Sunset to Sunrise: Night Flight Techniques

by Robson, David

• ISBN13: 9781560275428
• ISBN10: 1560275421
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-08-01
• Publisher: Aviation Supplies & Academics

Summary

The night flying techniques outlined in this guide prepare pilots for the unique considerations involved with night operations of an aircraft. Information and practical techniques are included on instruments, weather, and human factors, including night vision, fatigue, and hypoxia. The regulations governing night operations, preflight preparations, aircraft and airport lighting, cross-country planning, and emergency situations are covered.

Author Biography

David Robson is the author of Conventional Gear, Skydancing, and Transition to Twins. He is a former fighter and test pilot for the Royal Australian Air Force and was a member of their elite Delta aerobatic team.

Table of Contents

Author/Editor	xv
Editorial Team	xvi
Introduction	xvii
Why Fly at Night, Especially in a Single-Engine Airplane?	xvii
Night ``Visual'' Flight	xviii
Part 1: Refresher
Instruments and Systems	3	(16)
Pressure Instruments	3	(3)
Airspeed Indicator	3	(1)
Airspeed Indicator Errors	4	(1)
Density Error	4	(1)
Compressibility Error	4	(1)
Position Error	4	(1)
Instrument Error	4	(1)
Altimeter	4	(1)
Altimeter Errors	5	(1)
Barometric Error	5	(1)
Temperature Error	5	(1)
Position Error	5	(1)
Instrument Error	5	(1)
Lag	5	(1)
Altimeter Check	5	(1)
Vertical Speed Indicator	6	(1)
Gyroscopic Instruments	6	(3)
Attitude Indicator	6	(1)
Attitude Indicator Errors	7	(1)
Turn and Coordination Instruments	7	(1)
Coordination Ball/Inclinometer	7	(1)
Turn Indicator/Turn Coordinator	8	(1)
Heading Indicator	8	(1)
Heading Indicator Errors	8	(1)
Compass Instruments	9	(1)
Magnetic Compass	9	(1)
Remote Indicating Compass	9	(1)
Other Instruments	10	(1)
Clock	10	(1)
Timer	10	(1)
Preflight Checks of the Flight Instruments	11	(1)
Pitot-Static System	11	(2)
Blockage of a Static Vent	12	(1)
Blockage of the Pitot Tube	12	(1)
Vacuum System	13	(1)
Electrical System	14	(1)
Alternator	14	(1)
Battery	14	(1)
Autopilot	14	(5)
Roles of the Autopilot	14	(1)
Sensors	15	(1)
Attitude Sensing	15	(1)
Roll and Yaw Rate	15	(1)
Attitude	16	(1)
Stabilization (Inner Loop)	16	(1)
Control	17	(1)
System Coupling	17	(1)
Additional Autopilot Features	17	(1)
Rotary Roll Switch	17	(1)
Electric Trim	18	(1)
Limitations of the Autopilot	18	(1)
Meteorology	19	(26)
Clouds	19	(4)
Grouping of Clouds	20	(1)
Cloud and Air Stability	21	(1)
Unstable Air	21	(1)
Stable Air	21	(1)
Formation of Clouds	22	(1)
Precipitation	22	(1)
Types of Precipitation	22	(1)
Intensity of Precipitation	22	(1)
Thunderstorms	23	(5)
Characteristics of Thunderstorms	23	(1)
Hailstones	24	(1)
Downbursts and Microbursts	24	(2)
Windshear	26	(1)
Storm Hazards to Aviation	26	(1)
Avoiding Thunderstorms	27	(1)
Turbulence Penetration Techniques	28	(1)
Air Masses and Fronts	28	(2)
Frontal Weather	28	(1)
Air Masses	28	(1)
Cold Front	28	(2)
Icing	30	(7)
