Night IMC

[Flyin Tony]

Well got my first hour of night IMC last night. That was lots of fun. Hit TOA, CMA, HHR, and RAL, then got a VFR on top and went home. CMA was around 1000ovc in rain and 2 miles vis. That was the lowest. And the GS went out. But other then that it was fun. So what do you guys do different at night then during the day on a IFR flight plan?

 

[Goose Egg]

So what do you guys do different at night then during the day on a IFR flight plan?

Bring a couple flashlights.

-Goose

 

[OrphicSeth]

Stay in front of the airplane. Early on in my IFR flying, way back when, I got lightly (thankfully!) spanked in night IMC and it really taught me the kind of mental attitude to be in when flying IFR. It can easily become a different nasty headgame if you're not careful. Stay ahead, stay cool, and fly clean. When on an ILS to mins, ignore those lights you see out of the corner of your eye, don't look outside until you hit DH/Personal Mins. Avoid circle-to-lands. Bring another instrument pilot to help you out.

 

[AAslag]

They are not kidding, Bring a couple of flashlights.

I have always carried a pin light, especially in the simulator.

The rest is experience.

 

[wntsouthwest]

sleep...

 

[Wang Chung]

They are not kidding, Bring a couple of flashlights.
.

Agreed. In addition to some regular flashlights/penlights, I would strongly recommend getting a little LED clip light or gooseneck light of some type. It's nice in case some of your panel instrument lights crap out because you can clip it and shed some light on the dark areas of your panel (and charts, too).

Just a suggestion, especially if you're in a GA airplane without fancy cockpit lighting.

 

[minitour]

How does night IMC differ from day IMC other than the lighting issue?

You still can't see anything out there...what other considerations besides flashlights?

-mini

 

[Daveman]

Well got my first hour of night IMC last night. That was lots of fun. n?

I'd like to get an hour with the girlie in your avitar! That my friend, would be LOTS of fun.

Ok, shooting approaches, night imc, (my opinion) better chance of pickin' up the lights. Really, can't think of anything different. Keep on truckin'!

 

[Vik]

My first flight after my instrument ticket was to Harris Ranch. Flew out there, clear as day. Coming back, marine layer. Shot the ILS into SNA, at night, in the soup, and my glideslope fails. Luckily I had SLI VOR tuned in on NAV2 and I just did the step down and informed ATC.

Well got my first hour of night IMC last night. That was lots of fun. Hit TOA, CMA, HHR, and RAL, then got a VFR on top and went home. CMA was around 1000ovc in rain and 2 miles vis. That was the lowest. And the GS went out. But other then that it was fun. So what do you guys do different at night then during the day on a IFR flight plan?

 

[Flyin Tony]

and my glideslope fails

I got to head down to cable tomorrow to get that thing fixed. Vik you know of any good shops around socal that can fix it if its going to take all day at cable? I got to take a little hun flying with me and I dont want her sitting at the radio shop all day.

 

[Dan CFI/CFII]

"So what do you guys do different at night then during the day on a IFR flight plan?"

I turn up the panel lights. But that's a pro move kid, be careful with how you use it.



Dan

 

[minitour]

...I turn up the panel lights. But that's a pro move kid, be careful with how you use it.



Dan

hmm...okay just wanted to be sure I didn't miss anything...got some night IMC a week or so ago and didn't seem to think it was all that different to day IMC...I still couldn't tell which way was up unless I looked at the panel...I guess the only difference was it was black outside instead of white...

...but that doesn't matter to me...I'm an equal oportunity IFRer

-mini

 

[Daveman]

...got some night IMC a week or so ago and didn't seem to think it was all that different to day IMC...I still couldn't tell which way was up unless I looked at the panel...I guess the only difference was it was black outside instead of white...
-mini

when you're shooting an app. to mins 200 and a 1/2, I'd rather be doin' it at night.

 

[Vik]

That was back when I was renting, so I don't know.

My AI is being replaced and I got Jay's from SNA taking it out for me and I'm sending it to a place called Global Tech Instruments which overhauls all sorts of instruments and avionics.

I'd stick to CCB. Cheaper labor rates

I got to head down to cable tomorrow to get that thing fixed. Vik you know of any good shops around socal that can fix it if its going to take all day at cable? I got to take a little hun flying with me and I dont want her sitting at the radio shop all day.

 

[Wang Chung]

I turn up the panel lights. But that's a pro move kid, be careful with how you use it.

I've heard that Chuck Yeager and Bob Hoover have even used this trick a time or two, Dan!

 

[HMR]

HINT for MEI's: At night, when using the red, overhead light in a Duchess to illuminate the panel- keep an eye on your student's airspeed during descents. The red light makes the redline on the ASI invisible.

The Beech engineers designed a clever backup alarm if you forget. At about 25KTS past redline the flight controls will start to flutter and you will hear an audible creaking... or so I've been told.

 

[BD King]

when you're shooting an app. to mins 200 and a 1/2, I'd rather be doin' it at night.

Yep. And leave the identifier on, very low. Quite soothing.

 

[LarryinTN]

People fly during the day?

 

[TurboS7]

With a single engine airplane at night IMC fly with a flashlight between your legs, one you can put in your mouth and fly with it if you need too. Another flashlight, one that you push a button and hold it and it goes on, you can get at any Kmart is great, I would use that to check for ice. I use that one to check for ice on the 738, I just like to see it build the same way I enjoy seeing St. Elmo's fire.