Night Operations

Question 1

Light sensing cells in the eye: function and location.

Answer 1

1. Cone: color. Center of retina

2. Rod: movement/brightness/peripheral. Back of retina.

Question 2

How long does it take for each cell type of light sensing cell to adjust to darkness.

Answer 2

Cones: 5-10 min
Rods: 30 min

Don’t use bright lights on night flights!

Question 3

List examples of ground lightning condition illusions.

Answer 3

1. Distant stationary lights can be mistaken for stars or aircraft (horizon). Geometric patterns cause confusion too.
2. Black Hole: runway lights only source. No peripheral reference, so bad orientation.
3. (7-4???) where different types of lights end confusion. Causes high approach.

Question 4

During takeoff, you feel as if you are excessively nose up, what illusion is this?

Answer 4

Somatogravic illusion.

Question 5

Well lit runway with no surrounding lights. What illusion to watch out for?

Answer 5

Featureless terrain illusion: illusion that the aircraft is higher than reality. Will cause pilot to fly too low.

Question 6

What can affect eyesight?

Answer 6

Physical condition, fatigue, colds, vitamin deficiency, alcohol, stimulants, smoking, medication

Question 7

What can you do to improve vision at night?

Answer 7

1. Give time to adapt 30 min
2. Use oxygen
3. Close one eye if exposed to bright light
4. Do not wear sunglasses (duh)
5. Blink if vision burs
6. Concentrate on seeing objects (?)
7. Off center viewing
8. Maintain good physical condition
9. Avoid smoking, drinking, and harmful drugs

Question 8

What should the pilot bring to a night flight?

Answer 8

1. Flashlight (preflight)
2. Red light (in flight)
3. Blue light for charts (?)
4. Batteries
   ~
5. Aeronautical charts

Question 9

Explain the arrangement of position lights

Answer 9

Red light: left wingtip
Green light: right wingtip
White light: tail

Question 10

Explain the interpretation of position lights in regards to aircraft direction.

Answer 10

Just red: going left
Just green: going right
Red left, green right: same direction
Red right, green left: incoming

Question 11

When do you need position lights?

Answer 11

Sunset-Sunrise

Question 12

What is required of an aircraft in or near a night operations area?

Answer 12

1. Be clearly illuminated
2. Position lights
3. Be in an area marked by obstruction lights

Question 13

What are the 3 definitions of night?

Answer 13

14 CFR S1.1: between end of evening civil twilight and start of morning civil twilight. Used for logging.
14 CFR S61.57: between 1 hour after sunset and 1 hour before sunrise. Use for PIC currency.
14 CFR S91.209: between sunrise and sunset. Use for position lights and beacon.

Question 14

What are REIL?

Answer 14

Runway End Identifier Lights: pair of synched lights on sides of runway threshold which provide rapid positive ID of approach end of runway.

Question 15

Describe a runway edge light system.

Answer 15

Used to outline runway. White unless on instrument runways (there, least of last 2000 or half are amber). Ends are green facing away and red facing in.