"Black hole" approach - a misnomer
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"Black hole" approach - a misnomer
I have noticed that the expression "black hole", in relation to night approaches, is in widespread misuse.
The term DOES relate to a particular night approach illusion, but it seems everybody is using it to describe places with minimal surface lighting.
These are two completely different effects.
The traditional "black hole" illusion came from a situation where, ironically, there was extensive ground lighting around the aerodrome, but none immediately surrounding the runway/aerodrome - hence the appearance of descending down into a "black hole".
The effect that people are really talking about when they use the term "black hole" these days, however, is that where there is little or no surface lighting for a great distance around the aerodrome.
So, under the traditional definition of black hole there is extensive lighting surrounding the runway/aerodrome.
But under the modern, dumbed-down definition, there is little or none!
Why the dumbing down? Because pilots are happy to engage in it - or were never aware of the traditional meaning "black hole". And I guess that "devoid of extensive surface lighting" doesn't roll off the tongue or make you sound quite as hot-shot as does the term "black hole".
Don't call it a "black hole" you clowns, just call it "dark". That is even easier to say and describes the situation and expected illusions perfectly.
The term DOES relate to a particular night approach illusion, but it seems everybody is using it to describe places with minimal surface lighting.
These are two completely different effects.
The traditional "black hole" illusion came from a situation where, ironically, there was extensive ground lighting around the aerodrome, but none immediately surrounding the runway/aerodrome - hence the appearance of descending down into a "black hole".
The effect that people are really talking about when they use the term "black hole" these days, however, is that where there is little or no surface lighting for a great distance around the aerodrome.
So, under the traditional definition of black hole there is extensive lighting surrounding the runway/aerodrome.
But under the modern, dumbed-down definition, there is little or none!
Why the dumbing down? Because pilots are happy to engage in it - or were never aware of the traditional meaning "black hole". And I guess that "devoid of extensive surface lighting" doesn't roll off the tongue or make you sound quite as hot-shot as does the term "black hole".
Don't call it a "black hole" you clowns, just call it "dark". That is even easier to say and describes the situation and expected illusions perfectly.
Because pilots are analy retentive and love asking questions like this in checks.
They then get to wave the pork sword and exclaim "mine is bigger"
Not working for Rex now are we my old buddy
Interesting topic though.
They then get to wave the pork sword and exclaim "mine is bigger"
Not working for Rex now are we my old buddy
Interesting topic though.
Last edited by The Green Goblin; 15th Mar 2012 at 06:44.
Steady on there, mate.
I'm sure many of us are well aware of the so-called black hole illusion where the changing apparent angle subtended in the eye of a patch of ground lighting fools you into undershooting.
On the other hand, the great majority of us would no doubt be fine with it if someone said "I went flying last night, and it was so black I felt like I was descending into a bloody great black hole."
This isn't a great basis on which to start generalising about the dumbing-down of young 'uns these days, or whatever barrow you're pushing.
"Black as the inside of a nun's ****" is one of the accepted terms, I believe.
I'm sure many of us are well aware of the so-called black hole illusion where the changing apparent angle subtended in the eye of a patch of ground lighting fools you into undershooting.
On the other hand, the great majority of us would no doubt be fine with it if someone said "I went flying last night, and it was so black I felt like I was descending into a bloody great black hole."
This isn't a great basis on which to start generalising about the dumbing-down of young 'uns these days, or whatever barrow you're pushing.
"Black as the inside of a nun's ****" is one of the accepted terms, I believe.
Sprucegoose
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What does it really matter, so long as people are paying adequate attention to difficult night approaches?
PS: I always thought 'black hole' approaches were airports with extensive lighting at one end and the proverbial 'black hole' at the other, Cootamundra springs to mind for me, but I could be wrong.
One of my faves!
PS: I always thought 'black hole' approaches were airports with extensive lighting at one end and the proverbial 'black hole' at the other, Cootamundra springs to mind for me, but I could be wrong.
"Black as the inside of a nun's ****" is one of the accepted terms, I believe.
