Landing in low-light conditions

Read the forum code of contact

Member for

18 years 5 months

Posts: 761

What are the parameters for landing light aircraft in low-light/dusk type conditions at an airfield where runway lighting is not an option ? Does the type of licence rating held have an influence ?
As you may have guessed, I'm not a pilot myself, just curious.

Original post

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 16,832

There are none.

Without a night qualification added to your PPL you can land (or attempt to) up to thirty minutes after sunset, or after thirty minutes before sunrise - the bit in between is called official night.

Once you add the night qualification there are no restrictions.

Moggy

Member for

18 years 1 month

Posts: 96

Interestingly, neither runway lights nor landing lights are legally required to operate at night in a private aircraft. If you didn't have either it may be a bit challenging on a dark cloudy night :D.

30 minutes after sunset can vary between pitch dark and reasonably light, so some pilot discretion is advisable. Often dark airfields are a haven for wildlife at night such as deers, badgers, foxes etc to add to the fun.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 16,832

Three Frenchmen with torches should be enough

Moggy

Member for

20 years

Posts: 1,628

Or the farmer with his Land Rover. Now how do I know that?

Member for

15 years 3 months

Posts: 66

Landing without lights in the dark - object lesson in how to draw attention to yourself!

But, you are required to have a landing light when flying at night in a private aircraft, and a torch. You can always turn it off if you dont like what you see in the beam.