Night solo XC?

I fly night XCs on a regular basis. I love flying at night,
especially when the visibility is good. The air is smooth, traffic is
easy to spot, and view (both up and down) is incredible.

Night flying definitely involves more risk, so I adjust my flights
accordingly.

1. I fly higher, typically higher than 9k MSL. More time to sort out
problems, more distance to glide. In the midwest, this keeps me
within range of an airport almost all the time.
2. Don't fly in as strong of crosswinds. I find strong crosswinds
difficult to deal with at night. Fortunately, winds tend to calm at
night.
3. Choose my IFR flights very selectively. Although I don't have a
hard rule for this, I basically limit IFR to punching through a high,
thin layer.
4. Fuel flightplanning. Make sure your fuel stops are open when you
get there. Don't just look at airnav.com or the AOPA guide - calling
ahead is critical. I've been burned by this a few times and had to
spend the night somewhere I didn't want to, because the 24hr fuel
depot closed at 10pm.
5. Backups. You can't have enough for a night flight. Multiple
flashlights. Backup radio. Handheld GPS. Good batteries for all.
Also, make sure this stuff is out and accessible (preferably in the
passenger seat).


On Mon, 11 Oct 2004 04:51:08 GMT, "G. Burkhart"
wrote:

A question to the group. Do you normally fly many night solo cross
country flights? I have been going out to the local airport every couple
months to do some night flying, but it's usually solo just around the patch
to get night current so I can carry a passenger at night. The few times that
I have done cross countries at night, I either have a passenger (usually
pilot rated too) or an instructor (during training a few years ago).

I was going to do a short night XC a couple weeks ago and took off, got
about 10 miles out and didn't 'feel' right so I returned to the pattern. It
was probably just me, but it seemed like some strange noises from the plane
that I don't notice during day flight. If I have a passenger, I'm not as
concerned about flying XC at night. All of my night flights have been when
there is close to a full moon so visibility isn't a factor.

-Greg B.

"G. Burkhart" wrote in message news:0joad.218088$MQ5.166822@attbi_s52...
A question to the group. Do you normally fly many night solo cross
country flights? I have been going out to the local airport every couple
months to do some night flying, but it's usually solo just around the patch
to get night current so I can carry a passenger at night. The few times that
I have done cross countries at night, I either have a passenger (usually
pilot rated too) or an instructor (during training a few years ago).

I was going to do a short night XC a couple weeks ago and took off, got
about 10 miles out and didn't 'feel' right so I returned to the pattern. It
was probably just me, but it seemed like some strange noises from the plane
that I don't notice during day flight. If I have a passenger, I'm not as
concerned about flying XC at night. All of my night flights have been when
there is close to a full moon so visibility isn't a factor.

-Greg B.
Greg
There is a common phenomena called "autorough" when you get outside
the comfort zone like over the high mountains, way out offshore with a
single engine, night when you can't see anything like between layers,
etc. I had a crash at night many years ago and it took several years
before my hands would not get wet while flying after dark. Now its
pretty ho humm.
I'm surprised you are more comfortable with a pax at night than solo
on a XC! Is it just having someone to keep you occupied? I'm just the
other way...I don't want anyone on board with me if I happen to go
down again. As I've often said, "I'll risk MY life, but not YOURS."
Stay in your own comfort zone and if you get nervous night flying,
keep it close to home. Why go out and stick it in the
woods/desert/mountains, etc, someplace at night? From curiosity, I
checked my logs and have just over 1500 night in a variety of aircraft
including night crop spraying with helicopter.
Ol Shy & Bashful

On 11 Oct 2004 06:22:57 -0700, (SelwayKid) wrote:

From curiosity, I
checked my logs and have just over 1500 night in a variety of aircraft
including night crop spraying with helicopter.

How does this work? Moonlit night?

Nathan Young wrote in message . ..
On 11 Oct 2004 06:22:57 -0700, (SelwayKid) wrote:

From curiosity, I
checked my logs and have just over 1500 night in a variety of aircraft
including night crop spraying with helicopter.

How does this work? Moonlit night?
Nathan
No...we have lights for it. Depending on the aircraft they may be
anything from 500W to 1200W. I do recall one night with a full moon
and as I was making my turnaround in helicopter, I spotted a shadow
passing right in front of me on the ground and it scared the sh**it
out of me until I realized it was my own shadow from the moon!!
Lots of funny stories about night flying in my logbook.
Selway Kid

(SelwayKid) wrote in message om...
Nathan Young wrote in message . ..
On 11 Oct 2004 06:22:57 -0700, (SelwayKid) wrote:

From curiosity, I
checked my logs and have just over 1500 night in a variety of aircraft
including night crop spraying with helicopter.

