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Darkness, CHT’s, More

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • For night VFR flying, significantly increase personal weather minimums and always use visual or instrument glide path indicators to avoid inadvertently descending below the optimal glide path on final approach over dark terrain.
  • Modern engine monitors and intelligent leaning techniques, particularly Lean of Peak (LOP), are crucial for enhancing engine health, longevity, and overall flight safety.
  • When making go/no-go decisions regarding convective weather, prioritize visual observation ("Mark 1 eyeball") supplemented by ADS-B/Nexrad data as an avoidance tool, not for penetrating weather.
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As a VFR pilot who likes to fly at night, I enjoyed Jim Wolper’s “Prepping for Darkness,” September 2021), and a couple of additional points come to mind. First, up your personal weather minimums a lot—four-mile visibility might be fine during the day, but I won’t go unless it’s 10 at night. Second, beware the long final approach at night. I learned early that it’s somehow easy to drift well below the glide path without realizing it on a five-mile final to a well-lit runway over dark (and often hostile) terrain.

Keep up the good work.

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