5

Night flying

The physiology of night vision, the lights on the airplane and the airport, and the illusions that wait in the dark.

  1. 1How the eye works at nightRods, cones, dark adaptation, and the scanning technique that makes night vision usable.13 min
  2. 2Aircraft and airport lightingPosition and anti-collision lights on the airplane, and the color code that runs the airport after dark.13 min
  3. 3Preparing a night flightThe three legal definitions of night, the 91.205(c) equipment list, and the planning discipline night flying demands.14 min
  4. 4Navigating at nightWhich checkpoints actually work after dark, the early signs of deteriorating weather, and what to do if the engine quits.12 min
  5. 5Night takeoffs and landingsFlying a stabilized approach without depth cues, judging the roundout, and the 61.57(b) currency rule that lets you carry passengers.12 min
  6. 6Night illusionsRunway width and slope illusions, the black-hole approach, and the inner-ear illusions that follow a pilot into the traffic pattern.12 min