Legalities of flying VFR during solar eclipse
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NO
As you can see, the iPhone takes a poor photo and this is during the middle of the full eclipse, so the rays of light around the edge appear as a complete sun dot, but as you can imagine it is normally a lot bigger than that.
you can see the shaddow in the sky and similar on the ground.
The horizon is very bright, and the reflected light from the lit horizon some 100-150km away is reflecting quite a bit back to us.
Quite unreal!
When I get some better ones off the camera and gopro I will see what there is to post that is worth it. Cameras of the ordinary variety may not do it justice. iPhones do not!
As you can see, the iPhone takes a poor photo and this is during the middle of the full eclipse, so the rays of light around the edge appear as a complete sun dot, but as you can imagine it is normally a lot bigger than that.
you can see the shaddow in the sky and similar on the ground.
The horizon is very bright, and the reflected light from the lit horizon some 100-150km away is reflecting quite a bit back to us.
Quite unreal!
When I get some better ones off the camera and gopro I will see what there is to post that is worth it. Cameras of the ordinary variety may not do it justice. iPhones do not!
Last edited by Jabawocky; 15th Nov 2012 at 00:51.
On more than one occasion I have said to another pilot
'Visibility, 93 million miles - today - I can see the sun'.....
This, at Derbs, in the middle of the cyclone season.....
'Visibility, 93 million miles - today - I can see the sun'.....
This, at Derbs, in the middle of the cyclone season.....
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We tried asking CASA on the lead up to the eclipse and so did Approach here in Cairns. After 3 days we got a call stating that it would be classed as night Conditions, and approach must have been given the same news. I heard a lot of pilots being asked if they were current over the radio during the event. Regs or not that was the decision.
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Oh, my my my! I never thought anyone would do that.
The answer is predictable however. Did anyone get a name?
The answer is predictable however. Did anyone get a name?
Last edited by Frank Arouet; 15th Nov 2012 at 04:19. Reason: Wondering if the bloke asking for another tinny was DAMP tested.
So how do you record 2 minutes of night in your log book- 0.033 which will be an appendage to your hours until you log 0.067 night time! Does that mean the next time Halley's comet comes around then day hours must be recorded?
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After 3 days we got a call stating that it would be classed as night Conditions, and approach must have been given the same news.
Believe me it was nothing like the IFR departures I have done at places in outback Queensland, and a lot better than 10min to last light arrivals.
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I hope none of the aviation folk are the 5 in a 100 who have permanently damaged their eyes by looking directly at the eclipse.
In the 1976 eclipse various "eminent" professors etc said you can't look at the eclipse safely though any filters. A simple lie to avoid explaining the truth to the peasants. Just like global warming/(insert latest lie) "I'm Professor F (getting paid $10,000 pw to say) believe me the carbon tax is important to your (actually my) future"
I spent a lot of time working with several NASA folk prior to the 2010 eclipse and they remarked about the over the top warnings of the dangers of the eclipse back in 1976 in oz. They thought it was funny and even sent me copies of clippings from overseas media laughing at us. It's funny how other nations try to understand a country's psyche from small events like that.
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Stunned and amazed, particularly at CASA's advice.
The rules are very clear about what constitutes VMC and IMC and day or night is not part of it. Likewise daylight and darkness is well defined and eclipses don't figure in it.
This, however, is a perfect example of what one of my instructors taught me years ago 'now you have worked out the flight is legal, is it a good idea?' That's what captaincy is all about. If you think conditions will exceed your capability don't go.
The rules are very clear about what constitutes VMC and IMC and day or night is not part of it. Likewise daylight and darkness is well defined and eclipses don't figure in it.
This, however, is a perfect example of what one of my instructors taught me years ago 'now you have worked out the flight is legal, is it a good idea?' That's what captaincy is all about. If you think conditions will exceed your capability don't go.
