Disappearing Runway

I was flying out of Boeing Field (KBFI), something I had done hundreds of times before. Tonights flight was to maintain night landing proficiency, so after making landings at a few airports in the area, the adventure started as I returned home in the dark. The wind was from the north, so the active runway was 31L. And because I was making the approach at night, I did what I always do: approach the runway from the north over Elliot Bay. As expected, I was assigned a left pattern to 31L.

Key Takeaways:

• A pilot on a night landing approach at his home airport became disoriented when unexpected, powerful floodlights from parallel railroad tracks obscured the runway.
• Despite initial embarrassment and overconfidence, the pilot eventually contacted the control tower for help, receiving vectors that enabled him to safely locate and land on the runway.
• The experience served as a humbling lesson, highlighting the importance of promptly asking for assistance when facing difficulties and overcoming pride or reluctance to ensure flight safety.

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