descent below minimums

Well, I must say I cannot imagine a situation where one could see
distant runway lights yet not be able to see objects 5 feet away.

If you say it's possible, I'll have to take your word for it.

it's very easy to imagine. Take a fast telephote camera lens
(300mm/2.8, 200mm/f2). Focues on a object at infinity and try
to pick out objects nearby. By default, you will have the widest
aperature and shallowest depth of field. You won't see a thing nearby
that you can clearly distinguish. This is *exactly* what is
happening here. Your eyes are focusing on the runway at infinity that
has bright lights relative to the dark tree limbs. You can't possibly
see them.

The better question, I know you can see and avoid many trees or other
obstacles. What obstacles did you not see? You'll never know.

Gerald

On Sun, 09 Jan 2005 21:44:36 GMT, "G. Sylvester"
wrote:


It's where I learned that when making a visual approach to an airport
at night, and the runway threshold lights start to disappear, that one
needs to get some altitude back in a hurry and keep visual contact
with the approach end of the runway at all times.

that's reasonable enough but it is VERY easy to completely not
see power cables/telephone lines or tops of trees (say with no leaves)
and still have lights in the background clearly in sight. It only
takes one cable or some tree branches to ruin a good night.
stand 100 feet away from a car with its headlight towards you. Have
some one put a stick through the beam. You won't see it or barely
see it. Do that a mile away and you will completely not see it.


Gerald Sylvester

No argument there. That can even be the case in broad daylight, as
many a crop duster can attest.

On Sun, 09 Jan 2005 14:32:58 -0500, Roger
wrote:

Setting OBS's and consulting charts on an descent to a runway at
night?

IF IFR it's part of the drill.


This whole discussion is about making visual approaches to a runway at
night.

However, if you are my student, you aren't looking at charts while
descending inside the FAF.

you want to look at charts inside the FAF, you level off first. If
it means a missed, so be it.