I did. I decided to exercise my freshly gained private pilots license and Stuart, Aero Alliances Chief Charter Captain, but also full commercial/instrument/private and night instructor to instruct me how to fly safe night operations.

I am currently half way through my night rating training, the first lesson was a night familiarisation flight, showing how close lit up towns look in relation to their actual distance, how the sea looks at night, how we navigate.

The second lesson was slightly more taxing, I had planned a navigation plog from Shoreham to Petersfield, over to Billingshurst with a diversion in between.  Upon flying from Petersfield to Billingshurst, I was told to divert to Arundel.  This involves planning the distance, time and heading to fly then starting the stop watch! I found Arundel after a couple of orbits (It’s not as well identifiable at night!), but I knew I was in the right place as it’s north west of Littlehampton.

We then  came back to Shoreham airport for some circuits with a crosswind.  Here I practised a new personal skill of wing down crosswind approaches, this combined with learning the night approach in a small crosswind put the pressure on slightly. 

This lesson I learnt a lot, one of the main things was that I wished I had 3 or 4 hands!  Investing in a torch which clipped onto my headset was invaluable!  (Imagine charts you need to look at, which are dark.  Stopwatches you need to look at, which are dark.  Instruments you need to look at, which are dark (especially the oil temp and oil press – important engine running gauges!), knee board with instructions written down by various radar / airport stations.  It just takes time to get comfortable in the new method of flying, and thinking.

Stuart has done an outstanding job in teaching me, in the first few lessons how to fly at night.  The third hour was a nice and relaxing flight, demonstrating what night flying is all about – we flew around Sussex and found some fireworks to watch.  I believe training should be hard work, for sure.  But training should also demonstrate the fun that the end result will give you.  Good Honest Fun.

You can fly at night, without a license, but just for the amazing view.  Contact Aero Alliance for details on how to purchase a pleasure flight, at night, amongst the stars!

Have a look at the video embedded in this post, be sure to stay for the finale at the end!