Night Preparation

Question 1

Name the two distinct types of light-sensitive cells located in the retina of the eye

Answer 1

Rods and cones are the light-sensitive cells located in the retina

Question 2

What is the function of the cones, and where are they located in the eye

Answer 2

Cones are used to detect color, detail and far-away objects and are located at the center of the retina at the back of the eye. They are less sensitive to light and required a higher level of intensity to become active and thus are more useful in the daylight hours

Question 3

What is the function of the rods, and where are they located in the eye

Answer 3

Rods are located in the back of the eye or retina. The rods function when something is seen out of the corner of the eye or peripheral vision. They detect objects, particularly those that are moving, but do not give detail or color - only shades of gray. Both the cones and the rods are used for vision during daylight. In the absence of normal light, the process of night vision is placed almost entirely on the rods

Question 4

What is the average time it takes for the rods and cones to become adapted to darkness

Answer 4

The cones will take approximately 5 to 10 minutes to become adjusted to darkness. Much more time - about 30 minutes - is needed for the rods to become adjusted to darkness

Question 5

What should the pilot do to accommodate changing light conditons

Answer 5

The pilot should allow enough time for the eyes to become adapted to the low light levels, and then should avoid exposure to bright light which could cause temporary blindness

Question 6

Give several examples of illusions related to ground lighting conditoins

Answer 6

On a clear night, distant stationary lights can be mistaken for start or other aircraft. Certain geometrical patterns of ground lights, such as freeway, runway, approach, or even lights on a moving train can cause confusion. Dark night tend to eliminate references to a visual horizon

A black-hole approach occurs when the landing is made from over water or non-lighted terrain where the runway lights are the only source of light. Without peripheral visual cues to help, pilots will have trouble orientating themselves relative to Earth. The runway can seem out of position (down/up sloping) and in the worse case, result in landing short of the runway

Night landings can be complicated by the difficulty of judging distance and the possibility of confusing approach and runway lights. For example, when a double row of approach lights joins the boundary lights of the runway, there can be confusion where the approach lights terminate and runway lights begin. Under certain conditions, approach lights can make the aircraft seem higher in a turn to final, then when its wings are level

Question 7

During takeoff you suddenly feel as if the aircraft is in an excessively high nose-up attitude. What type of illusion is this

Answer 7

Somatogravic illusion. A rapid acceleration during takeoff can create the illusion of being in a nose up attitude. A pilot disorientated by a somatogravic illusion may respond by pushing the aircraft into the nose low or dive attitude

Question 8

When approaching a well-lit runway surrounded by a dark area with little or no features, what illusion should a pilot be alert for

Answer 8

Featureless terrain illusion - an absence of ground features, as when landing over water, darkened areas, and terrain made featureless by snow, can create the illusion that the aircraft is at a higher altitude than it actually is. The pilot who does not recognize this illusion will fly a lower approach

Question 9

What should the pilot do to maintain good eyesight

Answer 9

Good eyesight depends upon physical conditions. Fatigue, colds, vitamin deficiency, alcohol, stimulants, smoking, or medication can seriously impair vision

Question 10

What can the pilot do to improve the effectiveness of vision at night

Answer 10

Adapt the eyes to darkness prior to flight and keep them adapted. About 30 min is needed to adjust after exposure to a bright light

If oxygen is available, use it during night flying. Significant deterioration in night vision can occur at cabing altitudes as low as 5,000’

Close one eye when exposed to bright light to help avoid the blinding effect

Do not wear sunglasses after sunset

Move the eyes more slowly than in daylight

Blink the eyes if they become blurred

Concentrate on seeing objects

Force the eyes to view off center

Maintain good physical condition

Avoid smoking, drinking, and using drugs that may be harmful

Question 11

What equipment should the pilot have for night flight ops

Answer 11

At least one reliable flashlight is recommended as standard equipment on all night flights. A reliable incandescent or light-emitting diode flashlight able to produce white/red light and blue for chart reading is preferable. Include a second flashlight such as a head-mounted types as backup. The white light is used while performing the preflight visual inspection, and the red light is used when performing cockpit ops. A spare set of batteries is also recommended

