Chinooks in the Dark
Chinooks in the Dark
I don't normally post to ask about a particular aeroplane flying over my house but, a few minutes ago, I was intrigued by two Chinooks. They came low, right over the house but only one of them had any nav lights on. I had to stop Ppruning and rush outside.
Is it normal, in a formation at night, for the lead aircraft to be the only one with lights, especially in controlled airspace as these two were? I have seen this before, near Odiham when a darkened Puma (I think) passed very low just infront of me as I drove down the M3 - made me jump as I was looking at the strobe lights of the other one.
I must say that the noise of two Chinooks at night, when you can't see them until they pass overhead, is quite awe inspiring and I love it.
Is it normal, in a formation at night, for the lead aircraft to be the only one with lights, especially in controlled airspace as these two were? I have seen this before, near Odiham when a darkened Puma (I think) passed very low just infront of me as I drove down the M3 - made me jump as I was looking at the strobe lights of the other one.
I must say that the noise of two Chinooks at night, when you can't see them until they pass overhead, is quite awe inspiring and I love it.
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It's a requirement that if you want to go flying without lights (eg to practice your NVG flying) that you are accompanied by someone with lights so that the rest of the world without NVG can avoid running into you!
Thanks ase. I thought it might be something like that but I had also thought that a number of aircraft flying close together, all with nav lights and strobes, would look very confusing to conflicting traffic.
Avoid imitations
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Originally Posted by ase engineer
It's a requirement that if you want to go flying without lights (eg to practice your NVG flying) that you are accompanied by someone with lights so that the rest of the world without NVG can avoid running into you!
Avoid imitations
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Originally Posted by ase engineer
It's a requirement that if you want to go flying without lights (eg to practice your NVG flying) that you are accompanied by someone with lights so that the rest of the world without NVG can avoid running into you!
In flight....what matter if your position (nav) lights are on anyway while using NVG's? The Strobes can be a real pain...and the red anti-coll can also become bothersome but nav lights not at all. In very dim light conditions the green nav light works great as a landing light (while on NVG's).
No wonder there is a need to cut the budget if you require two aircraft to complete a single NVG sortie.
No wonder there is a need to cut the budget if you require two aircraft to complete a single NVG sortie.
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It is a legal requirement that ALL aircraft display Navigation and Anti - Collision lights during the hours of Darkness. Aircraft in a formation are deemed as one aircraft and so the No2 always displays his lights. He will be formatting on the leader via his Goggs and the IR station keeping lights.
Does that apply in a CTR as these particular Chinooks were? Although it was outside normal operating hours, most nights there are a few civil aircraft which carry out procedure approaches.
One often gets mil helos (Wokkas and CH53's) landing in a fields near here during the dark stuff. Have been told that they are dropping off FAC's who have to head for the hills by a certain time for mil ex's.
One has been in the field when one of these has landed and they didnt have any strobes or nav lights on at the time.
One has been in the field when one of these has landed and they didnt have any strobes or nav lights on at the time.
We didn't have lights on during an exercise (other than very dim formation lights)
One of the more interesting of my flying experiences was during a stream assault following a penetration when the stream leader called for lights on.
Sky illuminated with hairyplanes - ooer missus
One of the more interesting of my flying experiences was during a stream assault following a penetration when the stream leader called for lights on.
Sky illuminated with hairyplanes - ooer missus
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It is perfectly permisable for any military aircraft to fly with no lights whatsoever at night providing the required NOTAMN action has been carried out through AUS at CAA. Otherwise a minimum of one aircraft must show lights in a formation.
HEDP
HEDP
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Originally Posted by vecvechookattack
It applies in all airspace. Even at 50' in the middle of the Atlantic. However, It doesn't apply when on the ground i.e. when in a field as thats not classed as flying.
HEDP, nearly right, but there are areas where NOTAM action is not required, even in the uk.
