Night Operations

Question 1

light-sensitive cells in retina

Answer 1

Rods & Cones

Cones are in higher concentrations than rods, cones used for day or high intensity light vision. Take 5-10 minutes to become adjusted to darkness.

Rods are mainly in periphery of retina, 10,000 times more sensitive to light than fovea, used for low light or night vision. Take about 30 mins to adjust to darkness.

Question 2

Night blind spot

Answer 2

absence of rods in fovea affecting central 5-10 degrees of visual field conditions of low ambient illumination. object viewed directly can go undetected.

Question 3

False horizon illusion

Answer 3

ground lights below can result in situations where difficult to distinguish ground lights from stars, makes it difficult to align aircraft with actual horizon

Question 4

Autokenesis

Answer 4

stationary light will appear to move about when stared at for many seconds

Question 5

Featureless terrain illusion

Answer 5

black hole approach when landing is made from over water or non-lighted terrain where runway lights are only source of light. Runway seems out of position.

Question 6

Bright runway and approach lights illusions

Answer 6

illusion of being lower or having less distance to runway making fly higher approach

Question 7

Ground lighting illusions

Answer 7

lights along straight path, such as road, can be mistaken for runway and approach lights,

Question 8

Runway Centerline Lights

Answer 8

spaced at 50 foot intervals, white until last 3,000 feet alternate with red for next 2,000 and all red last 1,000

Question 8

Oxygen at night

Answer 8

without supplemental oxygen, an individuals night vision declines measurably at pressure altitudes above 4,000 feet

Question 9

Touchdown Zone Lights TDZLs

Answer 9

two rows of transverse light bars, symmetrically about runway centerline

steady white start 100 feet beyond landing threshold and extend 3,000 beyond landing threshold or to midpoint of runway, whichever less

Question 10

Rotating Beacon Lights - Airport Identifier

Answer 10

White & Green- Lighted Land
White & Yellow- Lighter Water
Green, Yellow, White- Heliport
Dual White & Green- Military

Question 11

VASI Glide Path

Answer 11

Red over Red- Below
Red over White- On glide path
White over White- Above

Question 12

PAPI

Answer 12

4 white high
3 white 1 red slightly high
2 white 2 red on glide
1 white 3 red slightly low
4 red low

Question 13

Pilot activated runway lights

Answer 13

Microphone 7 times to turn lights on to max brightness for 15 mins
adjust lighting with 7, 5, or 3 within 5 secs

Question 14

Position Lights

Answer 14

Red left wingtip
Green right wingtip
White taillight

required on sunset to sunrise

Question 15

Night

Answer 15

End of Evening Civil Twilight & Beginning of Morning Civil Twilight: Logging Night Flight Time

One hour after sunset, one hour before sunrise: currency to act as PIC carrying passengers

Sunset to sunrise: position and anti-collision lights

Question 16

Standard equipment night operations

Answer 16

one reliable flashlight, white/red light preferable and spare batteries

white preflight
red flight deck