low flight on approach.
- False horizons may trip up attitude sensation.