Question 12

What other items should the pilot have on board for night flights

Answer 12

Aeronautical charts are essential for night cross-country flight and if the intended course is near the edge of the chart, the adjacent chart should also be available. It is also recommended to have a spare set of batteries for the flashlight readily available. Organize equipment and charts and place them within easy reach prior to taxiing

Question 13

Explain the arrangement and interpretation of the position lights on an aircraft

Answer 13

A red light is positioned on the left wingtip, a green light on the right wingtip, and a white light on the tail. If both a red and green light of another A/C are observed, and the red light is on the left and the green on the right, the airplane is flying in the same direction. Care must be taken not to overtake the other aircraft and to maintain clearance. If red were on the right and green to the left, the airplane could be on a collision course

Question 14

Position lights are required to be on during what period of time

Answer 14

From sunset to sunrise

Question 15

When an aircraft is operated in, or in close proximity to, a night operations area, what is required of an aircraft

Answer 15

The A/C must

be clearly illuminated
have lighted position lights or
be in an area which is marked by obstruction lights

Question 16

Are aircraft anticollision lights required to be on during night flight operations

Answer 16

yes; however, the anticollision lights need not be lighted when the PIC determines that, because of operating conditions, it would be in the interest of safety to turn the lights off.

Question 17

What are Runway End Identifier LIghts (REIL)

Answer 17

REILs are installed at many airfields to provided rapid and positive identification of the approach end of a particular runway. Th esystem consist of a pair of synchronized flashing lights located laterally on each side of the runway threshold. REILs may be omnidirectional or unidirectional facing the approach area

Question 18

Describe a runway edge light system

Answer 18

Runway edge light are used to outline the edge of runways during periods of darkness or restricted visibility conditions. They are white, except on instrument runways yellow replaced white on the last 2,000’ or half the runway length, whichever is less, to form a caution zone for landings. The lights marking the ends of the runway emit red light toward the runway to indicate the end of runway to a departing aircraft and emit green outward from the runway end to indicate the threshold to landing aircraft. These light systems are classified according to the intensity or brightness they are capable or producing, High Intensity RUnway Lights (HIRL) Medium Intensity runway light (MIRL) and the Low intensity runway lights (LIRL)

Question 19

Describe a runway centerline lighting system (RCLS)

Answer 19

Installed on some precision approach runways to facilitate landing under adverse visibility conditions. They are located along the runway centerline and are spaced at 50’ intervals. When viewed from the landing threshold, the runway centerline lights are white until the last 3,000’ of the runway. The white lights begin to alternate white red for the next 2,000’ and for the last 1,000’ all center line lights are red

Question 20

What are Touchdown zone lights TDZL

Answer 20

TDZL consist of two rows of transverse light bars disposed symmetrically about the runway centerline. The system consist of steady-buring white lights which start at 100’ beyond the landing threshold and extend to 3,000’ beyond the landing threshold or to the midpoint of the runway, whichever is less

Question 21

Describe several different types of taxiway lights

Answer 21

Taxiway edge light - outline the edge of taxiways; consist of blue lights

Taxiway centerline lights - assist ground traffic in low visibility conditions; consist of steady burning green lights

Clearance bar lights - installed at holding positions on taxiways; consist of three in-pavement steady-burning yellow lights

Runway guard lights - Installed at taxiway/runway intersections; consists of either a pair or elevated flashing light on either side of taxiway or in pavement yellow lights installed across the taxiway

Stop bar lights - used to confirm ATC clearance to enter or cross an active runway in low visibility conditions; consists of a row or red, unidirectional, steady-burning in-pavement lights installed across the taxiway and a pair of elevated steady burning red light on each side

