Serious Pucker Factor: Landing In a Black Hole at Night

[@rollamichael]

My first night flight ever was out of KLPR to KMFD (few pattern stops) and back. Second time, again out of KLPR, west to KFZI, then KPCW and back to KLPR to meet private cert minimum reqs. First flight notes: I found flying at night to be fine except thinking about engine out scenarios. If the engine were to quit, I think less than a 25% chance of living as it's impossible to discern field from trees etc. Even the roads, some of which are lit and visible, would be guarded by power lines and traffic lights. I think the only / best defense beyond being sure as you can be that the engine is good, would be to gain as much altitude as practical to improve your chances of finding a reasonable place to put down. BTW, KMFD didn't have vasi nor papi the night I was there (same as you showed flying back to 1G5). Lack of vas/papi didn't bother me at all, though, maybe because most of my time is on floats? Second flight notes: We flew on a night with pretty good wind from the north setting up a strong crosswind with runways 07-25, 09-27 and 09-27 respectively (I took off and landed to the west each time). At night, it was difficult for me to understand what the crosswind was going to do even after hearing the numbers on ATIS, it's not the same experience as seeing trees or water etc. So, my first couple landings and take offs were crap as I got blown around pretty good. Finally figured out what was going on and took off / landed thereafter with ample aileron inputs and that made all the difference. Really good learning experience. Returning back to KLPR, spotting the airport beacon was really hard and briefly found myself on the way to KCLE and its Class B before getting "corrected" by my CFI; even with the gps map it was hard. BTW, on a daytime flight the day before my second night flight, also out of KLPR and this time to the east and back. Whilst over KBKL, ~3000 agl, CFI shouts out, drone! I look to where he was pointing, and a silver quad was up right at our altitude, maybe 15 yards off the starboard wing as we flew past it. No time to get scared, though I shudder to think what would have happened had we struck it. Finally, I think killing flying things, even moths, before departure is bad luck. Capture and release would have been better.

[@CanardBoulevard]

I agree - engine out at night is a nightmare scenario. In my plane, I would be heading for roads in the daytime anyway, as this type of aircraft typically doesn't do well landing in fields. So at nighttime, I would definitely take roads with chances of wires over black holes of unknown. That said, being within gliding distance of an airport trumps all of that, and I am always watching my "nearest" - my G3X definitely helps with that, it automatically shows the closest viable airport in gliding distance at all times. My thought with the moth was "I do not want this flying in my face when I am at a critical phase of flight." Sorry, moth. :)

[@Cotz95]

I really appreciate your videos and that you share all aspects. The good, the fun, the scary, and the areas for improvement. Thanks for helping the community learn and enjoy your experiences second hand

[@CanardBoulevard]

I don't like when people show only "perfect" performance, be it flying airplanes, driving cars or whatever. You need to show that people make mistakes too!

[@jimstone4699]

A few weeks ago I was on a photo mission in Indiana. We flew out of Medina, and returned about Midnight. We didn’t check the notams for Medina before we departed, so we were surprised to see the airport was a TOTAL black hole. There were no runway lights working at all. We tried a visual approach, but couldn’t see anything. We diverted to AKR and got an Uber back to Medina, where our cars were.

[@kimkeam2094]

Just subscribed and wanted to say thanks for your videos. I have been watching them over the past month and has motivated me to renew my pilots licence and get back in the air. All the best from Australia.

[@CanardBoulevard]

Yes! I love hearing this!

[@larrynoe6162]

Always loved flying at night on the 4th of July. All the local fireworks displays all over the country were amazing.

[@CanardBoulevard]

Yes! I haven't done that for years, I'll have to do it again

[@Lyle-In-NO]

Wow, that must be amazing to see. One of these days I'm......

[@langecraft4815]

Thanks, always wondered what night flying is like.

[@ianhart356]

Enjoyed that. Thank you.

[@diggy-d8w]

Thanks for the flight, Captain..... I know you've got that flashlight with you for any emergency & that if your device has backlit keys that you'll have them ready to rock from now until the end..... ! You handled it well & you are a no nonsense kind of guy that takes care of business. That said, some of the pilots I've seen had a hard time using their tools properly & I mean keying in new numbers once they are airborne? Especially when flying alone but I'm only pointing it out, not critiquing a job that I couldn't do.... nice job. peace & GB

[@Pa27pilot]

Fun video good work 👍 If you want a real black hole experience try flying over a large body of water like Lake Michigan. Talk about spatial disorientation, don’t do it alone your first time. I always do it IFR.

[@CanardBoulevard]

Yup, I've done it over the Atlantic. No horizon, overcast obscuring the stars, just pitch black. It's unsettling for sure.

[@radioace318la]

I'm 60+ and love night flying. I do know the area very well and stay out of KBADs way. I dig the smoothness of the night air.

