B1106 FLIGHT NIGHT 1.0 hours simulator

Night Flight Basics

OBJECTIVE

Allow trainees to apply night Visual Flight Rules (VFR) principles in a virtual simulator, focusing on illumination management, illusion mitigation, and safe takeoffs/landings to build confidence in low-visibility operations.

CONTENT

Pre-Flight Preparation

  • • Configure simulator for night conditions; verify aircraft lights (position, anti-collision, landing) and dim cockpit illumination.

AIRCRAFT LIGHTING CHECK

• Position lights (nav)
• Anti-collision beacon
• Landing/taxi lights
• Cockpit dimmed

Takeoff and Departure

  • • Use runway lights for alignment; smooth power application, rotate at normal speed; climb while referencing instruments to counter illusions.

En Route Navigation

  • • Rely on GPS/instruments more than visuals; scan for lit landmarks/airports; maintain VFR altitudes with extra buffers.

Pattern and Landing

  • • Enter patterns using airport beacons; judge flare height with runway perspective; practice 3 night landings, including touch-and-go.

Illusion and Hazard Management

  • • Simulate autokinesis or black hole effects; go-around if disoriented; monitor fatigue.

NIGHT ILLUSIONS & MITIGATIONS

Autokinesis Don't fixate; scan multiple references
Black Hole Use VASI/PAPI; trust instruments
False Horizon Cross-check attitude indicator

SORTIE TASKS

No controller required. No instructor required. Fly on VATSIM IAW VATSIM regulations. Simulator must be configured for night.

Pre-Sortie

  1. 1Set simulator to night conditions (departure time after civil twilight)
  2. 2Complete aircraft lighting check: position lights, anti-collision beacon, landing/taxi lights on; cockpit dimmed
  3. 3File a VFR night flight plan on VATSIM and connect; if ATC is online, obtain ATIS; if not, depart via CTAF

Sortie

  1. 4Night takeoff: align on runway centerline lights; rotate at normal speed and transition to instrument reference on climb
  2. 5Fly a planned en route leg using GPS; maintain planned VFR altitude throughout
  3. 6Locate practice airport using the rotating beacon; contact tower or self-announce on CTAF
  4. 7Fly at least 3 night touch-and-go circuits; use VASI/PAPI for glidepath guidance on each approach
  5. 8Full-stop night landing on the final circuit; taxi to ramp with taxi light on and correct comms

Post-Sortie

  1. 9Log the sortie in the vTAC flight log system

Approved Callsigns

EURO · ENJEP · RAMA — out-and-back, destination not listed below
JAVET — if destination is KTIK (Tinker)
ARCAS — if destination is KDYS (Dyess)
BURNY — if destination is KLBB (Lubbock)
FIDO — if destination is KAFW / NAS Fort Worth
KENT — if KSPS pattern only

COMPLETION STANDARDS

Trainees will conduct night operations in the simulator with limited instructor assistance. Trainees must:

  • • Complete at least three takeoffs/landings within tolerances (±500 ft altitude, ±20 knots airspeed)
  • • Identify and mitigate two illusions
  • • Adhere to night minimums per standards

Completion: Demonstrate proficiency with instructor sign-off

Previous: B1105 Next: B1107