Doug Haluza wrote:
The predicted sunset time is the only thing relevant for flight
planning.

It is interesting that part 61 and part 91 define regulations that
refer to sunrise and sunset but that the FAA provides no definition of
what those terms mean. At least I couldn't find those definitions. I
expected to find them in part 1.

I used to fly a lot in an Aerona Chief that did not meet night lighting
requirements. A sunrise/sunset time table was always available for
flight planning, but I don't know if it agreed with whatever time table
FAA was using. I once landed a minute before sunset (according to my
table) after an xc flight and was still in motion on the airport after
sunset. Neither tower nor ground control expressed any concern.

I know I can call flight service and ask for sunset time for my local
airport. Their reply is "I can give you sunset for Phoenix, is that
close enough?" If I say yes, does that become the offical sunset time
for my local airport?

Given the uncertainty of the actual official sunset time I repeat my
request that SAA's sunset time be used only to determine the "end of
soaring flight" and not used to determine the validity of the entire
flight.

Andy