[@ianhart356]

Wondering about data you've collected about your replacement propeller? Does the reduced pitch prop have better performance overall? Interested in your thoughts.

[@CanardBoulevard]

The climb out is about the same as the old prop. The cruise is slightly faster, about 3-4 kts. But more than that, I can pull power back and get the same cruise speed with less fuel burn than with the old prop. So the new prop is more efficient, apparently.

[@josephcooksley3219]

Yes great night exercise there Scott ... your track program top right screen doesnt give a track very well ???

[@CanardBoulevard]

It's feeding off public ADS-B, I try to usually get it synced up with the video as best I can.

[@libertine5606]

I fly a lot at night. #1 Fly Departure Procedures, IFR MEA en route, and IFR approaches whenever possible. #2 If there are none fly from the MEA to over the airport then stay within the pattern horizontal area. Same with departures. #3 Review obstacles around the airport environment. If none in the traffic pattern area fly a standard pattern. Fly it by the numbers practice a standard pattern in the daytime. Take offs should be by the gauges. Too many pilots blow it with spatial disorientation. Fly it by the gauges and trust them. If you don't look out the window and fly it like you were in IMC then it doesn't matter how dark it is outside. Cardinal headings on the DG for Downwind, Base, and Final. Make your descent standard and subtract your altitude from the Touchdown Zone. If the AFD says that the airport doesn't have any abnormal obstacles then I would fly the departures and approaches exactly the same as daytime. Don't change anything fly it by the numbers. Take a note of the winds and adjust accordingly. If you are too high go around. Fly it again until everything is stabilized. The FAA may only talk about landings but it's the stabilized approach that makes for the landing. It may only be three landings needed but it's the time to go out to the airport and get into the plane that takes the time so get the most out of it. Fly the pattern until you roll out on final exactly where you want to be. Then do your landing. If you don't have VASIs then you can fly the pattern and fly the numbers or you can fly the gps if it has a waypoint at the end of the runway. Then 450' per mile and 500 feet/min. Richard Collins has IFR at night and a whole DVD on night flying. The IFR at night is on KZbin. Night flying has very little risk more than daytime due to mechanical issues. I would say that a mid air is even less since, with the use of flight following, seeing the plane is easier. But the true danger of night flying IS the pilot. It's the High Risk/Low Frequency with no discretionary time that is lethal. It's the "I don't fly at night because I may lose my engine." Then breaking that rule that will kill you. How many people say it's "crazy" to fly at night because your engine might fail but would fly IMC in the daytime? How about flying over ground fog? If you're really scared of engine failure at night then how many hours do you have on your magnetos? Etc. Do you carry a hand held radio? Because you can't turn on the airport lights if the electrical system goes out. Since I fly a lot at night I attach a one red LED, one AA battery, "lipstick" flashlight on my headset. You don't even know it's on there but will let you see where you are looking and frees up your hands. I have two other regular flashlights and a "battery caddy" so I will never be without batteries. Every night haul dogs are flying single engine airplanes at night and we don't have a over representation of their accidents and very few of those are due to mechanical problems. Richard Collins: IFR at NIGHT. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pWe1op55oN-UfNE

[@CanardBoulevard]

Excellent points. I didn't say all of that in this video, but what you saw me doing was exactly that: flying the departure (actually I gave it a couple hundred feet extra just to be sure), staying above MEA, and then approaches to land. And yes, I have a handheld radio...and two flashlights (one red, one white - which I needed in this video, because when I went for my red flashlight, I couldn't find it - I later found it had dropped down next to my seat).

[@libertine5606]

@@CanardBoulevard Ya, I just like to "get out" things I learned from doing a lot of night flying.

[@etarheel1]

I love watching your videos and enjoy them all, thank you for the work in making them available to us. If I may I have to suggestions for you to consider. A red filter for your night flying flashlights as white light smokes your night vision for the next 20 to 30 minutes. And lastly a lesson learned from another you tube aviator premiere1driver, some jerk actually reported him because of one of his published yt videos for calling clear of the runway prior to actually crossing the hold short threshold. He even got a letter from the 3 letter agency. I do not recall what if any action was taken by them but I do however remember well how ticked off he was in the video after getting the letter. If that can happen to a former f16 driver I’m sure it could happen to anyone trying to share the love of flying with the world. I look forward to further videos sir. Well done! 🫡🇺🇸❤️

[@CanardBoulevard]

I actually had a red flashlight with me, but when I went to grab it, I couldn't find it (later found it had slid down next to the seat) so that's why I used the backup flashlight I had in my pocket (and if you notice, I tried to shield it with my hand as much as possible to protect my night vision). The radio/intercom audio and camera video sync drifts over time (they are recorded separately on two different devices). I usually will fix it when editing my videos when it becomes obvious (i.e. when you can see me talking), but I obviously did not on this one. That's why it looks like I called clear before I was actually clear.