The Effects of Icing on Airplanes	30	(1)
Conditions Conducive to the Formation of Ice	30	(1)
Types of Icing	31	(1)
Clear Ice	31	(1)
Rime Ice	32	(1)
Hoar Frost (White Frost)	33	(1)
Icing and Cloud Type	33	(1)
Cumulus Cloud	33	(1)
Stratiform Clouds	34	(1)
Orographic Lift	34	(1)
Effect of Cloud Base Temperature	34	(1)
High-Level Clouds	34	(1)
Precipitation	34	(1)
Avoiding Ice	34	(2)
Flying Out of Icing Conditions	36	(1)
Fog	37	(4)
Formation of Fog	37	(1)
Radiation Fog	37	(2)
Dispersal of Radiation Fog	39	(1)
Advection Fog (Coastal Fog)	39	(1)
Sea Fog	39	(1)
Dissipation Process	40	(1)
Upslope Fog	40	(1)
Frontal Fog	40	(1)
Steaming Fog	41	(1)
Visibility	41	(1)
Astronomical Times	41	(4)
Sunrise and Sunset	41	(1)
Twilight	41	(1)
Duration of Twilight	42	(1)
Daylight	43	(1)
Factors Affecting the Duration of Daylight	43	(1)
Date	43	(1)
Latitude	43	(1)
Factors Affecting Daylight Conditions	44	(1)
Human Factors	45	(36)
The Role of the Pilot	45	(1)
The Complete Pilot	45	(1)
Decision Making	45	(5)
Emotions in Decisions	45	(1)
Decisions and Stress	46	(1)
Internal Stressors	46	(1)
External Stressors	46	(1)
Destination Obsession	46	(1)
Low Cloud, Pressing On	46	(2)
Personality and Matters of Choice	48	(1)
Formal Decision-Making Processes	49	(1)
Vision	50	(7)
Structure of the Eye	50	(1)
Cornea	50	(1)
Lens	50	(1)
Iris	51	(1)
Retina	51	(1)
Cones	51	(1)
Rods	51	(1)
Binocular Vision	52	(1)
The Blind Spot	52	(2)
Empty Field Myopia	54	(1)
Vision Limitations	54	(1)
Color Vision	54	(1)
Night Vision	54	(1)
Visual Scanning by Night	55	(2)
Visual Illusions	57	(10)
Relative Movement	57	(1)
Autokinesis	57	(1)
False Expectations	57	(1)
Environmental Perspective (Atmospheric Perspective)	57	(1)
Judgment of Distance and Angles	58	(1)
False Horizons	59	(1)
Visual Illusions in the Pattern	60	(1)
Visual Estimation of Altitude	60	(1)
Visual Illusions on Approach	61	(1)
Runway Slope	61	(1)
Runway Size	62	(1)
Night Approach	63	(1)
Black-Hole Approach	63	(2)
Summary	65	(1)
Focal Point	66	(1)
Hearing and Balance	67	(11)
Structure of the Ear	67	(1)
Outer Ear	67	(1)
Middle Ear	68	(1)
Inner Ear	68	(1)
Balance	69	(1)
Spatial Orientation	70	(1)
Human Balance Mechanism	70	(1)
Sensing Gravity (Verticality)	70	(2)
Sensing Linear Acceleration	72	(1)
Sensing Angular Movement	72	(2)
Normal Sensations Associated with a Level Turn	74	(1)
Sensations in Turning Flight	75	(1)
Disorientation and Illusions	76	(1)
The Leans	76	(1)
Nose-Up Pitch Illusion of Linear Acceleration	77	(1)
Nose-Down Pitch Illusion of Linear Deceleration	78	(1)
Night Factors	78	(3)
Part 2: Night Flight Rules and Requirements
Night Flight Rules and Requirements	81	(16)
What Is Night?	81	(1)
How To Determine if a Pilot Is Suitable To Fly Night VFR	81	(2)
Student Pilots	81	(1)
Recreational Pilots	81	(1)
Private Pilots	82	(1)
Commercial Pilots	82	(1)
Airline Transport Pilots	82	(1)
Carrying Passengers	82	(1)
Airplane Equipment	83	(3)
Day Requirements	83	(1)
Night Requirements	83	(1)
Pilot Equipment	84	(1)
Aircraft Lighting	84	(1)
