Dual Night Cross Country

Objectives

• Continue to develop skills needed to navigate by pilotage and dead reckoning

• Explore the ways in which flying cross-country at night is different

• Satisfy the requirements of 14 CFR 61.109(a)(2)(i), which is a night cross country a total distance of at least 100nm

Session Details

In many ways this is just another cross country flight. However, as will have been discovered during the initial introduction to night flying, the nighttime adds some additional challenges.

For a flight to count as a cross country, for the purposes of the required aeronautical experience for a private pilot certificate, the straight-line distance between takeoff and landing must be greater than 50nm. Anything less will not count as a cross country flight.

Cross country planning will be the same, but with an understanding that the checkpoints one can see are significantly reduced. A much greater dependence upon lighted artifacts on the ground will be required. If airport beacons are a part of the picture with respect to ground references, NOTAMs should be consulted to insure the facility will be in service. (Ask me how I know.)

Resources/References

Articles

• [VFR Cross-Country Planning Packet]

Lesson Plans

These are individual lesson plans, keyed to the ACS, which discuss the topics included in this flight lesson. Each of the references below will have further references to additional FAA documents which address the individual topics in depth.

• 2.F : Airplane Weight and Balance

• 2.G : Navigation and Flight Planning

• 2.H : Night Operations

• 2.K : National Airspace System

• 2.L : Navigation Systems and Radar Services