It brings to mind one night while spraying and during a spray run at
about 3'acl (above crop level) and I had a total electrical failure.
All my lights went out and of course I was headed towards some 80'
main power lines! I did a pretty strong pull-up and turn to avoid
getting into them, then had to circle my loading area until my loader
realized I was without lights and turned on all the truck lights so I
could get it on the ground next to him.
Ah the good old days...! ggg
How does this work? Moonlit night?
Nathan
No...we have lights for it. Depending on the aircraft they may be
anything from 500W to 1200W. I do recall one night with a full moon
and as I was making my turnaround in helicopter, I spotted a shadow
passing right in front of me on the ground and it scared the sh**it
out of me until I realized it was my own shadow from the moon!!
Lots of funny stories about night flying in my logbook.
Selway Kid

Nathan Young wrote in message . ..
On 11 Oct 2004 06:22:57 -0700, (SelwayKid) wrote:

From curiosity, I
checked my logs and have just over 1500 night in a variety of aircraft
including night crop spraying with helicopter.

How does this work? Moonlit night?
Nathan
No...we have lights for it. Depending on the aircraft they may be
anything from 500W to 1200W. I do recall one night with a full moon
and as I was making my turnaround in helicopter, I spotted a shadow
passing right in front of me on the ground and it scared the sh**it
out of me until I realized it was my own shadow from the moon!!
Lots of funny stories about night flying in my logbook.
Selway Kid

On 11 Oct 2004 06:22:57 -0700, (SelwayKid) wrote:

From curiosity, I
checked my logs and have just over 1500 night in a variety of aircraft
including night crop spraying with helicopter.

How does this work? Moonlit night?

I live in Virginia Beach and own a PA28 140. Many times I would fly
up to Atlantic City around noon and fly back at night, a trip of about
two hours.
Night flying has some pluses: very smooth air and easy to find
airports and cities with the lights. Only emergency I have
experienced was loss of radio speaker. Had to dig around for my
earphones. Keep one flashlight between your legs and at least another
in the glove box and near by. You do need your artificial horizon at
times. I flew into a cloud one night and came to know the true
meaning of black out. Hey, flying is dangerous. Get used to it.

I live in Virginia Beach and own a PA28 140. Many times I would fly
up to Atlantic City around noon and fly back at night, a trip of about
two hours.
Night flying has some pluses: very smooth air and easy to find
airports and cities with the lights. Only emergency I have
experienced was loss of radio speaker. Had to dig around for my
earphones. Keep one flashlight between your legs and at least another
in the glove box and near by. You do need your artificial horizon at
times. I flew into a cloud one night and came to know the true
meaning of black out. Hey, flying is dangerous. Get used to it.

"G. Burkhart" wrote in message news:0joad.218088$MQ5.166822@attbi_s52...
A question to the group. Do you normally fly many night solo cross
country flights? I have been going out to the local airport every couple
months to do some night flying, but it's usually solo just around the patch
to get night current so I can carry a passenger at night. The few times that
I have done cross countries at night, I either have a passenger (usually
pilot rated too) or an instructor (during training a few years ago).

I was going to do a short night XC a couple weeks ago and took off, got
about 10 miles out and didn't 'feel' right so I returned to the pattern. It
was probably just me, but it seemed like some strange noises from the plane
that I don't notice during day flight. If I have a passenger, I'm not as
concerned about flying XC at night. All of my night flights have been when
there is close to a full moon so visibility isn't a factor.

-Greg B.
Greg
There is a common phenomena called "autorough" when you get outside
the comfort zone like over the high mountains, way out offshore with a
single engine, night when you can't see anything like between layers,
etc. I had a crash at night many years ago and it took several years
before my hands would not get wet while flying after dark. Now its
pretty ho humm.
I'm surprised you are more comfortable with a pax at night than solo
on a XC! Is it just having someone to keep you occupied? I'm just the
other way...I don't want anyone on board with me if I happen to go
down again. As I've often said, "I'll risk MY life, but not YOURS."
Stay in your own comfort zone and if you get nervous night flying,
keep it close to home. Why go out and stick it in the
woods/desert/mountains, etc, someplace at night? From curiosity, I
checked my logs and have just over 1500 night in a variety of aircraft
including night crop spraying with helicopter.
Ol Shy & Bashful