One of the first things instrument pilots learn during their training to fly approaches is reading the fine print, the various notes that may accompany a published procedure. It’s a classic case of the large print holding great promise while the small print dashes any lingering hopes. Perhaps most ubiquitous is the NoPT admonition that a procedure turn is not authorized when flying to the final approach fix on certain segments.
One that’s been tripping up a lot of operators lately, however, is the seeming proliferation of notes advising an approach procedure is not authorized at night. The approach is legal during the day, the runway has lights, so what’s the problem? Did the airport not pay their electric bill? Not exactly. In fact, finding an approach NA at night is becoming increasingly too common. What’s going on?
