Night Flying: Vision, Lighting, Illusions and Requirements

Night vision

• Full dark adaptation takes about 30 minutes; bright light ruins it fast.
• Use dim red or white cockpit light.
• Use off-center viewing: look slightly to the side of faint objects.
• Oxygen use helps night vision at higher altitudes.

Illusions

• Black-hole approach: dark terrain before the runway makes you feel high, so you fly too low.
• False horizon: sloping clouds or ground lights confuse your sense of level.
• Autokinesis: a stationary light seems to move if you stare at it.

Lights and equipment

• Position lights from sunset to sunrise (91.209).
• Night VFR equipment adds to day requirements: FLAPS (Fuses, Landing light if for hire, Anticollision lights, Position lights, Source of electricity) per 91.205(c).
• Carry a flashlight with spare batteries.

Requirements

• Private pilot (61.109): 3 hours of night training, including a 100+ nm cross-country and 10 full-stop takeoffs and landings.
• Carrying passengers at night: see night currency.