Into the Dark: Night Flying (AFH Ch. 11)

Night flying is the most beautiful flying there is — and the most unforgiving of sloppy preparation. Maya and Rico take on Chapter 11 of the FAA Airplane Flying Handbook: the three definitions of night (and why the FAA has three clocks), how your eyes actually work in the dark, the illusions that have genuinely killed pilots, airport lighting, pilot-controlled lighting, and what to do when it all goes quiet. In this episode: Night definitions and currency: logging vs. position lights vs. carrying passengers Rods, cones, the night blind spot, and 30-minute dark adaptation False horizon, autokinesis, and the black-hole approach Runway, taxiway, and beacon lighting — and the seven-click trick Night emergencies: the dark-field strategy Sources: FAA Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3C), Chapter 11 (Night Operations); 14 CFR §§ 1.1, 61.57(b), 61.109(a)(2), 91.205(c), 91.209; AIM Chapter 2. Current as of July 2026 — always verify against the current FAR/AIM. Maya and Rico are AI-generated hosts. Episodes are produced from official FAA public-domain source material. Education and entertainment only — not flight instruction; always consult your CFI and the current FAR/AIM.