Flight Training - August 2013 - 27

River. We donned oxygen masks to ruby
dusk tinting the Grand Canyon, and
climbed in gathering darkness to 11,000
feet over Peach Springs.
Then came uneasy blackness, punctuated only by the distant lights of Kingman
and tiny Seligman, Arizona. Connecting
them, a pearly string of headlights marked
Interstate 40, which gradually meandered
in our direction. Prescott briefly sparkled
off our right wing before disappearing
behind the hulking void of Bill Williams
Mountain. By now, however, we were
over the little town of Williams and its
namesake airport, with the friendly lights
of I-40 directing us homeward.
“What’s your minimum vectoring
altitude here?” I asked Albuquerque
Center, hoping for lower when Flagstaff
twinkled ahead.
“You must stay at 11,000 until crossing
the Flagstaff VOR or reporting the airport
in sight,” said the controller. When I spotted the field, Albuquerque issued a visual
approach clearance and referred us to
Flagstaff Tower.
“Don’t forget that 8,000-foot-elevation
ridge west of the airport,” Jean cautioned,
glancing between the altimeter and the
windshield. Sure enough, the ridge was
invisible in darkness. “Good thing we
know the terrain here,” she added.
I leveled at 9,000 until joining the
traffic pattern and followed the trusty
night-flying rule of descending only over
lights. Clear skies offer no assurance of
terrain clearance around mountains at
night. Over less familiar terrain, we’d have
maintained 11,000 feet to the VOR, and
flown an instrument approach.
“That was spectacular, but I’m glad
to be on the ground,” said Jean after
touchdown. Even under the best circumstances, flying is riskier after sundown,
and an instrument rating is imperative for
traversing remote country in darkness.
But with proper caution, planning, and
vigilance, nothing is more rewarding than
piloting at night.
Greg Brown is an aviation author, photographer,

Mark Fryburg
Beaverton, Oregon
AOPA Member Since 1988

“

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Beaverton, Oregon

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Visit AOPA.ORG/pps or call 800-872-2672
Each case is different-past success does not guarantee future

and former National Flight Instructor of the Year.
Visit his website (www.gregbrownflyingcarpet.com).

results. Legal coverage provided by the AOPA Legal Services
Plan. See plan description at aopa.org/pps for complete
coverages, exclusions, and limitations.

AUGUST 2013 FLIGHT TRAINING

Total Time: 2,175 hours
Member: Hillsboro Flying
Club
Regularly flies: C-172, C-182,
& BE-33 Debonair
Occupation: Government
Affairs Representative

/ 27

LEGAL | MEDICAL
http://www.AOPA.ORG/pps http://www.gregbrownflyingcarpet.com http://www.aopa.org/pps
Flight Training - August 2013

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