Sunset and nigh flying definitions

Ian Strachan wrote:

The Sporting Code Section 3 Gliding, says: "4.5.3 Night flight. A
flight that continues beyond the hours of legal daylight in the country
concerned shall not be validated, except where the glider and pilot
comply with the laws of that country for night flight."

Technically, I don't think there are any laws in the US for solo night
flight in gliders. The night flight regulations for aircraft are only
defined for powered aircraft. The only requirement for pilots is for
night currency (3 takeoffs and landings) but this only applies when
carrying passengers. However, there is a requirement for position
lights on all aircraft between sunset and sunrise. The specific
aircraft will probably have requirements for night equipment related to
it's airworthiness certificate, if it is approved for night flight at
all.

Finally, there may be insurance considerations as well as sporting and
legal ones. Damage in the event of landing after Civil Twilight may
lead to difficulties with insurers. In the UK, the BGA publishes a
time table of last landing times for this and other reasons, for
application at BGA member clubs.

So the legal requirement for lights after sunset in the US could result
in refusal of coverage if you have an accident after sunset without
required lighting. In many states, there is no need for the insurance
company to show a causal relationship. Even if there is, they can argue
that if the flight was completed by sunset, the accident would not have
happened anyway.

In the US, the USNO provides on-line calculators that can be used for a
single day, or a whole year. They also make printed tables available on
request for a fee.