Night Time

Question 1

What is the FAA’s Legal Definition of Nighttime?

Answer 1

For Passengers: night = 1hr after sunset to 1hr before sunrise

For Lights: night= sunset to sunrise

For Night Flight: night= the time between the end of evening civil twilight and the beginning of morning civil twilight.

Question 2

What is the Required Items for Night Flight?

Answer 2

F.L.A.P.S

Fuses/Circuit Breakers
Landing Lights
Anti-Collision Lights
Position Lights
Source of Electricity

Question 3

Night Illusions

Answer 3

Black Hole Effect: Brightly lit runways in a dark environment can create a “black hole” illusion depth perception during descent.

Autokinesis: staring at a singular light source for too long can cause it to appear to be moving, leading to misperceived motion.

False Horizon: the absence of ground references or stars can make it hard to distinguish between real or fake horizons.

Somotogravic Illusion: acceleration during take off can create an illusion of a nose up attitude, potentially leading to over pitching.

Runway Light Illusions: airport runway lights may be mistaken for stars of other aircraft lights, leading to misjudgment of altitude and distance.

Flicker Vertigo: strobe lights and flickering lights can induce dizziness and disorientation, risking disorientation and loss of situational awareness.

Question 4

Night Vision

Answer 4

Day Vs Night:
Day:
1. Objects at Distance Perceived at good Detail and great Distance.
2. Cones work best during the day

Night:
1. Rods work best in low light
2. Objects at night range is limited and detail is poor.

Night Blind Spot:
-direct staring at an object can cause the object to fade, avoid directly staring at an object for to long, instead scan actively and observe from peripheral when possible

Dark Adaptation:
-Being in Dim Settings 30min Before Night Fight
-Avoiding Bright Lights
-Wearing Shaded Sunglasses
-Keep Cockpit Lighting to a Minimum, -Use of green or red flashlights to minimize light exposure.

Scanning Techniques:
-Off-Center Viewing: look slightly to the side of the object you want to see, peripheral vision is better at night.
-Scan Slower, short regularly spaced eye movements in 10* sectors.

Question 5

Runaway Lights

Answer 5

Edge Lights: white, white/yellow, white/red, or yellow/red

End Lights: red

Threshold Lights: Green or Red

Runway Center-lights: White

Question 6

Taxiway Lights

Answer 6

Edge Lights: Blue

Centerline Lights: Green

Question 7

Becon Lights

Answer 7

Land Airport: Green or White and Green
Water Airport: White and Yellow
Helicopter: Green, Yellow and White
Military: Alternate Flash White and Green (different two quick white flashes)

Question 8

Pilot Controlled Lighting

Answer 8

Pilots can Control the Lighting at the Airport via their Mic.

7 times in 5 secs High
5 times in 5 secs Medium
3 times in 5 secs Low

Question 9

Obstruction Lights
ADLS (Aircraft Detection Lighting System)

Answer 9

High intensity red or white flashing lights (or both) placed on tall structures like wind turbines, buildings, towers to alert pilots of potential hazards and ensure safe flight paths.

ADLS: a system that can detect an approaching aircraft and automatically activate obstruction lights only when necessary.