Night circuits in the daytime?
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 50
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From: UK
Night circuits in the daytime?
A question for all our knowledgeable colleagues. (Please note that this is not a flame, so my apologies to anyone offended or the pilot flying the twin…
Last Saturday I return to Cranfield at about 20:30 to join the circuit to find a twin doing night circuits (he was as 1200’ as opposed to the regular 800’. The airport ATC has closed, the sun it still in the sky, no clouds, no runway lights are switch on, so in more or less words its effectively still daytime.
So here is the question, was that legal not to mention safe?
SX
[ 07 August 2001: Message edited by: SouthXross ]
Last Saturday I return to Cranfield at about 20:30 to join the circuit to find a twin doing night circuits (he was as 1200’ as opposed to the regular 800’. The airport ATC has closed, the sun it still in the sky, no clouds, no runway lights are switch on, so in more or less words its effectively still daytime.
So here is the question, was that legal not to mention safe?
SX
[ 07 August 2001: Message edited by: SouthXross ]
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 37
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The only way it could be illegal is if they were logging night time when it was still day time.As for is it safe, well the higher you fly the safer it is (generally) and a twin engined aircraft is likely to fly bigger circuits. (maybe you had your altimeter set incorrectly)
Free Man, Not a Number
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Well here of course.
It was my understanding that circuits were not permitted once the airfield has officially closed? You can land but touch and goes etc. are not allowed.
I've heard on the RT before, traffic advising that they wanted to do some circuits after 19:00 and the controller reminded them that they were not permitted - the aircraft changed its request to land only.
Circuit height at Cranfield is 800' irrespective of type, for noise abatement procedures - I should know as once again I attempt to smooth out the threshold at R22 in my never ending spiral
I've heard on the RT before, traffic advising that they wanted to do some circuits after 19:00 and the controller reminded them that they were not permitted - the aircraft changed its request to land only.
Circuit height at Cranfield is 800' irrespective of type, for noise abatement procedures - I should know as once again I attempt to smooth out the threshold at R22 in my never ending spiral
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 20
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From: England
Whoa there SouthXross - I was simply asking you to qualify the question so I could help give you an answer. The MEP Class Rating training syllabus is designed to include a night go-around and landing. Due to the fact that official night is still so late, it can sometimes be a struggle to fit that in. If the instructor was trying to get away with doing it during the day, then I doubt he would have exposed himself over the RT. The only answer I can think of is that you were wearing night vision goggles and didn't realise that it had got dark.
