2.7（4）Night Flight

To get a private pilot license for FAA, you need to complete night flight as prescribed in 14 CFR 61.109, i.e., 3 hours of night flights in total which includes at least 10 takeoffs and landings in flying the traffic patter and one cross-country flight of more than 100 nautical miles in total distance.

eCFR :: 14 CFR 61.109 -- Aeronautical experience. (FAR 61.109)

My past article of “2.2 (5) Regulations” 2.2 (5) Regulations | 自家用操縦士訓練物語～超怖がりな私が空を飛んだ日（My PPL Training Days） (ameblo.jp) referred to the definition of the “night.” When does the “Night” start and end?

It may be a little complicated. There are three definitions of “Night” prescribed by FAA:

(a) Light: sunset to sunrise; and

(b) Log Book: the time between the end of evening civil twilight and the beginning of morning civil twilight, as published in the Air Almanac, converted to local time;

The length of “Night” is longest in (a) and shortest in (c). To easily memorize, I said there are three definitions. But to be exact, it can be said that the definition of “Night” is as provided in (b) above. And the other two definitions are just for each specific purpose.

The definition of Civil Twilight is prescribed in the website of National Weather Services (NWS):

Definitions of Twilight (weather.gov)

During night flights, it was not easy to spot objects on the ground. In flying the traffic pattern, you must carefully identify the airport lighting so that not to wrongly touch down. It was also difficult to fly on the approach path properly.

While flying cross-country flights, it was so difficult to spot landmarks on the ground, especially lakes or ocean could be seen black, which cannot be used as a landmark. The lights of a city or highway were ensured to spot. Airports were unexpectedly difficult to be seen. It was dark and black. The most reliable landmark for an airport was rotating beacon. It was remarkable and different than others because rotating.

We learn about the False Horizon in the ground school, which was interesting. In PHAK, Chapter 17 (Aeromedical Factors), the False Horizon is referred to as one of night vision illusions.

From my PHAK Translation Notebook

It can occur when the natural horizon is obscured or not readily apparent or while flying toward the shore of an ocean or a lake, generated by confusing bright stars and city lights. When learning in the ground school, I thought it impossible but in fact I experienced that during flight.

The Chapter 17 of PHAK include other interesting factors of Vision in Flight such as Human Eye, Vision Type (Photopic Vision, Mesopic Vision, Scotopic Vision), Dark Adaptation, etc. Other aeromedical factors discussed in PHAK include Hypoxia, Hyperventilation, Middle Ear and Sinus Problems, Vestibular Illusions, Motion Sickness, Stress, Fatigue, etc.

There are only two weeks left until checkride. It is time to start to study for oral portion. However, my notebook was messy representing how I have had no room in my mind. I doubt I will be able to sort out and memorize things for oral test preparation in 2 weeks. I should have started earlier. It’s too late. (continued)