Flying in darkness, unlike day, presents its own little challenges that require the pilot to have some experience level with that environment. The problem is that many general aviation pilots don’t fly that regularly at night to maintain a true proficiency.  Only actual experience will solve that problem, but there are things we can do to make out nocturnal endeavors more safe and enjoyable. 

The overlying factor that can make night flying a little more hazardous and unforgiving is the diminished situational awareness that caused by darkness. When flying VFR, we receive a great deal of out information from what’s outside the windows.  During a pitch-black night with very little or no ambient light, our valuable source of information can be severely reduced.  This affects many areas of flight to include positional and spatial disorientation. Landing, for example, requires the pilot to use different cues to gauge their progress down to the runway surface. Getting lost becomes just as easy on the airport movement area as it can in flight. Getting lost in flight can increase the risk of a controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) accident. Weather, on the other hand, can put a bad spin on things as well. It can seriously magnify an already stressful situation. The last big potential hazard posed is of the physiological variety. A pilot who usually would be sleeping during at night must pay particular attention any signs of fatigue. Fatigue can be just as fatal as any other hazard out there. The reason being that when we are fatigued we tend to forget things and get into a “glossed over” state of mind. Remember that most accidents are caused by a string of mistakes and if the pilot is fatigued it becomes increasingly difficult to break the chain of events that may cause an accident.

On a lighter side there are some advantages to flying at night. One such benefit is the decreased amount of traffic and the relative ease of identifying those aircraft at night, provided they have appropriate anti-collision lighting operating. With less traffic, there is less frequency congestion. Flight at night usually lends itself to calmer rides due to the lack of surface heating from the sun. And, of course, who can forget those incredible views over metropolitan areas.

Now let's discuss some of the strategies to keep in mind while flying at night. First and foremost, the value of obtaining an instrument rating is priceless to an aviator. Use all the resources that you have. These may include avionics, such as GPS in your aircraft, or the different services that you can obtain from Air Traffic Control. Keep ATC in the loop when things start to get overwhelming. They are professional men and women that have a vested interest in your safety when you are in their airspace. Practicing good cockpit management and organizational skills can pay off big dividends when the time comes that you need them. If flying to a different airport, especially if its unfamiliar, do some research into potential hazards that might be present. But nothing can do as much as just getting out there and applying these helpful strategies. Just keep in mind your skill level and treat each night flight as a learning experience.

Certainly it was not the intent to elaborate on every subject in such a large topic as this. It is merely intended to disseminate general information, some of it already known and some of it not so well known.