Delta Virtual Airlines Water Cooler

Delta Virtual Airlines Water Cooler | Airline Operations | Night Flights

DVA3247
First Officer, CRJ-200

Joined on June 18 2006

Western United States

3 legs, 7.5 hours
3 legs, 7.5 hours online

Posted onPost created on June 20 2006 18:26 ET by Todd Kirkwood

hey guys im thinking about doing my first night flight either tonight or this weekend but i was wondering is there anything diffrent btween a daytime or nighttime flight and what i should be looking for at night like i said this is my first night flight so any advice would be great

DVA2887
Senior Captain, A320
OLP, 737-ATP, VFRADV

Joined on January 30 2006
50 State Club
Globetrotter
Tri-Jet Triumph
US Coastal Club
Millennium Club
DVA Fifteen-Year Anniversary
US Mountaineer Club
Toulouse 250 Club
Online Eight Century

Charlotte, NC

1,287 legs, 1,796.9 hours
841 legs, 1,048.5 hours online
1,269 legs, 1,774.9 hours ACARS
31 legs, 49.6 hours event
3 legs dispatched, 2.5 hours

Posted onPost created on June 20 2006 23:06 ET by Andrew Vane

Keep your eyes on the instruments! My worst pbs occur when I'm too busy looking out the window. Remember to continually scan the instruments as you fly especially on approach. Enjoy and watch your speeds. Remember that you want to be close to Vref has you touchdown and in the RJ, make sure the A/T is disengaged when you touchdown or you'll have a really hard time stopping. eek

DVA1994
Captain, B737-800

Joined on October 30 2004
50 State Club
US Capital Club
Long Beach 250 Club
Online Triple Century Club
US Mountaineer Club
DVA Twenty-Year Anniversary
Seven Century Club

"Every Day Is A Gift"
Concord, NH

718 legs, 1,632.6 hours
301 legs, 859.8 hours online
531 legs, 1,032.6 hours ACARS
28 legs, 93.7 hours event

Posted onPost created on June 20 2006 23:09 ET by Tom Burrill

You need to be proficient with the instrument work as night flying depends on more use of the instruments for orientation. Also keep the lights low in the room as this helps you see more throught the windows. Just enough light to see the charts and controls works best. I find that if it is real dark the lights tend to block things out so I sometimes turn off the aircaraft taxi and landing lights and follow the runway and taxiway lights. This works better with 2004. Finally be patient and practice a few flights it will come with time.

Tom Burrill

Captain, B737-800

DVA3083
Captain, B757-200

Joined on February 14 2006
50 State Club
Quatercentenary Club

"Always striving for excellence!!"
Augusta, GA

474 legs, 1,105.4 hours
67 legs, 193.8 hours online
274 legs, 509.8 hours ACARS

Posted onPost created on June 29 2006 14:50 ET by Chuck Mcdowell

As stated above Instruments need to be watched carefully there are no real reference points outside the aircraft, this is not saying dont look outside from time to time, that is called collision avoidence. If your arrival aircraft has a VASI...visual approach slope indicator that is a great tool to use, it is a set of red and white lights located on the left side of rnwy. remember this, white over white to high red over red your dead to low red over white your alright your on the glide slope. Have fun but dont be discouraged if all does not go well the first time. Im a real world pilot and i was flying a lear and doing real well toward getting my rating. Well, when it came time to night fly things seem to happen much faster and even using the ILS and VASI the first couple of landings put my instructors butthole and mine around our necks...not a pretty turtle neck lol..it got better and i got my rating.you will find with practice night flying is alot of fun. Best wishes.

Chuck Mcdowell (DVA3083)

DVA3082
Captain, B737-800

Joined on February 23 2006

"At least im not an airbus"
Northeastern United States

39 legs, 49.4 hours
38 legs, 48.8 hours online
24 legs, 31.9 hours ACARS

Posted onPost created on June 30 2006 21:19 ET by Josh Culbert

As everyone else said, Instruments are key. HUD is a very helpful tool for night flights because it lets you watch for traffic, get somewhat of a visual of where you need to be going or where you are headed, and obviously, it gives you your altitude/airspeed/heading, etc. Take it slow, and dont be afraid if you screw up to try again!!

Josh Culbert (DVA3082)

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