Night currency in Alaska
09-20-2010, 09:14 PM
#1
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Joined APC: Mar 2010
Posts: 5
Night currency in Alaska
So, I was looking at the sunset/sunrise & civil twilight table for Anchorage, Alaska. During June and early part of July, there is no civil twilight, so there's no "night time" to speak of. However, there is still sunset and sunrise, and for the night currency, I need to do 3 stop & go sunset + 1.
My question is if I can still get my night current without logging "night time?"
My question is if I can still get my night current without logging "night time?"
09-21-2010, 09:23 AM
#2
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Joined APC: Feb 2008
Position: Cessna 150
Posts: 655
The only exceptions I can find to night flying in AK deal with the certification process. If you don't have a night restriction on your certificate, then you can fly at night provided you do the 3 takeoffs and landings to a full stop. Since there is no "night" in your given timeframe, you can't get "night" current, but you don't need to since no matter how dark it gets, it's not "night". Once AK starts having "nights", you can go get current and operate at night.
That is my interpretation. If somebody has more info, please share.
That is my interpretation. If somebody has more info, please share.
10-05-2010, 06:36 PM
#4
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Position: FAA 'Flight Check'
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vincentmoy -
I came across this definintion of night time in Alaska when going through our manuals.
I'm not sure if this helps you since you ay you are already looking in some charts, but I thought I'd share what I came across in any case.
USMCFLYR
I came across this definintion of night time in Alaska when going through our manuals.
"night is defined as the time between the end of civil twilight and the beginning of morning civil twilight as published in the American Almanac, converted to local time."
USMCFLYR
10-06-2010, 01:43 PM
#6
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Originally Posted by vincentmoy
During June and early part of July, there is no civil twilight, so there's no "night time" to speak of.
Thats only a month an a half(say 70 days maximum). Seems like to me if you planned things right, you'd never loose currency. You should still have 20 days left when night comes back around, take 10 off for weather, scheduling etc., and there you have it. You never lost currency. I know it's tight, but it may just have to be that way with out a aubstantial commute.
Last edited by mshunter; 10-06-2010 at 07:20 PM.
10-06-2010, 01:51 PM
#7
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That's the whole issue, there is no twilight zone.
Fairbanks, AK (Fairbanks Borough)
N64° 48' 51" W147° 51' 31"
For Mon, Jun 21 2010 Time zone: Alaska (GMT-8)
Local time (above TZ):13:43
Midday at: 01:53
Length of day: 21:49
Astro Twilight Start: Does not occur
Naut Twilight Start: Does not occur
Civil Twilight Start: Does not occur
Sunrise: 02:59
Sunset: 00:48
Civil Twilight End: Does not occur
Naut Twilight End: Does not occur
Astro Twilight End: Does not occur
Sun comes up at 3 in the morning and doesn't go down till after midnight. Civil twilight is when the center of the sun's disk is less than 6 degrees below the horizon, nautical is less than 12 (you should be able to take a star shot but still see the horizon) and astronomical it's beyond 18 degrees below the horizon.
Fairbanks, AK (Fairbanks Borough)
N64° 48' 51" W147° 51' 31"
For Mon, Jun 21 2010 Time zone: Alaska (GMT-8)
Local time (above TZ):13:43
Midday at: 01:53
Length of day: 21:49
Astro Twilight Start: Does not occur
Naut Twilight Start: Does not occur
Civil Twilight Start: Does not occur
Sunrise: 02:59
Sunset: 00:48
Civil Twilight End: Does not occur
Naut Twilight End: Does not occur
Astro Twilight End: Does not occur
Sun comes up at 3 in the morning and doesn't go down till after midnight. Civil twilight is when the center of the sun's disk is less than 6 degrees below the horizon, nautical is less than 12 (you should be able to take a star shot but still see the horizon) and astronomical it's beyond 18 degrees below the horizon.
10-07-2010, 03:12 PM
#8
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Joined APC: Aug 2009
Position: C-172 PPL
Posts: 176
A scenario...
Here's the scenario where I think it causes real problems:
A pilot living in Alaska loses his Night Certification because he can't make 3 night landings. He now needs to take some passengers several hundred miles south, and plans to arrive after dark.
A simple reading of the rules says he cannot depart with passengers, since he'll be unable to land when he gets to his destination.
Is this flight just flat out impossible?
A pilot living in Alaska loses his Night Certification because he can't make 3 night landings. He now needs to take some passengers several hundred miles south, and plans to arrive after dark.
A simple reading of the rules says he cannot depart with passengers, since he'll be unable to land when he gets to his destination.
Is this flight just flat out impossible?
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