Hello folks,

Can a private pilot multi-engine add on be conducted at night?

What do the regs say about this matter and where can I search forore info?

 

I don't see why not, as long as you are comfortable handling the engine failures and the Vmc demo without a great horizon. I can't think of any regulation in the practical test standards that say they have to be done during the day.

I've sent multiple students on Instrument rides that either were entirely at night or went into the night, but since you are under the hood, what's the matter?

Just make sure its not the first (or even second) time doing it.

 

If there was anything, this is where it would be. I don't see anything.

Flight Standards Information System (FSIMS)

 

No legal reason that I know of.

But if I were a DPE, I would be reluctant to do that particular checkride at night unless it was CAVU with a very distinct horizon (ie city lights) in all quadrants. Wouldn't want a SE maneuever to turn into an upset followed by loss of spatial awareness. That was my standard as an MEI too.

 

What about the required ground reference maneuvers...that is where you may run into an issue.

I did the same thing and the DPE elected not to do it at night for that reason as well as the lack of a strong horizon reference.

 

Since there are no ground reference maneuvers for any multi-engine ride, that shouldn't be a problem.

Again, unless you have been always doing you maneuvers at night time, you might want to avoid going on the checkride at night. Is you schedule just such that there is no possible way to do it during the day? What about early AM?

 

I took my multi commercial checkride at night. Didn't have any problems with it, and I had never flown multi maneuvers at night before. Only reason we did it at night was because the examiner was running very late. If your planning on doing it at night, I would suggest practicing at night prior. Without a clear horizon it does make VMc demo a little uncomfortable the first few times.

 

I have on occasion filed IFR to get above a stratus deck, closed it and then done air work with a student in VFR on top conditions. It's a little odd perhaps but legal and about as safe as any other type of air work. Perhaps even more safe actually, because not as many VFR pilots are out there which is the cause of many collisions taking place in practice areas.

 

I've heard of this tactic used extensively in places where the early morning / late afternoon fog layer exists and hampers VMC flying for long periods of time. It seems like a very useful approach and as far as horizons go - a nice solid undercast gives a beautiful horison for reference!
It even has the advantage of giving an early student some appreciation for flying in actual conditions - possibly even as an enticement to further their aviation training.

As far as doing the check flight at night though - I don't think many cockpits are quite as 'user friendly' at night as they are during the day (or maybe I've just been in the wrong cockpits ) . It would seem to be adding just another 'condition' to the stress of the checkride for the average pilot accustomed to day flying (not like a night cargo guy) for what purpose, for what end?
Is it cheaper? Can the pilot or examiner REALLY only do it at night for some scheduling reason?
TI - would you mingd sharing your reasons for scheduling your checkride at night?

USMCFLYR

 

I didn't schedule it at night. It was scheduled during the afternoon, but the examiner was running late from a check ride prior to mine so we weren't able to take off until after sunset. I told her I didn't mind rescheduling (and that I was not night current), but the examiner lives 3hrs away so she really wanted to get it done. Also, it was one of the very few good vfr days during the winter we had for over a month.

Good point on the cockpit environment for night flight. The seminole I flew was definitely not night friendly, and as I was not prepared to do the ride at night, I didn't have a headlamp. The cockpit lighting was horrible, most didn't work and I was barely able to see most of the instruments. I had to do the entire approach from memory as I was unable to see the chart. It wasn't too much of a problem as I had a 430 and done the approach dozens of times, just wasn't expecting it.