General description

Anyone wishing to fly later than 30 minutes after sunset requires a night flight qualification. The prerequisite for training is possession of a private pilot’s license (PPL A). There is a theoretical and practical briefing with an authorized flight instructor. In the end, you don’t need an exam. The flight school only has to issue a certificate of successful completion of the briefing.

The theoretical briefing covers the following topics:

• The basics of flying at night
• Airfield lighting incl. Approach and runway lighting
• Obstruction lighting
• Meaning of lights of other aircraft
• Special features for approach and landing (including glide angle lighting system (VASIS) and precision glide angle lighting (PAPI))
• Estimating speed and distances
• Approach Light System
• Review of the instruments

Rounds at night

• Rolling onto the slopes
• Visual reference aids during the start control run
• Use of the instruments
• Circuit
• Aligning the aircraft – reference to runway lighting
• Lighting
• Start of approach and runway lighting
• Traffic pattern and airspace observation
• Positioning of the aircraft
• Different slope lighting and VASI (or PAPI)
• Flying the correct approach path
• Climb after overflight
• Approach and landing
• Alignment, lateral approach section and final approach
• Current wind influences
• Use of the landing lights
• Float out and touch down
  Sunset
• Roll out
• Leaving the piste – speed control
• Missed approach

Night flight navigation

• Selection of terrain features that are visible at night
• Beacon
• Influence of cockpit lighting on the colors of aeronautical charts
  Use of radio aids
  Influence of moonlight on visibility at night
• Focus on maintaining a “minimum safety altitude”
• Alternative airports – limited availability
• Limited detection of weather deterioration
• Procedure for loss of orientation

Emergencies at night

• Radio failure
• Failure of the piste lighting system
• Failure of the aircraft’s landing lights
• Failure of the aircraft interior lighting
• Night flight
• Failure of the aircraft’s position lights
• Failure of the complete electrical system
• Start abort
• Engine failure
• Procedure in the event of an obstacle on the slope

The practical training

At least five hours of night flight training on airplanes must be included:

• 5 take-offs and landings with instructor
• 5 take-offs and landings solo until the aircraft comes to a complete stop
• 2 cross-country flights