Night Flying

[MATTS875]

The last airplane I had, I had about 100 hrs of flying time in it.About 20 hours of that was night flying.Since I have bought my new plane I am a little hesitate and nervous about flying at night. I guess it will come with the confidence I build in the plane and myself not having flown in about 2 years. Seems to me your senses are more keen at night.On one flight back from my parents house in Orange Beach, I thought I felt the plane "hickup"  I was so proud to land and nothing was wrong at all with the plane.

[markeg1964]

I don’t have much night time but I really enjoy flying my M20B at night.  Something about the Mooney makes it much more enjoyable than the Cessna I learned in.  To build confidence I started flying at sunset staying out a little later each time.  Following is a video I took while becoming comfortable in the Mooney at night.

http://www.youtube.com/user/markgunnison#p/u/10/DDmIIeEsdfU

 No hickups so far though!

 

[FlyDave]

Try taking another pilot with you on some night flights. A second set of eyes and input can be quite handy and help with confidence.

I take another pilot with me every time I can when going IFR. Also, when practicing IFR "under the hood"  a "Safety Pilot" is required. Take a safety pilot up with you when you go night flying until you're comfortable. Not only is there nothing wrong with it, it's a smart thing to do if you don't have a lot of time.

Fly safe!

[John Pleisse]

I live in a major metroploitan area. Flying at night is benign because there is so much ground lighting. By contrast, the first time I took off on a trip out of a rural airport in South Carolina on a misty night, I was shocked onto intruments almost immediately. I would always be aware of flying in unpolulated areas at night.

[Shadrach]

Quote: MATTS875

The last airplane I had, I had about 100 hrs of flying time in it.About 20 hours of that was night flying.Since I have bought my new plane I am a little hesitate and nervous about flying at night. I guess it will come with the confidence I build in the plane and myself not having flown in about 2 years. Seems to me your senses are more keen at night.On one flight back from my parents house in Orange Beach, I thought I felt the plane "hicup"  I was so proud to land and nothing was wrong at all with the plane.

[74657]

Quote: Shadrach

Yes, the proverbial "night time auto-rough" is a close cousin to the lessor known "over open-water auto-rough"...

[Jeff_S]

What I find is that the lack of visual stimulation at night transfers more sensory awareness to your ears. I hear all kinds of things on night flights that I just never notice during the day.  So far, they've all been normal!

[GeorgePerry]

Thread that discusses the pro's and con's of flying at night as well as overwater.  There's alot of quippy back and forth's between posters.  Skip to page 3 for the meat.

http://www.mooneyspace.com/index.cfm?page=3&mainaction=posts&forumid=1&threadid=3508

[KSMooniac]

I agree Matt.  Ease your way into it and just stay close to your airport if that helps.  A couple of flights and you'll be right at home.  I can remember after getting my private and hadn't flown at night since with my instructor, and I would not let the airport out of my sight.  I kept looking back through those little windows on the Cessna 150 and as long as I could see the airport I was fairly comfortable.  It's like anything else though, the more you do it the more comfortable you will become.

Having somebody beside you always helps as well.

[bnicolette]

What a coincidence Scott, I said the same exact thing!!!  

Somehow I was logged in as you and didn't notice.  Hmmmm? 

[Hank]

Flying at night is great! The air is usually smoother, there's less traffic, the radio is quieter, and with even scattered lights below it can be beautiful. Flying near a large airport you can see the airliners coming and going in steady lines. Gorgeous!

Your plane will develop auto-rough anytime you fly at night, and over "hostile" ground [the definition is yours; when it matches the view, the engine will go rough]. I had auto-rough when heading over substantial swamps once, turned out to be Com2 was set for my destination ATIS, with the volume turned down, and 'all-the-way-down' is not quite the same as 'Off.' Turned off Com2 on the intercom, rough sound went away . . .

Like anything else, the only way to get comfortable flying at night is to do it. Take someone with you a few times, then go it alone a little bit. It's so much easier to get night hours at this time of year. Fly somewhere in the evening to eat, then the trip home will be familiar and at night, and you get two rewards [dinner, and comfortable night flying].

[M016576]

Flying at night is pretty lame... Just because you become comfortable with it, doesn't mean you have to like it!!!! 

