The quiet, beautiful serenity of a night flight is not without its challenges and potential risks. But as with so much of aviation, risks should be mitigated through effective training, review, and practice. And to ensure that all new private pilots are prepared for night flight operations, the airman certification standards (ACS) incorporate night operations and preparations into their practical tests.
Although rare, nighttime practical testing is not prohibited. Since most pilot examiners prefer daytime testing because of added challenges and increased risks of night testing, you can expect to be quizzed orally on the specific details of night operations. The topics frequently discussed include an understanding of the physiological effects on vision, identification of airport lighting systems, airport and runway lighting operations, aircraft external and internal lighting requirements, as well as personal lighting equipment essential for night flights.
Typical questions might cover recommended visual scanning techniques to effectively see and avoid other aircraft, considering the night vision limitations of the human eye. Or how night vision might be adversely affected by bright flight deck lighting, flying at higher altitudes, smoking, use of alcohol, drugs, or even wearing sunglasses. My favorite is how a pilot, referring to a sectional chart, would determine whether or not an airport has a rotating beacon and runway lighting. Are the lights pilot-controlled? If so, how are they activated? The importance of having adequate and accessible flashlights and survival gear often is discussed. Regulatory aspects of night flight are popular topics of discussion and questions regarding pilot currency, fuel requirements, aircraft external lighting, basic VFR weather minimums, and special VFR requirements should be anticipated.
From there, oral testing will shift to various risk management factors related to night flight. In addition to being knowledgeable of the various associated risks, the better-prepared applicants will know what specific actions they would take to minimize the hazards. Dealing with an electrical system failure and collision avoidance factors with other aircraft, terrain, obstacles, and wires top the list. Other risks include night illusions: distant lights, clouds, certain light patterns, and even the northern lights can create a false horizon that could confuse a pilot. Reflected strobe lights or other anticollision lighting can cause flicker vertigo, which can manifest a variety of undesirable physical reactions.
More often, the lack of distant lights can lead to an absence of any visual horizon—even in good VFR weather—forcing a pilot to rely more heavily on flight and navigation instruments. Employing strong instrument scan techniques is essential to avoiding the risk of spatial disorientation that can lead to vertigo and loss of aircraft control. Night takeoffs can be especially risky to the VFR pilot when a lack of visual cues immediately after takeoff demands instant and effective instrument scanning skills to maintain a safe climbing attitude. Understanding how to adjust your flight deck lighting and using the flight instruments to minimize these risks is vital. Also important is a knowledge of how and when your landing light can be either helpful or a hindrance.
When it comes to landings, the lack of peripheral visual cues during a black-hole approach over water or unlit terrain, with runway lighting your only visual reference, can create illusions of a sloping runway that could lead to landing short. The use of visual or electronic glideslope aids should be emphasized. Questions regarding additional airport lighting illusions caused by excessively bright approach and/or runway light intensity that could lead to flying a higher- or lower-than-normal approach are also fair game.
The importance of proper preflight planning, especially for night cross-country flights, cannot be overlooked. En route weather, alternate airport availability, and fuel planning are of particular importance. Although poor pilot judgment and continued flight into deteriorating weather statistically constitute the greater risk, an engine failure at night in a single-engine airplane also is of great concern. Maintaining positive control of glide speed and aircraft attitude is absolutely critical in all cases. Beyond that, knowing the several important procedural steps and considerations for a loss of power at night will be a satisfying way to complete your oral questioning on night operations.
Bob Schmelzer is a Chicago-area designated pilot examiner, a United Airlines captain, and Boeing 777 line check airman. He has been an active gold seal flight instructor since 1972.
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