Ted
The pilot formerly known as Twin Engine Ted
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2007
- Messages
- 29,987
- Display Name
Display name:
iFlyNothing
From my first night flight towards the beginning of my flight training, I knew that night flight was something that I loved and wanted to do as much as possible. Unfortunately for my love of night flying, my flying club has a rule saying that night flight is not allowed without an instrument rating.
There is one exception to this rule: You are allowed night flight within a 3 nm radius of KIPT for your night currency requirements. In other words, they give you a leash precisely long enough that you can do pattern work for your three take-offs and landings to a full stop for currency. I haven't bothered to keep up with this, seeing as night flight has been a non-issue for me. I'm just not allowed to do it. Plus, here in Williamsport in the summer it doesn't get pitch black until about 9:30 or so. So, it's been probably 4.5 months since my last night flight.
I'm approaching the end of training before my instrument check ride, meaning that before long, night flight will soon (hopefully) be allowed. Because of this, and the fact that I might have cause to go on a night flight before long, I decided last night was a good time to go up and get my night currency. Besides, it was a beautiful night and something fun to do.
I'm a believer that legal and current does not mean safe and proficient. So, my goal was to go out and do pattern work for proficiency. I started out doing touch-and-gos. On the first one it was apparent that I needed more than three landings to a full stop to renew my proficiency at this. I was high and fast on my first time around, and had a hard time spotting the runways, and this is at the airport I fly out of every time I go flying.
I was, perhaps admittedly, somewhat distracted by the beauty that is night flight. Williamsport is a small town by my yard stick (being from a town of 8 million people originally), but at night it is beautiful when lit up. Plus there were no clouds in the sky, and the stars were perfectly visibile. In the distance, I could see other planes flying along, strobes blinking. Whenever I see the strobe lights of other planes blinking from afar, I wonder who they are and what trip they're on. For a brief moment, we're sharing the same bit of heaven.
After 5 times around the pattern, I decided I was comfortable enough, so I did my three landings to a full stop, and came back in to the hangar. Now I'm night current, and I believe a bit more proficient.
My mom hasn't been flying with me yet, but supposedly next weekend will be the first time for a trip we'll be making. Sometime when I get the opportunity (probably around fall once the days start getting shorter), I want to take her on a night flight around Manhattan. She's been getting used to the idea that I'm a pilot, but the one flight she always talks about fondly is once when she was in a GA cabin class piston twin (beats me as to what it was), and it was a perfectly clear night as they passed by New York City so she saw the city lit up in its evening splendor. I'd like to be able to give her that again. Maybe we'll go in the Aztec once I get my MEL. She doesn't trust single engine planes anyway, which I think is one of the reasons why she hasn't gone flying with me yet. Silly mother.
There is one exception to this rule: You are allowed night flight within a 3 nm radius of KIPT for your night currency requirements. In other words, they give you a leash precisely long enough that you can do pattern work for your three take-offs and landings to a full stop for currency. I haven't bothered to keep up with this, seeing as night flight has been a non-issue for me. I'm just not allowed to do it. Plus, here in Williamsport in the summer it doesn't get pitch black until about 9:30 or so. So, it's been probably 4.5 months since my last night flight.
I'm approaching the end of training before my instrument check ride, meaning that before long, night flight will soon (hopefully) be allowed. Because of this, and the fact that I might have cause to go on a night flight before long, I decided last night was a good time to go up and get my night currency. Besides, it was a beautiful night and something fun to do.
I'm a believer that legal and current does not mean safe and proficient. So, my goal was to go out and do pattern work for proficiency. I started out doing touch-and-gos. On the first one it was apparent that I needed more than three landings to a full stop to renew my proficiency at this. I was high and fast on my first time around, and had a hard time spotting the runways, and this is at the airport I fly out of every time I go flying.
I was, perhaps admittedly, somewhat distracted by the beauty that is night flight. Williamsport is a small town by my yard stick (being from a town of 8 million people originally), but at night it is beautiful when lit up. Plus there were no clouds in the sky, and the stars were perfectly visibile. In the distance, I could see other planes flying along, strobes blinking. Whenever I see the strobe lights of other planes blinking from afar, I wonder who they are and what trip they're on. For a brief moment, we're sharing the same bit of heaven.
After 5 times around the pattern, I decided I was comfortable enough, so I did my three landings to a full stop, and came back in to the hangar. Now I'm night current, and I believe a bit more proficient.
My mom hasn't been flying with me yet, but supposedly next weekend will be the first time for a trip we'll be making. Sometime when I get the opportunity (probably around fall once the days start getting shorter), I want to take her on a night flight around Manhattan. She's been getting used to the idea that I'm a pilot, but the one flight she always talks about fondly is once when she was in a GA cabin class piston twin (beats me as to what it was), and it was a perfectly clear night as they passed by New York City so she saw the city lit up in its evening splendor. I'd like to be able to give her that again. Maybe we'll go in the Aztec once I get my MEL. She doesn't trust single engine planes anyway, which I think is one of the reasons why she hasn't gone flying with me yet. Silly mother.