Part 135 Night Operations	85	(1)
Weather Requirements	86	(1)
Airport Lighting	87	(10)
Airfield Lighting Aids	87	(1)
Approach Light System (ALS)	87	(1)
ALSF-1	87	(1)
ALSF-2	87	(1)
SSALF	87	(1)
SSALR	87	(1)
MALSF	87	(1)
MALSR	88	(1)
LDIN	88	(1)
RAIL	89	(1)
ODALS	89	(1)
Runway Lights	89	(1)
Runway Edge Lights	89	(1)
Touchdown Zone Lighting	89	(1)
Runway Centerline Lighting	89	(1)
Threshold Lights	89	(1)
Runway End Identifier Lights (REIL)	89	(1)
Boundary Lights	89	(1)
Taxiway Edge Lights	90	(1)
Summary	90	(1)
Beacons	90	(1)
Obstruction Lights	91	(1)
Aviation Red Obstruction Lights	91	(1)
Medium Intensity Flashing White Obstruction Lights	91	(1)
High Intensity White Obstruction Lights	91	(1)
Dual Lighting	91	(1)
Catenary Lighting	91	(1)
Obstruction Light Indications	92	(1)
Pilot Activated Lighting	92	(1)
Wind Direction Indicator Lighting	92	(1)
Visual Approach Slope Indicator (VASI)	92	(1)
Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI)	93	(1)
Altitudes	94	(1)
Night IFR Operations	94	(3)
Part 3: Piloting Technique
Instrument Flight Technique	97	(10)
Flight Control versus Flight Performance	97	(1)
Instrument Scanning	98	(7)
Simple Scans	98	(2)
Control Instruments and Performance Instruments	100	(1)
Selective Radial Scan	101	(1)
Climbing	101	(1)
Leveling Off and Cruising	102	(1)
Use the Logical Scan for Each Maneuver	103	(1)
Abbreviated Scans	104	(1)
Attitude Instrument Flying	105	(2)
Attitude (and Power) Control	105	(1)
Performance Is Flight Path plus Speed	105	(1)
Climb, Cruise, Descent	105	(2)
Night Flight Technique	107	(24)
Preparation for a Possible Night Flight	107	(1)
Transitions	107	(1)
Flying West	107	(1)
Flying East	108	(1)
Takeoff and Landing into the Setting or Rising Sun	108	(1)
Turning	108	(1)
Preparation for a Planned Night Flight	108	(5)
Preflight Preparation	108	(1)
Radio Procedures	109	(1)
Airfield Availability	109	(1)
Weather	109	(1)
The Airplane	109	(1)
Preflight Inspection	110	(1)
The Cockpit	111	(1)
Cockpit Lighting	111	(1)
Internal Preflight	111	(1)
Cockpit Organization	111	(1)
Front Seat Passenger	111	(1)
The Pilot	112	(1)
Adaptation of the Eyes to Darkness	112	(1)
Self-Compensation	112	(1)
The Airfield	113	(1)
Engine Start	113	(1)
Taxiing	113	(2)
Run-Up	114	(1)
Holding Point	115	(1)
Night Takeoff	115	(2)
Departure	117	(1)
En Route	117	(2)
Navigation Technique	117	(1)
Assembling the Complete Picture	118	(1)
Heading, Time, and Airspeed	118	(1)
Descent	119	(1)
Night Arrival	120	(1)
Night Approach	121	(4)
Decision	122	(3)
Flare, Hold-Off, and Landing at Night	125	(3)
Touch-and-Go Landing	127	(1)
Go-Around at Night	128	(1)
Night Patterns	128	(3)
Abnormal Operations at Night	131	(30)
Risk Management	131	(1)
Workload	131	(1)
Briefing and Using the Front Seat Passenger	131	(1)
Selection of Route and Cruising Level	132	(1)
Things that May Go Wrong in the Flight	132	(2)
Inadvertent/Unplanned Night Flight	132	(1)
Inadvertently Entering Cloud	132	(1)
Temporary Uncertainty of Position	133	(1)
Emergency Radio Procedures	134	(7)
