Aero-Tips!

A good pilot is always learning -- how many times have you heard this old standard throughout your flying career? There is no truer statement in all of flying (well, with the possible exception of "there are no old, bold pilots.")

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Aero-Tips 10.28.06

We see it a lot in the difference between private and commercial operations. But sometimes even under FAR Part 61 the rules are more stringent when someone besides the pilot is aboard an aircraft. Most of us (in the US, anyway) will set our clocks back one hour this weekend, meaning nightfall will come earlier. Now's the time to think about night currency.

Rules dichotomy

There's no currency rule for night flight beyond the need for a Flight Review or equivalent, as long as you're the only person on board the aircraft. In other words, pilots have leeway under Part 61 to put themselves at the heightened risk of night operations. Has it been decades since you flew after dark? No problem -- fire up and fly away. Just do it solo.

But if you carry passengers at night FAR 61.57 says:

…no person may act as pilot in command of an aircraft carrying passengers during the period beginning 1 hour after sunset and ending 1 hour before sunrise, unless within the preceding 90 days that person has made at least three takeoffs and three landings to a full stop during the period beginning 1 hour after sunset and ending 1 hour before sunrise, and --

  (i) That person acted as sole manipulator of the flight controls; and
  (ii) The required takeoffs and landings were performed in an aircraft of the same category, class, and type (if a type rating is required).

The regs let us put ourselves at heightened risk, but require at least a minimum of recent experience to put passengers at the same risk. Think "full"": If any seat besides your own is "full" you need three takeoffs and landings in "full night" conditions, and all three landings must be to a "full" stop.

Reality

The reality is that, passengers or no, night visual effects are different enough that it's a good idea to get some night dual before venturing aloft after dark unless you're already night current (I'm scheduled to get some night dual tomorrow evening). If this isn't possible, practice takeoffs and landings beginning at dusk, when there's still a lot of ambient light, and keep flying until it's fully dark outside. On another mission, in very good weather, plan and complete a night cross-country flight to an airport. 

Aero-tip of the day (or night): It's the time of year you're more likely to be flying after dark. Practice to be legal and, more importantly, safe in night flight.

FMI: Aero-Tips