[@Flying1776Eagle]

Pretty awesome I only live a hour from Medina

[@paultaylor9939]

Hi Scott it would good to see the instruments may be another camera switching from them both many thanks for sharing all the best cheers

[@CanardBoulevard]

Tough to get the instruments showing in the dark like that - I'll have to see what I can do

[@CFIMunden]

Nobody talks about how disorientating flying at night is sometimes. It’s like IMC on steroids.

[@paulstejskal]

Was the landing off because it is at night on the second and third touchdown?

[@alexmikhael5061]

20:30 does your screnie there have the ''path vision'' sythetic vision or wuthever'' where you would have the squares for the proper decent path on it? or is that a more expensive upgrade, or expensiver update?

[@alexmikhael5061]

totally seems like it would have destress thepuckerfactor (woah totally had to make sure IO ddn't buggerthat up cuz the botzwould not like htat!!! LOL but.... with the RED/WHITES beein INOP it would help destress the spenxture a tad bit if yo uhad that sqwuare path to ''foller'' ;)

[@alexmikhael5061]

could you set up lil DING ALERTS every 200 or 100 or even 50 feet for comming in so you kno you ON THE GLIDE SLOPE?

[@CanardBoulevard]

I do have the HITS (highway in the sky) boxes on my PFD. But for approaches, you really need to just fly the needles. Some EFIS systems will announce altitudes, mine announces just 500 feet.

[@alexmikhael5061]

ya probababally should auhtta getta RED LIGHT DIM flashlight for ''night time light up'' so the bright wite led don't jack up your nightvision?? just a thought.... have the bright one too just cuz at times you DO NEED THE LED BRIGHTY ONE but.... for checkin the panel at night, a RED LIGHT would be better right? eh I would have one for nighttime boat or air travel... ;) used to have one in the camping gear... always preLED had the color pack for the 90deg D cell ''army light'' for lightcolor, (in the handle if you hadn't looked does yours unscrew??)

[@CanardBoulevard]

I have one, and had it out and ready - but when I went to switch the transponder, I tried to grab it and couldn't find it, so instead I grabbed my backup flashlight out of my pocket. After I landed, I found my red flashlight had fallen down next to the seat cushion.

[@Lyle-In-NO]

Hey guys/gals, what is a vazy (I'm sure spelling is wrong)? He mentions it a couple times.

[@daveswirsding2975]

VASI (visual approach slope indicator) lights. They are generally to the left of the runway, red/white lights that help guide you at the correct decent angle to the runway. They are at his home airport. Those lights at the larger airport were PAPI (precision approach path indicator) lights. They do the same thing in a slightly different way.

[@Lyle-In-NO]

​@@daveswirsding2975thx for the explanation. Sounds like you're a highly experienced pilot to. I'm still in the fantasy/wannabe stage of my training.

[@rockandrollfish]

Nice video 👍

[@valleyken]

- Pretty at night, those runway lights.

[@aaronhammond7297]

The 'bat' looked more like a reflection off the window to things on the left hand side to me, perhaps it looked different from inside the cockpit.

[@CanardBoulevard]

It was definitely outside, you could see it disappear as it went under the canard.

[@nightwaves3203]

I've done a bunch of no landing light flights and the worrying about deer on the runway is a bit concerning. Good thing they can't fly too.

[@CanardBoulevard]

We definitely have deer on our airport, and just last night while I was working in the hangar I heard someone on the radio go around because of deer on the runway. So that's definitely on my mind!

[@nightwaves3203]

@@CanardBoulevard Yep fly safe. Even with an operational landing light i feel it still doesn't light things up enough. During my private one of my night flights was to a dark side of a mountain range. Then my instructor explained always track where you are at night. Then he said turn around and fly south explaining there's a mountain straight ahead and turn the landing light on. Not a darn thing was visible, so I definitely learned landing lights are not very good at seeing ahead.

[@Lyle-In-NO]

I'm probably completely wrong, but here goes it... I'm guessing here that you need to be ILS certified (correct term?) before you can achieve or renew "night currency." Am I close?

[@lukebelvin4900]

Negative. In the US a PPL let’s you land at night in good weather if you’re current.

[@CanardBoulevard]

I think you're talking about IFR certification, for instrument flight rules. In some countries you need IFR certification to fly at night, but not in the US or Canada. Canada you need a separate night endorsement. That said, it is a VERY good idea to have your IFR if you are going to fly at night.

[@Lyle-In-NO]

​@@CanardBoulevardaahh, yes, sir. Thank you for the correction. I did mean IFR certified. That's interesting that IFR certification is not a requirement for night flying in some countries. I can imagine how helpful it would be especially when landing in a poorly lit airport - - I'm guessing this is what u guys call a black whole. Thanks for all the feedback everyone!

