This past weekend I scheduled the Warrior from 9pm until 11pm with the intention of getting my required 3 takeoff and landings 1 hour after sunset to remain night current. I ended up flying to Mettetal to pick up my mom-in-law for some nightseeing. She had a hunch about the sky reflecting on the lakes after the sun set, and so we launched into the air at the end of "civil twilight" to test her theory. A Cessna 172 taxied out in front of us and announced "remaining in the pattern". After the Cessna performed a go-around on her first approach we departed to the west. A waxing moon joined us as we chased the fading light, and sure enough the lakes west of Detroit could be picked out easily amongst the rest of the terrain. People were shooting off fireworks, at one location in particular the flashes looked like the strobes on an aircraft, and so I made a heading adjustment for an airplane that wasn't there. We circled around Whitmore Lake and made note of the car traffic on US-23 and more post-July 4th fireworks.
As we returned to Mettetal we could hear the Cessna still in the pattern, the huge expanse of lights that is the Metro Detroit "lightscape" helping to make a task of picking out the rotating beacon at our destination. As I manuevered to join the pattern, and locate the Cessna it got me thinking about how the night currency "thing" works. The pilot in the Cessna was doing it correct according to the rules, and so was I. Hopping in your plane and taking three trips around the pattern may satisfy the FAR requirement, but I gotta believe it won't help you stay a good night time pilot. Actually watching the horizon go away as the sun's last rays were extinguished, was a good reminder about how important your instruments are. Picking out the beacon among city lights was a good challenge, trying to spot traffic at the airport was another. There are more challenges to night flight than just runway illusions right?
It may sound kind of crass, but I'd like to think I got more out of my night time currency practice than the other pilot. Maybe the FAR's should require more from us than just buzzing around the patch a few times? How do you stay night current?
Total time: 147.2
Total night time: 14.8
Total night landings: 35
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
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2 comments:
Just like you.
35000 hrs airplane/rotorcraft
3550 night
2800 instrument
3200+ night landings
I hate to admit that it took me a bit longer to come to your conclusion. I still enjoy night flight quite a bit and still instruct primary night.
Keep up the good work.
larry
Larry,
I can understand someone with your amount of experience might just want to have the requirement remain as is :)
For me, I want staying night current to include all the challenges I might face (as I work to build my experience). If all night flying was for me was to fly around the pattern, I would be totally comfortable doing just 3 circuits.
It's a bit like when people ask me why I like to practice landings so much, but do very few touch-n-go's. I tell them, "you can't end your flight with a touch and go, only a full stop" so that is what I practice.
Thanks for reading and adding your thoughts!
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