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Old 26th December 2005 | 19:36
  #21 (permalink)  
Say again s l o w l y
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 3,130
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From: U.K.
Bose if you're happy, then fine, but personally I reckon most people should be discouraged from practices like this.

Why? For a few people this is fine, but if the majority start getting it into their heads to try it, then there will be carnage.

Night flying has no special tricks or magic, but there are many ways it can bite you if you aren't prepared or trained correctly. For example Black-hole takeoffs being one of the biggest killers.

PAPI's are usually useless for light a/c anyway, sine they invariably give guidance for an approach path of 3 deg. Far shallower than we need.

Private strips are great, but I can just imagine the call to the insurance company or the AAIB report after an accident, especially if it was due to loss of control or landing short.

Just because something is possible, it certainly doesn't make it sensible. I'm very risk averse, especially in situations like this, would I doubt my ability to make a safe approach? No. Would I have a go, no chance.
In aviation I was always taught and do teach to try and never leave yourself in a situation where one problem could end it all, basically always leave yourself an exit in the event of something unforseen occuring. i.e single engine at night, long over water crossings or aerobatics at naught feet. (Mind you in the past I have done long over water flights at night in a single engine a/c across a great white shark breeding area. Not something I'm wiling to do anymore!)

This isn't to say that we can always be safe, but I try and limit my exposure to "dodgy" situations. At the end of the day however, you are PIC, so it's up to you if you want to do it, but there are some pretty big what if's that I feel are unacceptable to me in this sort of scenario.
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