Flying Articles

Flying at Night

DON'T GET CAUGHT BY EARLIER NIGHTFALL Many pilots will begin flying more at night as we fall back to Standard Time on Nov. 4. There may be less traffic and lighter winds, but don't ignore the challenges of flying in the dark. Check out the AOPA Air Safety Foundation's Flying Night VFR Safety Hot Spot and AOPA's Night Flying subject report to prepare for a night flight free of mishap. While planning, use AOPA's Airport Directory Online to learn more about airport lighting and any special night traffic patterns. To avoid obstructions or terrain at night, read the AOPA Air Safety Foundation's Terrain Avoidance Plan Safety Brief.

NTSB SAFETY ALERT WARNS PILOTS OF NIGHTTIME CFIT ACCIDENTS
The NTSB on Jan. 24 issued a safety alert about a series of controlled flight into terrain accidents that occurred in nighttime visual meteorological conditions. The pilots were flying in mountainous terrain, and in many cases, were in contact with air traffic control. Better preflight planning could have prevented the accidents, according to the NTSB. The AOPA Air Safety Foundation's Terrain Avoidance Plan Safety Brief discusses preflight planning tips. More tips about flying in such conditions are offered in the Foundation's Night Flying VFR Hotspot and Mountain Flying online course.