What is classed as a night flight?

For 14 CFR part 61, section 61.57(b)(1) night operations that meet recent flight experience requirements, the term ?night? refers to the time period beginning 1 hour after sunset and ending 1 hour before sunrise.



In the aviation industry, a "night flight" is generally defined by the timing of take-off or landing relative to civil twilight or local noise abatement laws. For pilot logging and regulatory purposes, the FAA and CAA typically classify night as the period between the end of evening civil twilight and the beginning of morning civil twilight. However, for major airports like London Heathrow or Gatwick in 2026, a "Night Period" for noise restrictions is strictly defined as 23:00 to 07:00, with a more restrictive "Night Quota Period" often running from 23:30 to 06:00. During these hours, only a limited number of "quota points" (based on an aircraft's noise rating) are allowed to ensure local residents are not excessively disturbed. If your flight is scheduled within these windows, it is legally a "night flight," which often influences the price of your ticket and the specific flight path the pilot must follow to minimize sound impact on the ground.

Excellent question! The definition of a “night flight” isn’t as simple as “when it’s dark outside.” It varies depending on the country’s aviation regulations and the specific purpose of the definition (e.g., pilot licensing, airport operations, or noise restrictions).

Here’s a breakdown of what is generally classed as a night flight:

1. For Pilot Licensing and Flight Rules (The Most Common Definition)

This is the definition pilots use for logging flight time and for complying with specific flight rules. It is based on specific times relative to sunrise and sunset.

  • Civil Twilight: This is the most common regulatory definition worldwide. Night is officially defined as the period between the end of evening civil twilight and the beginning of morning civil twilight.
  • What is Civil Twilight? It’s when the sun is 6 degrees below the horizon. In simple terms, it’s that period just after sunset when there’s still some usable light in the sky, and just before sunrise when the sky begins to lighten.
  • Why this definition? It provides a standardized, measurable time that doesn’t depend on subjective judgments of “darkness,” which can vary with weather and terrain. Pilots can calculate these exact times from aviation publications for their location and date.

Example: If sunset is at 7:00 PM and civil twilight ends at 7:25 PM, night legally begins at 7:25 PM. If morning civil twilight begins at 5:35 AM, night ends at that time.

2. For Logging “Night Flight Time” (Specific to Pilot Training)

To log time as “night flight” for experience requirements (like for an airline transport license), regulations are often even more specific. A pilot typically must be in the air during the period defined above (civil twilight). Simply taxiing during that time may not count as flight time.

3. For “Night Takeoffs and Landings”

To carry passengers at night, pilots must have made a minimum number of takeoffs and landings to a full stop during the night period (as defined above) within a recent timeframe (e.g., the preceding 90 days). This ensures recent night-operations proficiency.

4. For Airport Curfews and Noise Restrictions

This is the public’s most common encounter with the term. Airports define “night” differently for operational and noise-abatement purposes

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