Full electrical failure at night.
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Full electrical failure at night.
I'm very impressed with the landing. I had a very low voltage problem after getting "report final" at night in a Jodel DR1050 about 20 years ago. No response to "Final" calls, no landing light, no instrument light. My red torch was handy, and although I had a handheld, I didn't bother to use it at that stage of the circuit. Inverness airfield, with ATC, so I had no worries about runway lights.
I doubt I would have managed with no runway lights.
I doubt I would have managed with no runway lights.
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Happened to me once soon after my ppl. It's even scarier when you're alone sad the only lighting on the ground is a papi (was unable to switch on the pilot operated lights due to the radio being off) and having to wedge my torch between my legs!
The best part was being told by the school (OBA) the aircraft was fine only for it to have the exact same problem a few days later with another pilot. Happy days.
Luckily there was some light from the built up areas as it happened around ten miles north of the field but I would not want it to happen on a moonless night in the middle of nowhere.
The best part was being told by the school (OBA) the aircraft was fine only for it to have the exact same problem a few days later with another pilot. Happy days.
Luckily there was some light from the built up areas as it happened around ten miles north of the field but I would not want it to happen on a moonless night in the middle of nowhere.
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This was part of my night training for my PPL in Paine Field, WA. Land on a runway with lights out and no landing light. It is important to use a long runway because you can use a floatplane glassy water technique. Pitch for the correct, nose-up attitude, set power to maintain a descent of about 150ft/min and wait for the landing. Very good job by the pilot! 
In training I wasn't sure if I could do that in a real emergency... (Now as a floatplane pilot I think I could. Hopefully.)
In training I wasn't sure if I could do that in a real emergency... (Now as a floatplane pilot I think I could. Hopefully.)
Last edited by ArcticChiller; 16th Oct 2013 at 08:12.
Surely you train students to do that as part of a night rating; just in case.
(Just 43 hours night solo)
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Surely you train students to do that as part of a night rating; just in case.
that apart any failure at night is far worse than in the day stressing the need for some instrument proficiency.
Flying is fairly straight forward until something goes wrong and it is the going wrong that sorts the men and the boys!!! those who will survive or end up dead!
Pace
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You can get them usually down to just a square box on min setting which is not alot. They won`t see anything until just turning onto finals.
Depends on the controllersome want nothing to do with it. If its a pilot in the tower they will know what your trying to do.
Alot of instructors though arn`t that experenced themselves and are outside there comfort zone with the PAPIS turned off.
Depends on the controllersome want nothing to do with it. If its a pilot in the tower they will know what your trying to do.
Alot of instructors though arn`t that experenced themselves and are outside there comfort zone with the PAPIS turned off.
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Bournemouth were happy to switch off the approach lights, crossbars, TDZ, centreline and PAPIs but they either couldn't (or wouldn't) turn off the edge lights or threshold & end lights. They did switch them to the lowest intensity though which as mad_jock says isn't much at all, probably dimmer than most of the lights in the vicinity of the airport.
Last edited by rich_g85; 17th Oct 2013 at 12:34.
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They can be 5 hours and 1 hour with an FII at night.
As for the PAPI's turned off there will be some who have never ever done a powered approach without them.
As for the PAPI's turned off there will be some who have never ever done a powered approach without them.
Last edited by mad_jock; 17th Oct 2013 at 15:57.
I've had check-outs with minimal runway lights - but NO lights is a very different situation. If you can't identify the runway and have no landing light somewhere lit might be safer.o
