All Pilots Should See This | Using ODPs on VFR Night Departures | Night Flying

Departing at night from an unfamiliar airport? Not so fast. Have a look at the departure procedures this airport may have, and consider following them, in order to stay clear of terrain you can't see at night. It's an IFR procedure, but VFR pilots can benefit from them too.
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[@tomdchi12]

Just want to point out that waiting until the next morning and departing when you can see the terrain is also an option!

[@lukebelvin4900]

Hey FlightInsight, you the man. We appreciate you.

[@jordan2447]

I second this, used his instrument ground really good.

[@mikes5032]

This point is not taken seriously enough in GA. I'm a Canadian pilot. So, we require a night rating to fly at night. I believe US pilots have night training as part of the Private (confirm?) - we do not. So, night training is a separate thing for us (for PPL, at least). Even so, the instrument training is not that involved and there is no requirement to follow any IFR procedures. My previous home airport has a takeoff over Lake Huron when departing to the west (the threshold is only a few hundred feet from probably a 500' drop almost straight down to the water). I don't care what anybody says - that is an instrument departure. Approaching at night over the water is the same thing - a windscreen full of black until you're facing the runway. Regardless of where I am, and certainly at an unfamiliar airport, I treat every night departure exactly as I would an instrument departure. On landing, if there is a published approach, I'll dial it in to aid in situational awareness and provide a glide slope/path to follow (as a backup - If I'm VFR, I'm still looking outside as my primary reference, as the regs require). In my opinion, instrument training (even if not wanting the rating) is the most valuable training after primary flight training. I know 100% that it has saved my life more than once.

[@Camero737]

yes there is night training for your private here in the US, but its very minimal. Its a cross country, a few takeoffs and landings, with 3 night flight hours total all done with an instructor. I live in Florida so everything is flat and most obstacles are relatively small, but when flying near the ocean at night, or the everglades, it is pitch black with no horizon to reference. I feel the PPL training should have more in depth training into instrument flying with regard to vfr flights. If I didnt start instrument training I dont think i would often fly at night, especially in more dangerous environments like in the mountains

[@ivansemanco6976]

Same in Europe under EASA. VFR Night is rating above standard PPL or LAPL.

[@ggbrewer]

My PPL students will all be required to view this!

[@philipmead3575]

Here in Australia we need a night VFR rating, when I was learning normal day VFR my instructor taught me a lot about IFR departures and it's procedures, he would agree that all VFR pilots should get themselves familiar with it for safety and when I went for my instrument rating it made it a ton easier

[@glennwatson]

Night VFR , Private IFR with night endorsement or full instrument. I suspect is what you meant anyway.
ODP are very American thing thing, we only have SID/STAR here in Australia. US have ODP and SIDs, two different kind of departures.

[@CatarineausArmory]

Excellent information on using ODPs on VFR Night Departures.

[@jakew9887]

Excellent presentation. Thanks

[@lee.schulz]

Great video & information! Thanks!

[@thebadgerpilot]

This has been a hot topic lately. Thank you!

[@Obi1-KenBone-Me]

How did FAA tought its ok to fly vfr at night without training? The rest of the globe dosen't require the night vfr rating for no reason.

[@boardingpass8183]

Roger that. Thank you

[@jt92]

What if I put a huge ass floodlight on the bottom of my airplane to act as a super landing light so I can have visual of the terrain when operating in night VFR?

[@patricklawler4138]

Wouldn't you want to use as much information or tools that you can use. You may not need or can legally use IFR tools but using everything you can would only make sense. Great videos. Only wish I could have been able to finish getting my license. Now it's to late.

[@mikes5032]

It's never too late. I know folks who got their license in their 70s and 80s.

[@patricklawler4138]

@@mikes5032 I'm 70 but age isn't my issue. Money and not sure I'd pass my medical.

[@mikes5032]

@@patricklawler4138 I obviously don’t know your specific situation but there may be options you’re unaware of. Depending on where you live, you may be able to get an ultralight or recreational license (I think it’s called sport in the US). Those require only a category 4 (not sure of the US equivalent) medical, which is essentially a self-declaration signed by your family doctor. They are much less stringent on requirements. Even with higher category/class medicals, you can get waivers for certain conditions (diabetes or heart condition, for example) where you generally just need to show that the condition is being managed. Costs can be lessened with going in the ultralight route, for example. A basic ultralight license doesn’t cost that much in comparison and advanced ultralights can be almost indistinguishable from a standard airplane in many cases.
My point with this is that, if it’s something you’re passionate about, don’t give up without first looking into all the options. Call up a flight school, talk to an instructor and see what options are available to you. If medical and cost are your primary concerns, I’d suggest looking into ultralights or a recreational/sport licence.
Best of luck to you!

[@alk672]

If your airplane can post the performance required by the ODP, and you as a pilot are capable of executing the ODP, why not just go IFR? Doesn't make any sense.

[@vauxmoto9096]

I think the point is that if you aren’t IFR yet but plan on doing night flights, you can study and learn to fly an ODP to make your margin of safety greater especially when at unfamiliar airports.