3 Things You Can LEARN From My Recent Night Flight Training Lesson

[@catherinekilgour2563]

I cycle a lot and so use the removable back light from my bike as my light when flying at night time. It has a slide attachment on the back so I just attach it to my jacket the same way you would use a tie pin. My back up light is the one on my cell phone (white).

[@journeywithjimmyandjet8174]

Jason, I so appreciate your emphasis on Standard Operating Procedures in general aviation. I have a ways to go, but I’ve incorporated a lot of your suggestions for standardization into my own routines. I’ve written them down in a document and find that reviewing that document from time to time helps me visualize the different phases of flight and what I ought to be thinking about and doing in those moments. I’m not perfect with these procedures in the cockpit yet (not even close), but working toward it. Again, thank you for introducing so many of us to this concept that gives the airlines such a stellar safety record. Hopefully over time we can close that gap in GA.

[@visarma9673]

I recall a night lesson learned... I used a RED inked pen... and wrote down ATC notes down.. when it got to reading my notes? I couldn’t see the red ink with the red light... black or blue ink is my newest preflight thought

[@4-7th_CAV]

I liked your conversation with the student regarding the use of red lights / lightening at night. It wasn't until recently that I had ever heard that red light was not conducive to night vision, and even that white light was better than red. I am one of those that believe it is the white light that is not good for night vision. That being said, I do believe in constant dimming of the panel lights during the first 30-45 minutes of flight to increase your vision of the outside. I remember a few night cross country flights when there was no clouds, the stars were visible, and it was a moon-lit night that after a short time I turned the panel light completely off because there was enough ambient light from the moon to see everything clearly. Don't understand me, as I approached the airport to land, because of the runway lights and the surrounding area lights, I would slowly increase the panel lights to match the ground lighting more evenly. To that end, I also do the same thing when driving my vehicles. If I am in a well lit area, the panel is dimmed to around 50%, and when I drive in darker areas I will dim my panel lights down to the point that they are almost completely off. It only makes good sense, at least to me.

[@Parr4theCourse]

Nice refresher, I guess I need to go through some of my old videos and see if there is anything worth posting....

[@brentreyes_]

Nice video, i love this keep it up bruh

[@TheFinerPoints]

Thanks, will do!

[@daviddefelice6997]

Did you know that you can change the color on your iPhone or iPad to red by adjusting the setting? After the adjustment, just tap a button on the unit three times and it flips to red. Three more times and it flips back. It is also adjustable for brightness in either color, too.

[@essendavis]

Great tip

[@scottpatterson4105]

Red is best...if you're the forward observer in a combat zone.

[@blake.crosby]

It still blows my mind that there is no night rating in the USA like there is in Canada.

[@MichaelLloyd]

I made my own reg. No night VFR cross country. I don't have an instrument rating. I'd do pattern work but where I live the lights on the ground go away pretty quickly so leaving the pattern isn't really an option for me (personal choice). On a moonless night it's about like being in the soup (did that during a instrument training flight)

[@scottpatterson4105]

Anything that demonstrates not having night ratings creates an issue?

[@benwu7]

​@@MichaelLloyd I would say instrument rating for night flight is a must. I recently got my instrument rating and flew a few night flight in both VMC and IMC. In a moonless night, even if you are in VMC, it is instrument flying without ground light. Also in the night, there is no way to see the cloud, you will only notice after you are in the cloud.

[@scottpatterson4105]

@@benwu7 Any statistics showing night VFR has been an issue regardless of no ground lights, no moon, clouds and mountains, etc? The post was aimed at regulations, not personal limits. Wondering if anything supports the implication of needing an instrument rating for night flight.