Night flying times

There is confusion in regard to which "twilight" times are used to
define night flying. What would be wrong with a change to the FARs that
say something like "Flight occuring an hour after GPS-indicated sunset
time and an hour before GPS-indicated sunrise is defined as night
flying"? (The standard exception for Alaska must be included...)

What's wrong with saying "as published in the American Air Almanac"?

Andrew Sarangan wrote:
What's wrong with saying "as published in the American Air Almanac"?


I seem to have misplaced my copy.

On 8 Nov 2005 05:50:19 -0800, "Andrew Sarangan"
wrote:

What's wrong with saying "as published in the American Air Almanac"?

1. The American Air Almanac is out of print. It is not available on
amazon.com although it may be available elsewhere. However, it has
certainly not been updated in recent years.

2. If the purpose of night flying regulations is to require the currency
of special skills when it is "dark", then the times should be adjusted to
reflect local topography. For example, ridges and mountains may cause
darkness to be present earlier than the official sunset time.


Ron (EPM) (N5843Q, Mooney M20E) (CP, ASEL, ASES, IA)

2. If the purpose of night flying regulations is to require the currency
of special skills when it is "dark", then the times should be adjusted to
reflect local topography. For example, ridges and mountains may cause
darkness to be present earlier than the official sunset time.

I think this is one of those places where judgement comes into play.
We're not talking about much of a temporal difference.

Jose
--
He who laughs, lasts.
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

How about "if it is dark out, it is night"? That is what most pilots
use anyway. Or don't define it at all. Just call it night. People know
what night is. The amount of darkness at night varies quite a bit, BTW.
We all know that too. No moon, no snow, no city lights, yeah that's
DARK. And a lit runway in such an environment can present problems you
don't have in a city, with a moon and lots of nearby lighting.

In article ,
Stubby wrote:

There is confusion in regard to which "twilight" times are used to
define night flying. What would be wrong with a change to the FARs that
say something like "Flight occuring an hour after GPS-indicated sunset
time and an hour before GPS-indicated sunrise is defined as night
flying"? (The standard exception for Alaska must be included...)

1) not everyone has GPS

2) why not use the sunrise/sunset times provided by US Naval Observatory?
(some means will need to be provided for those without internet access)

--
Bob Noel
no one likes an educated mule

Bob Noel wrote:
2) why not use the sunrise/sunset times provided by US Naval Observatory?
(some means will need to be provided for those without internet access)

what about asking the question to the briefer on 1-800-WXBRIEF as
part of your weather briefing / flight plan filing?

ok, now we'll have to take care of those without telephone access :-)

--Sylvain

Bob Noel wrote:
In article ,
Stubby wrote:


There is confusion in regard to which "twilight" times are used to
define night flying. What would be wrong with a change to the FARs that
say something like "Flight occuring an hour after GPS-indicated sunset
time and an hour before GPS-indicated sunrise is defined as night
flying"? (The standard exception for Alaska must be included...)


1) not everyone has GPS
There is no need for a pilot to actual own a GPS. He can look at a
friend's or one at the FBO, etc. But for the price of an hour of
instruction, anyone can purchase his very own GPS. Or, the FAA could
put up a web page with GPS sunrise and sunset times on it.

2) why not use the sunrise/sunset times provided by US Naval Observatory?
(some means will need to be provided for those without internet access)

Doug wrote:
How about "if it is dark out, it is night"? That is what most pilots
use anyway. Or don't define it at all. Just call it night. People know
what night is. The amount of darkness at night varies quite a bit, BTW.
We all know that too. No moon, no snow, no city lights, yeah that's
DARK. And a lit runway in such an environment can present problems you
don't have in a city, with a moon and lots of nearby lighting.

I would like to use the casual definition, but it won't hold up in court
after an accident. Your own insurance company will want to split hairs.