Night Operations
Preparation and departure
Night operations begin before sunset. Check personal fitness, night currency and recent experience; carry a torch and spare batteries; confirm airfield lighting hours, PPR and the alternate's weather. Brief passengers on emergency exits and the use of the torch. Before taxi, set cockpit lighting, check the landing light, and confirm the heading indicator and altimeter.
Taxi, takeoff and climb
Taxi slowly, using the taxi light and following the blue edge lights or green centreline. At the holding point, complete the pre-takeoff checks and select the landing light and strobes. On takeoff, use instruments immediately after rotation; outside cues are poor and a false horizon can produce a low or steep climb. Establish a positive climb on the altimeter and VSI.
Approach and landing
Plan a stabilised approach: on profile, on speed and on track by 500 ft. Use PAPI/VASI or the published glidepath. The landing light helps in the flare but can create a false sense of height if it illuminates rain or fog. If not stable at minima, go around - a late go-around is safer than a bad landing.
Worked example
On a dark night with no town lights and no glidepath, the runway appears high. Reasoning: this is a black-hole approach; the visual picture is unreliable. Cross-check the altimeter against the published threshold crossing height, use DME if available, and go around if the aircraft is below the expected altitude.
Traps
Flying a low approach because the runway looks high; leaving the go-around too late; taxiing too fast; and forgetting that the landing light increases electrical load.