[David Mazer]

IF you don't like it, don't do it.  I for one love to fly at night.  In general, I prefer night to day.  Less traffic, less weather, smoother.  The only times I prefer day is when I am in IMC (can't tell you why not being able to see during the day is better than not being able to see in the dark) and when I am flying into a strange airport for the first time.

[MATTS875]

Thanks for all the responses.Just like last time..the more I fly , the more comfortable I am. something about flying back from the beach and lighting up the runway..10 year old daughter likes it

[gregwatts]

Quote: M016576

Flying at night is pretty lame... Just because you become comfortable with it, doesn't mean you have to like it!!!!

[gregwatts]

Quote: M016576

Flying at night is pretty lame... Just because you become comfortable with it, doesn't mean you have to like it!!!!

[M016576]

Quote: gregwatts

If you don't like it, don't do it.

The majority of my 5000+ hrs are at night. One of the great things.....generally speaking.....is that there aren't as many training or less experienced pilots out there at night. I love flying at night!

[M016576]

Wow... I just realized I'm becoming the board curmudgeon!  Sorry all!  I'll try to keep it more positive and less grumpy in the future!!

[bnicolette]

Yeah Job, what the heck?  :-)  I started feeling all bad about myself for flying IMC in my Mooney.  I too prefer two turbines hanging out there but I still like taking my lil baby and cutting holes through the clouds.  There is just something so sereal about being in the clouds in the Mooney; so long as that Lycoming keeps on a purrin and you won't find me out and about unless I have at least a 1000' ceiling.  I'd like to have a lil time to pick a landing spot.

Different strokes I guess.  Do what you're comfortable with and capable of............Oh and don't forget what ever you consider fun..........after all, isn't that what we spend a lot of these dollars for?

 

[carusoam]

 

Job,

Nobody gets the board curmudgeon award without a fight...

 

Your are going to have to be really bitter and try really hard for that honor...

Best regards,

 

-a-

[David Mazer]

Without trying to derail this thread or seriously irritate pilots who are clearly more experienced than I, the vast, vast number of problems with flying are pilot related and not airplane related.  One engine, two engines, turbo, or piston, the pilot is so much more likely to create the problem that the plane itself could be ignored and if the pilots were fixed we probably would never even talk about the incredibly rare accident.

Flying only during the day or with at least 1,000 ft ceilings is such a restrictive set of limitations for something an IFR pilot should be able to do with one hand tied behind his back, metaphorically.  If you are uncomfortable at night or in VFR (1,000 ft ceilings)  I suppose you should restrict your flying to Arizona.  The rest of us will have to accept that our very capable and reliable machines will be there for us till we make a mistake that it can't fix despite us.

[bnicolette]

ah oh...........Now you've done it.  Derailment is about to take place.  LOL

Different strokes.  It's all about managing risk for me.  I don't think a 1000' ceiling is very restrictive?  How often do the ceilings fall below 1000'?  Nevermind, doesn't matter.  That just happens to be my personal limit in the Mooney before I decide to just not fly or drive if I was going somewhere.  It's just how I manage risk in my single engine world.

And you are right about the engines being so reliable and pilots being the cause of the accidents.

It's all good.  Whatever we all like to do.  In aviation we all have to set our personal minimums and certainly mine will be different from everybody elses.  There are arguments for all sides and could play the "what if" game to death.  Manage risk and have a great time flying the Mooney.

[flyboy0681]

While we are on the subject, I just logged my first night time since 1984. I'm working on my IR now and the best time for me and my instructor to get together is early evening, so two weeks ago we got a late start and flew most of the time well after sunset. I must admit that it was nice and that I'm getting over my apprehension.

I've always felt there was probably a good reason why most countries don't allow VFR night flights.

[Shadrach]

Quote: carusoam

 

Job,

Nobody gets the board curmudgeon award without a fight...

 

Your are going to have to be really bitter and try really hard for that honor...

Best regards,

 

-a-

[PilotDerek]

I like flying at night, but out here if there is no moon it is DARK. I might as well be in a cloud. The few lights on the ground can quickly meld in with the stars. Also you better know where you are out here as there are plenty of mountains that just will not move out of your way. I was flying with my instructor/friend one night in his plane, had the autopilot on and he turns to me and said "are we flying straight?". Because the I-10 was lit up and slanted from our view it made it seem we were not straight and level (which we were). If it gets too dark (and I believe that is possible for VFR pilots) trust your instraments. Flying at night out here is very smooth.