 Instrument Training at night? Good Idea or not?
"Mark T. Dame" <mdame@mfm.com> wrote in news:4330228c$1@news.mfm.com:
> In my training, I never experienced any vertigo or disorientation with
> the foggles on, but I still experience it to this day in actual.
My experience is mostly the opposite - I hate being under the hood, and fly much worse.
Actual IMC is a piece of cake in comparison. YMMV.
I do most of my flying at night, over water, and it's all instrument flying, whether there
are clouds or not. In general, the air is smoother at night, so you'll get much less
turbulence, and thus the aircraft is easier to control. I also find that an ILS approach to
minimums is easier in the dark, because the approach and runway lights are easier to make
out without sunlight scattering everything in the fog. If I have to fly an ILS with 100'
overcast and 1/4 mile vis, I want to do it when it's very dark. I've done it at night and
in the daylight, and I prefer the dark. It does take a different mindset to fly at night,
but that's mostly for takeoff and landing. The enroute flying is pretty much the same, and
I don't think the risk is that much higher at night, disregarding an engine failure. An
engine failure in a single-engine airplane at night is going to be dangerous, no matter
whether you're practicing instruments or just out for fun.
--
Regards,
Stan
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither
liberty nor safety." B. Franklin
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