Night VFR: Requirements for an extraordinary experience

Flying at night is an extraordinary experience. However, to ensure that the flight takes place in the best possible conditions, meticulous planning is required. For this reason, we offer you this excellent article written by Mr Hans Edvard Sunde of the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority and translated from English. Accompanied by a video, it lists the various challenges involved in preparing for and actually flying at night. And even if we don’t fly at Gardermoen, the tips are also valid for Switzerland.

Before the first night flight

An additional night flight rating is required for the night flight. This is because the “Standardised European Rules of the Air”, or SERA for short, place special demands on the aircraft’s equipment (SERA.3215 and NCO.IDE.A.115) and pilot licenses (FCL.810). If you want to obtain a night flight rating, please check with your flight school or instructor.

Route planning
When planning a route, it is important to choose landmarks that are clearly visible at night, such as cities, highways and large bodies of water. At night, completely different landmarks may dominate than during the day. For example, wind farms can often be seen from a great distance. In winter, illuminated ski slopes and ski resorts are usually easy to see. Avoid areas with little lighting, as orientation can be difficult here. The use of GPS, electronic maps and navigation aids is highly recommended.

 

Before the first night flight
An additional night flight rating is required for the night flight. This is because the “Standardised European Rules of the Air”, or SERA for short, place special demands on aircraft equipment (SERA.3215 and NCO.IDE.A.115) and pilot licenses (FCL.810). If you want to obtain a night rating, check with your flight school or instructor.

Emergency procedures
Be prepared for emergencies. Have a plan for what to do if you lose your visual reference or encounter technical problems. Familiarize yourself with nearby airports and emergency landing sites along your route.

Pros and cons
Night flying offers fantastic views of city lights and the starry sky. Air traffic is often lighter, which can make the experience more relaxed. The air is usually calm, with no thermals or turbulence. On the other hand, it can be more challenging to navigate and identify potential hazards.

Close to instrument flight
VFR at night, as the name suggests, is conducted under visual conditions. Even in visual weather conditions, it can be completely dark, with no stars or moon. Flying in total darkness is just as demanding as flying without visual references in clouds. Therefore, you should have sufficient instrument training to feel comfortable flying with few or no external references. Even if the visibility outside may be good, the boundary to instrument flight is only theoretical.

Moonlight
Has it been a while since you last flew at night? Choose a night with good moonlight. The light of the full moon combined with flying over a snow-covered landscape will soon feel like a daytime flight. It provides excellent external references.

Starry nights
A night with little or no moonlight but otherwise clear skies offers little light and it can be difficult to see the ground – in a snowy landscape, it is almost impossible. Furthermore, it can be difficult to distinguish stars from lights on the ground, confusing the perception of the horizon and potentially leading to dizziness. In such conditions, proper instrument handling is your best ally.

“White Out”
The combination of high terrain, snow-covered ground and clouds is particularly challenging at night. This makes it very difficult to distinguish between terrain and clouds, and navigation is especially difficult. In such conditions, it is important to choose routes with clear and distinct visual reference points.

Fewer airfields available at night
There are only a few airfields with lighting. Often, local regulations restrict the use of airfields for night flights. This information can usually be found in the AIP or on the airfield’s website.

Remember that temperatures tend to drop at night. VFR night flights often take place on clear nights when the earth’s surface radiates its heat. At places like Gardermoen, ground fog often forms, so that vertical visibility at five in the morning drops to a few hundred feet, even if it was clear when you took off. Radiation fog can occur unexpectedly, even for meteorologists.

At night, there are only a few landing sites, as not every small runway is equipped with runway lighting. Take as much fuel as you can take within the weight restrictions and also pack warm clothes to survive a cold night outside. In some places, the terminal closes at night, even if the airport remains open for flight operations, which can make overnight stays uncomfortable and cold.

Aircraft equipment required for night flights

EASA Part-NCO.IDE.A.120 (b) and (c) list the additional aircraft equipment you need in addition to that required for VFR daytime flights:

(b) Aeroplanes operated at night in VMC or in conditions where the aeroplane cannot be maneuvered along a desired flight path without reference to one or more additional instruments shall be equipped, in addition to (a), with the following:

(1) a device to measure and display the following values:…

(i) bank and sideslip;…

(ii) attitude;…

(iii) vertical speed; and…

(iv) stabilized heading;

and…

(2) a means to indicate when the power supply for the gyro instruments is inadequate.

(c) Aeroplanes operated under conditions where they cannot be maintained on a desired flight path without reference to one or more additional instruments shall be equipped, in addition to (a) and (b), with a device to prevent malfunction of the airspeed indicator system required by (a)(4) due to condensation or icing.

Flying under visual flight rules at night requires special equipment and training, careful preparation and a thorough understanding of the unique challenges of night flying. With the right planning and caution, it can be an incredibly rewarding experience that opens up a new dimension of flying for you.

Pictures: Simen Follesø Røiseland


Seite teilen