Question 22

What are the different types or rotating beacons used to identify airports

Answer 22

White and green  - Lighted land airport
Green alone - Lighted land airport
White & yellow - lighted water airport
Yellow alone - lighted water airport
Grene, yellow & white - Lighted heliport
2x white and green - lighted military airport

Question 23

Describe several types of obstruction lighting

Answer 23

Aviation red obstruction lights - flashing aviation red beacons and steady burning aviation red lights during nighttime operations

Medium and high intensity white obstruction lights - may be used during daytime and twilight with reduced intensity for nighttime ops. Not normally installed on structures less than 2,000’

Dual lighting - A combination of flashing aviation red beacons and steady-burning aviation red light for nighttime ops and flashing high intensity white lights for daytime ops

Catenary lighting - medium and high intensity flashing white markers for high voltage transmission lines and support structures

Question 24

How does a pilot determine the status of alight system at a particular airport

Answer 24

Chart Supplement and NOTAMs to find the available lighting systems, light intensities and radio-controlled light system frequencies

Question 25

How does a pilot activate a radio-controlled runway light system while airborne

Answer 25

By keying the microphone on a specified frequency.

Key 7 times for max brightness
Even when on to ensure a full 15min of lights

Intensity can be adjusted by keying the mic 7, 5, or 3 times within 5 seconds

Question 26

During preflight what things should be done to adequately prepare for the night flight

Answer 26

Study all weather reports and forecast. Especially temp/dew point spread for possibility of fog

Calculate wind direction and speed for wind drift corrects as night visual perception of drift is inaccurate

obtain applicable aeronautical charts for both the route and adjacent charts and mark lighted checkpoints clearly

Review radio aids for correct frequencies and availability

If using GPS make sure it is working, make sure database is up to date and all waypoints are entered before flight

Check personal equipment such as hand held radio and flashlight that they are working

The A/C should be thoroughly preflighted

Check all A/C lights

Check ground area for obstructions that may not be seen from inside

Question 27

What are some guidelines to follow during the starting, taxiing, and run-up phase of a night flight

Answer 27

Extra caution on clearing the prop area

During taxii done place an unnecessary load on the electrical system and dont use strobe or landing light to not blind other pilots

taxi slowly and follow taxi lines

Question 28

What are some of the guidelines to follow during takeoff and departures phases of a night flight

Answer 28

During take off
use the distant runway edge light and the landing light lit area to keep the A/C centered on the runway
During lift off maintain a positive climb by looking at the VSI and alt. indicator

During climb
Do not start a turn till reaching a safe alt
Turn landing lights off after climb

Question 29

What should the pilot do to provide proper orientation and navigation during a night flight

Answer 29

Exercise caution to avoid flying into clouds or a layer of fog. First indication is no ground light or lights having a haze around them

Practice and acquire competency in straight-and-level flight, climbs, and descents, level turns, climbing and descending turns and steep turns. Recovery from unusual attitudes should also be practiced, but only on dual flight with a CFI

Practice the above maneuvers with all the cockpit light turned off this type of blackout training will prove helpful later on, in the event of an electrical or instrument light failure. Included the use of the nav equipment local NAVAID in this exercise

Continually monitor position, time estimates, and fuel consumed. NAVAId should be used to monitor ground progress

Question 30

If an engine failure occurs at night, what procedures should be followed

Answer 30

Same as during the day
Maintain positive control
Establish glide slope
Check to find the cause to restart engine
7700
121.5
Declare an ER WHO, WHERE, WHAT you are going to do

Lighted areas - highways, roads, parking lots: you can see where you are and what you are landing on: Lots of obstructions

Unlighted areas - fields, lakes etc. few obstructions but you cannot tell what you are landing on

Question 31

What procedures should be followed during the approach and landing phase of a night flight

Answer 31

ID airport and associated airport lighting and runway lighting

Fly to airport beacon till runway lights are ID

Powered approach should be used as visual perception during a descent at night can be difficult

Landing lights should be turned on when in the airport traffic area

Do not use excessive speed on approach and landing