Discussion Thread: Dangers of Flying Cross Country at Night
James M. Oyler
School of Aeronautics, Liberty University
AVIA 216: Private Pilot Theory Ground
Instructor: Professor Jerry Beckner
November 6, 2023
Dangers of Flying Cross Country at Night
There are many advantages of flying at night compared to in the daytime. However, the
risks associated with flying at night are more unforgiving. As with any cross-country trip, there
are many factors that need to be planned for. Weather, alternate airfields, and fuel requirements
all play important roles whether we fly in the day or nighttime.
Dangerous Conditions After Sunset
One of the greatest perils to nighttime cross-country flying is associated with weather.
Unlike the daytime, when we fly after sunset, we cannot see any buildup of clouds that might be
present unless there is lightning and then we would know it is time to divert. Another serious
consideration while flying in the dark is that of fuel planning. The Federal Aviation
Administration mandates that we have a forty-five-minute reserve of fuel minimum when we
reach our destination, which can be overlooked.
An additional hazard during nighttime operations are geographical obstacles such as
mountainous terrain. Changes in elevation can and have created serious issues for pilots flying
cross-country at night.
One very important hazard during nighttime cross-country flight operations that no pilot
is immune to is spatial disorientation. Some pilots experience vertigo which can be deadly if not
properly recognized. Visual illusions can also play a factor. The human eye works very
differently at night than in the daytime. (FAA, 2022)
In the daylight hours we can look directly at an object and focus whereas at night, to see
objects, it is often best to use our periphery.
There are other physical factors to be considered such as fatigue. When the hum of the
engine becomes rhythmic and the low lighting conditions are like bedtime conditions, a pilot can
certainly dose off just as they would behind the wheel of an automobile.
Mitigating the Risks Associated with Nighttime Cross Country Operations
Proper planning is the number one way to mitigate the dangers of any cross-country
flight, particularly nighttime cross-country flights. Proper and complete planning for each phase
of the flight is paramount to safety.
According to the Airplane Owners and Pilots Association, “Planning a night cross-
country flight requires special attention to many details that may escape your scrutiny when
planning a daylight flight. The landmarks that will guide you to your destination look different at
night. Many familiar features will be hidden beneath the veil of darkness, and new landscapes
take their place.
Lakes, rivers, railroads, and fields fade into blackness, while cities appear as crystalline
mazes of lights. Lighted towers, difficult to see by day, suddenly come to life against the night
sky. While many roads may be invisible, streetlights and traffic may illuminate interstates and
other highways. Airports that were difficult to find during the day may mark their location with
bright, flashing green-and-white beacons.
Though you navigate by pilotage during the day, you may want to rethink your strategy at
night. Because the terrain can look unfamiliar and desolate at night, it's easy to find yourself off
course (or, at least, beginning to question your true position). To avoid this, back up your
pilotage with radio navigation. Select the VORs or NDBs (nondirectional beacons) that will
guide you to your destination.
Terrain clearance is another nighttime concern; like low clouds, darkness can easily
obscure high terrain. To ensure adequate clearance along your route, note the Maximum
Elevation Figures (MEFs) printed in each quadrant of your sectional chart. Then add at least
1,000-2,000 feet to the highest MEF figure and use the sum as your minimum enroute flight
altitude.
Since it's difficult to read the fine print on a sectional in a darkened cockpit, record the
appropriate communication and navigation frequencies, along with any other pertinent flight
information, on your navigation log. Don't use a fine-point pencil because it may be difficult to
read. Instead, opt for dark ink and large print. Don't use a highlighter on your chart. Depending
on the color, in the cockpit's red light it may appear as a solid black line through which nothing
can be read.
Finally, study your route carefully and be familiar with landmarks, navigation aids, and
your destination airport. Commit as much information as possible to memory, and make sure it's
all down on your navigation log.
Even though Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) 91.151 only requires a 45-minute fuel
reserve for night flights under visual flight rules (VFR), headwinds, navigation errors, and
unexpected weather can deplete reserve fuel at a frightening pace. Prudent pilots plan for their
fuel reserve to be at least twice the minimum required.” (Night Flying, 2016)
Other precautions such as the utilization of Flight Following from air traffic control will
help a pilot in a plethora of ways. Especially when it comes to staying awake. Even if we do get
plenty of rest, our bodies tend to want to conform to our surroundings. If we are in an
atmosphere that is conducive to sleeping it can be extremely difficult to remain awake, much less
alert. If we are in a noisy, sensory overloading environment we can lose focus on certain tasks
and never get any sleep.
Even ground operations can be difficult at night, which is why it is important to study
airport diagrams during the pre-flight planning stage.
Anything can happen in the air from mechanical failure to unexpected weather systems
which make it even more vital to perform a complete and proper flight plan with plenty of room
for contingency. If we plan and train for each possible emergency, we will always be better
prepared to meet the challenges that could be presented to us during a nighttime cross-country
flight.
