Sunset and nigh flying definitions

Yes, 91.209 is the sunset/sunrise position lighting requirement for all
aircraft. But night is twilight/twilight, and there are no extra
restrictions for night flight in gliders in Part 91. There probably are
restrictions in the specific airworthiness certification, but not in
general.

BT wrote:
Doug.. read 91.209
BT

"Doug Haluza" wrote in message
ups.com...

Technically, this is not a requirement for gliders. See the full
heading:

91.205: Powered civil aircraft with standard category U.S.
airworthiness certificates: Instrument and equipment requirements.

Note that this is for *powered* aircraft, so would apply to
motorgliders, but not pure gliders. However, if the glider has a
standard airworthiness certificate, it is probably limited to VFR day
only. If it is experimental, it probably has the same restriction; if
not, there would be specific requirements for night flying equipment
which would probably also include cockpit lighting in addition to
position and possibly anti-collision lights.

Ben,

Are you saying that all this discussion has been about NOTHING??

It was asserted the FARs had a requirement for nav and anti-collision
lights after sunset and the SSA-OLC Committee assumes that no gliders
have such lights so flights ending after sunset are deemed invalid.

I saw no sign that the argument was about flying after civil twilight -
ie, in the dark. So it wasn't about safety but about the technicality
of displaying lights between sunset and darkness.

Or did some posters not understand night doesn't begin at sunset?

Are you saying there's no such rule???

GC

Ben Jeffrey wrote:
US Federal Aviation Regulation definition of night: From FAR official
definitions
Night means the time between the end of evening civil twilight and the
beginning of morning civil twilight, as published in the American Air
Almanac, converted to local time.

Equipment requirements for night flight: FAR 91.205(c)
(c) Visual flight rules (night). For VFR flight at night, the following
instruments and equipment are required:

(1) Instruments and equipment specified in paragraph (b) of this section.

(2) Approved position lights.

(3) An approved aviation red or aviation white anticollision light system on
all U.S.-registered civil aircraft. Anticollision light systems initially
installed after August 11, 1971, on aircraft for which a type certificate
was issued or applied for before August 11, 1971, must at least meet the
anticollision light standards of part 23, 25, 27, or 29 of this chapter, as
applicable, that were in effect on August 10, 1971, except that the color
may be either aviation red or aviation white. In the event of failure of any
light of the anticollision light system, operations with the aircraft may be
continued to a stop where repairs or replacement can be made.

(4) If the aircraft is operated for hire, one electric landing light.

I can find no reference in the FARs that further limits gliders to
operations between sunrise and sunset.

Ben Jeffrey



"5Z" wrote in message
ups.com...
Ian Strachan wrote:
Are some people taking the first part of this Sporting Code wording to
mean "sunset" rather than Civil Twilight? Perhaps it would be better
if the wording was something like: "A flight that includes any part of
the official night flying period as definined by the Aviation
Authorities in the country concerned, except ... "
Ian, in the USA, the critical issue is that no AIRCRAFT may fly after
SUNSET without proper lighting. If the sailplane has the proper
lighting, then there are no further requirements (if not carrying
passengers) or restrictions about flying between sunset and sunrise.

The "problem" here is that it is quite easy to still be airborne, and
see the ground, etc, well after sunset. But IT IS NOT LEGAL in *most*
sailplanes. Because the FAR most of us are familiar with has to do
with carriage of passengers, many, including myself, have been under
the mistaken impression that it is OK to fly after sunset, but before
twilight.

So, IMO, all that needs to be stated in the SC is that the flight shall
comply with all applicable regulations of the country concerned -
period. In the USA that means that "day" flight is not permitted
during 100% of the FAA defined day, but only between sunrise and sunset
- UNLESS the sailplane is equipped with anti collision lights.

If we want to legislate safety in the SC, then we should just set a
maximum duration of the flight. If there were a full moon, and my
sailplane had the appropriate lighting, I could very safely repeat my
100km speed triangle in wave at midnight. The flight would be less
than 2 hours in duration, and I would at all times be within a 10:1 or
better glide to a good airport. However, if I were in (for example)
Argentina, it could be possible to work the wave for 20, 30, or more
hours. Would that be safe in a single place glider? How about
multiplace? What if Steve Fossett's Global Flyer were converted into a
motorglider, and he decided to attempt a huge wave flight in the Andes?

-Tom

Graeme Cant wrote:
Ben,

Are you saying that all this discussion has been about NOTHING??

It was asserted the FARs had a requirement for nav and anti-collision
lights after sunset and the SSA-OLC Committee assumes that no gliders
have such lights so flights ending after sunset are deemed invalid.

I saw no sign that the argument was about flying after civil twilight -
ie, in the dark. So it wasn't about safety but about the technicality
of displaying lights between sunset and darkness.

Or did some posters not understand night doesn't begin at sunset?

Are you saying there's no such rule???

GC

Graeme, stop trolling. It's really getting old.

Ian Strachan wrote:

The Sporting Code Section 3 Gliding, says: "4.5.3 Night flight. A
flight that continues beyond the hours of legal daylight in the country
concerned shall not be validated, except where the glider and pilot
comply with the laws of that country for night flight."

Technically, I don't think there are any laws in the US for solo night
flight in gliders. The night flight regulations for aircraft are only
defined for powered aircraft. The only requirement for pilots is for
night currency (3 takeoffs and landings) but this only applies when
carrying passengers. However, there is a requirement for position
lights on all aircraft between sunset and sunrise. The specific
aircraft will probably have requirements for night equipment related to
it's airworthiness certificate, if it is approved for night flight at
all.

Finally, there may be insurance considerations as well as sporting and
legal ones. Damage in the event of landing after Civil Twilight may
lead to difficulties with insurers. In the UK, the BGA publishes a
time table of last landing times for this and other reasons, for
application at BGA member clubs.

So the legal requirement for lights after sunset in the US could result
in refusal of coverage if you have an accident after sunset without
required lighting. In many states, there is no need for the insurance
company to show a causal relationship. Even if there is, they can argue
that if the flight was completed by sunset, the accident would not have
happened anyway.

In the US, the USNO provides on-line calculators that can be used for a
single day, or a whole year. They also make printed tables available on
request for a fee.