Definition
Flight conducted during the period between the end of evening civil twilight and the beginning of morning civil twilight, as published in the Air Almanac. During this period, reduced visual cues outside the aircraft increase reliance on instruments, cockpit lighting, and external aircraft lighting, and specific currency and equipment requirements apply under 14 CFR.
Plain English
Flying after dark. Officially, it is the time between evening and morning twilight, when the sun is far enough below the horizon that the sky is fully dark.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument flying and adverse-weather discussions, especially when darkness makes clouds, ice buildup, terrain, or the natural horizon harder to detect.
Why Pilots Care
At night, ice accumulation on the airframe is harder to see and confirm visually, raising the risk that a pilot will continue into icing conditions without realizing it.
Grounding Statement
In a night flight, the same weather can be present as in daytime, but the pilot has fewer visual clues to recognize it early.
Intuition Check
Do not assume “night flight” is only a casual phrase meaning any flight after sunset. In aviation, “night” can have specific time definitions, and in this context the key point is reduced visibility caused by darkness.
Example Sentence 1
Because the forecast showed a chance of icing in the clouds, the pilot was especially cautious about the night flight, knowing ice would be hard to spot in the dark.
Example Sentence 2
During night flight in marginal weather, the crew relied on the ice detection light because outside visual references were unavailable.