[@alexmikhael5061]

9:55 AT LEAST HE *FINALLY* SAID SOMETNING TO YOU !!!! intercoms tween AIRCRAFTs is not ''TABOO'' more people should COMMUNICATE INTENTIONS .... he didn't say ANYTHING while you were gettin vectored around him doin the circle dance.... sigh just cuz you don't ''legally/proceeduarally'' *HAVE* TO REPORT don't mean you should be RADIO SILENT!!!! sigh (or was he gettin vectors and talkin to ATC ALSO just we didn't hear him cuz of the ''editing'' ???)

[@CanardBoulevard]

He was not talking to ATC, and the reason he was not talking to me was because he was on the CTAF frequency, and I was on the approach frequency. Once you heard me cancel with approach, I then switched to CTAF and then we could hear each other.

[@danieladdo1588]

In canada it's 10 takeoff and landings for night currency

[@CanardBoulevard]

Actually in Canada it's 5 takeoffs and landings, within the last 6 months (I hold a Canadian license as well). However, if you are flying a US-registered airplane, then US currency rules apply to you, even if you are flying in another country.

[@danieladdo1588]

@@CanardBoulevard ohhh wow then I read the requirements wrong then thank you

[@alexmikhael5061]

17:00 that's how those ''brackets'' on the nose wheels get their hairline crakz right??? ;) ''coulda been werse'' ... one of the brakes could have been ''out of bias'' ;) shudder.... AQP one wishes they never see physcially!!! but CHECK FOR EQUAL BRAKES PRESSURE IN YOUR LANDING CHECKLIST!!!! AQP HAVE AN AWESOME EVERY THING !!!!! :) 2002 PearlOrange GL1800 under the cover that is about to get ''back to the road'' ;) she hadda take a little snoozey breaak

[@alexmikhael5061]

LANDING BACK AT HOMEBASE..... a lil hard... eh... coulda been better, but...!!! :) you just fixed the NOSEWHEEL BRACKETS SO ... imagine those hard hits if you HAD NOT CAUGHT THAT CRACK or it was just a little less noticable or less cracked at your ''repair session'' you just got done with ???????? again shudder.... AQP :) GA APQ :) o4 QAPferGA wait, APQ for GA :) yea ;) DTSB ;) sorry I am a TEAM DAN honestly

[@Jamieteather]

I think I have a mild man-crush you you after this video.

[@alexmikhael5061]

WOW 19:39 that other airport has a much ''brighter'' night picture like peeps VVV down there and ^^^ up there say!!! woah!!! are the lights at your hometurf LED ?? or NOT and the other ones at the other place ARE?? or ARE THEY THE SAME LIGHTS just that the other airport has lozza less light pollution around it so it just LOOKED BRIGHTER ON CAMERA than ''homebase'' did with the bandriver of lights it was in the middle of... (river of lights... in BOB ROSS's voice, whererte the little lightnin bugz live, and watnot....) LOL HAHAHAHA BobRoss RIP sigh.... DETH SUX for those lef behind ;)

[@CanardBoulevard]

The lights at KLPR are much brighter, and they were up at their maximum brightness.

[@idlewise]

@22:45 when you made this call you were NOT clear of the runway! Why rush, especially when there appears to be no other traffic in the area?

[@CanardBoulevard]

The audio/video sync drifts over time (they are recorded separately on two different devices). I usually will fix it when editing my videos when it becomes obvious (i.e. when you can see me talking), but I obviously did not on this one.

[@billwilliams9527]

Holy Moly, that last dark hole landing is pucker time.

[@CanardBoulevard]

It definitely makes you pay attention!

[@SIUDR7202]

Drone ????!!!!!

[@CanardBoulevard]

I don't think so. Not big enough. I suppose it could have been, but I prefer to think it was just some large bugs or birds or bats or something. :)

[@valleyken]

- What ? That's only valid for 3 months ? I already thought that's a lot of work to renew your currency. But if you have to do that every 3 months, it's even more work.

[@aaronhammond7297]

you can also just not be current, then do 3 circuits immediately before taking a passenger up

[@aaronhammond7297]

Doesn't work if you only want to land at night though...

[@DanFrederiksen]

Slightly dishonest title. Could call it a blatant lie :) gopros aren't meant for night time and misrepresent the darkness. Sony A7 or A6000 series are pretty strong in low light and it would be night and day if you use that instead :)

[@CanardBoulevard]

The camera is not the greatest at night, but believe me, at my home airport (the last landing), what you saw in the video is what I see out of the cockpit: dim runway lights surrounded by absolute pitch black.

[@DanFrederiksen]

@@CanardBoulevard it's struggling with the light in the displays as well, I assume you see those clearly. Eyes are better than gopros at night.