Declaring an Emergency	134	(1)
What Is Considered To Be an Emergency?	134	(1)
To Declare an Emergency	134	(1)
Distress Message (Mayday Call)	135	(1)
Urgency Message (Pan-Pan Call)	136	(1)
Priority of Calls	137	(1)
Imposition of Radio Silence	137	(1)
Loss of Radio Communication	137	(1)
Failure to Establish or Maintain Communication	137	(1)
Air to Ground	137	(2)
Following a Loss of Communications Should You Land As Soon As Possible?	139	(1)
ATC Light Signals	139	(1)
Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT)	140	(1)
Action by Airplanes Hearing an ELT Signal	140	(1)
Engine Problems	141	(2)
Engine Symptoms	141	(1)
Engine Failure: Single Engine	141	(1)
Takeoff	141	(1)
Cruise	141	(1)
Approach and Landing	142	(1)
Engine Failure at Night	142	(1)
Engine Failure Twin	143	(1)
Night Takeoff	143	(1)
Cruise	143	(1)
Approach and Landing	143	(1)
Electrical System Failure	143	(2)
No-Light Landing	144	(1)
Cockpit Lighting Failure	144	(1)
Pitot-Static System	145	(1)
Pitot Tube Blockage	145	(1)
Static Vent Blockage	145	(1)
Failure of Airport Lighting	145	(1)
Partial-Panel Instrument Flying	146	(5)
Attitude Indicator or Vacuum Failure	146	(1)
Interpreting Pitch Attitude on Partial Panel	147	(1)
Interpreting Bank Attitude on Partial Panel	148	(1)
Maintaining Control	148	(1)
Entering a Climb	148	(1)
Entering a Descent	149	(1)
Entering a Turn	150	(1)
Descending and Turning	150	(1)
Timed Turns	150	(1)
Unusual Attitude Recoveries: Full Panel	151	(5)
How Can it Happen?	151	(1)
Recognizing an Unusual Attitude	151	(1)
Having Recognized an Unusual Attitude, Do Not Overcontrol	152	(1)
Nose-Low Attitude and Increasing Airspeed	152	(1)
Indications	152	(1)
Recovery	152	(2)
Nose-High Attitude	154	(1)
Indications	154	(1)
Recovery	154	(2)
Unusual Attitude Recoveries on Partial Panel	156	(5)
Nose-Low Attitude	156	(1)
Indications	156	(1)
Recovery	156	(2)
Nose-High Attitude	158	(1)
Indications	158	(1)
Recovery	158	(3)
Part 4: Night Flight Planning and Navigation
Planning a Night Flight	161	(12)
Planning a Night Flight from Wagga Wagga to Canberra	161	(5)
Considerations	161	(1)
Route Selection	162	(1)
Calculation of End of Daylight	162	(1)
Weather	162	(2)
Moon	164	(1)
Terrain	164	(1)
Forced Landing Areas	164	(1)
Navigation Features	164	(1)
Selection of Cruising Levels	164	(1)
Visual Features	165	(1)
Which Route to Select?	165	(1)
Planning the Fight	166	(3)
What Is a Mud Map?	166	(1)
Making a Mud Map	166	(2)
The Plan in Detail	168	(1)
Canberra Control	168	(1)
Flight Plan Data	169	(1)
Escape Routes	169	(1)
Point of No Return	170	(3)
Calculating PNR	170	(1)
Recalculating PNR In Flight	171	(2)
Radio Navigation	173	(8)
Orientation in Space	173	(1)
ADF and NDB	173	(5)
ADF and Heading Indicator Combination	176	(1)
Intercepting a Track	177	(1)
Visualizing Where You Are and Where You Want To Go	177	(1)
NDB/ADF Errors	177	(1)
VOR	178	(3)
VOR Radials	178	(1)
Using the VOR	179	(1)
Preparing the VOR for Use	180	(1)
Orientation Using the VOR	180	(1)
Afterword	181	(2)
Index	183