I always thought 'black hole' approaches were airports with extensive lighting at one end and the proverbial 'black hole' at the other, Cootamundra springs to mind for me
Apart from placing a rant on a forum for no particular reason, the OP is wrong in their statement.
A "Black Hole approach" is an approach path which is over the "black hole" (not the airport) - any featureless terrain counts (calm water/snow/unlit etc).
The illusion occurs as a pilot overflying an airport perceives an increase in apparent size and a decrease in visual angle. A pilot descending very short of an airport perceives a decrease in apparent size and an increase in visual angle. The two effects cancel each other out, tricking the pilot into perceiving a straight glide path while actually descending on an arc which drops below the normal approach path ending in a low (sometimes fatally low) approach.
The Black Hole Approach - pdf
A "Black Hole approach" is an approach path which is over the "black hole" (not the airport) - any featureless terrain counts (calm water/snow/unlit etc).
The illusion occurs as a pilot overflying an airport perceives an increase in apparent size and a decrease in visual angle. A pilot descending very short of an airport perceives a decrease in apparent size and an increase in visual angle. The two effects cancel each other out, tricking the pilot into perceiving a straight glide path while actually descending on an arc which drops below the normal approach path ending in a low (sometimes fatally low) approach.
The Black Hole Approach - pdf
Last edited by Checkboard; 15th Mar 2012 at 10:34.
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That would be thirsty work indeed, Ms Pilot
You have a few such strips in your patch, some may be longer, but most involve pubs. You are not just good looking....pretty smart too!
PS thanks for the pirep the other day, passed the info on and it helped them out no end.
You have a few such strips in your patch, some may be longer, but most involve pubs. You are not just good looking....pretty smart too!
PS thanks for the pirep the other day, passed the info on and it helped them out no end.
I think that's called "Tilpa".
Wish more of the strips I went to in the middle of the night had a pub next to them. Runway lights would have been good too... but would have preferred the pub.
And I'm still scratching my head as to how an approach on a night as dark as a proctologist's workspace into Eucla or Jamieson is dumbed down?
Anyway, I've got the opposite problem nowadays....
And I'm still scratching my head as to how an approach on a night as dark as a proctologist's workspace into Eucla or Jamieson is dumbed down?
Anyway, I've got the opposite problem nowadays....
You have a few such strips in your patch, some may be longer, but most involve pubs.
the definition of dark...
Best definition I have ever read was in an hilarious article by a US Navy helicopter pilot doing a midnight sonar dip in the heaving north atlantic.
Big swells, low cloud, rain, blustery wind...and VERY dark.
Settling down into the dip height hover the rpm of the old piston S 58 shook the panel so hard everything became unreadable, and at the crucial moment he got the leans and disorientation and had to shout for his co-pilot to take over, until the sensation passed. Hairy stuff at dot feet.
How dark was dark? He suggested to find out...you dig a hole at night, get someone to put a blindfold on, get into that hole and lie down, get that person to fill in the hole....THAT's how dark it was. DARK dark!!
Wish I had kept a copy. Apart from the funny quips, sure gave a graphic insight to the sort of flying them folks did to keep the world commie free, etc. and whatever.
But they sure put their ar$e on the line.!
Big swells, low cloud, rain, blustery wind...and VERY dark.
Settling down into the dip height hover the rpm of the old piston S 58 shook the panel so hard everything became unreadable, and at the crucial moment he got the leans and disorientation and had to shout for his co-pilot to take over, until the sensation passed. Hairy stuff at dot feet.
How dark was dark? He suggested to find out...you dig a hole at night, get someone to put a blindfold on, get into that hole and lie down, get that person to fill in the hole....THAT's how dark it was. DARK dark!!
Wish I had kept a copy. Apart from the funny quips, sure gave a graphic insight to the sort of flying them folks did to keep the world commie free, etc. and whatever.
But they sure put their ar$e on the line.!
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sure gave a graphic insight to the sort of flying them folks did to keep the world commie free,
"Black hole" approach - a misnomer
Don't call it a "black hole" you clowns, just call it "dark"
From here on known as the "dark hole approach", so as to not upset the 'black hole' experts!
FFS!
