Regardless of flight deck design, the following
actions can help ensure taht lighting is optimized for night flying:
- ensure that all aircraft lighting (both interior and exterior,
and including dimming controls) is functioning
properly prior to
flight;
- if a night flight is planned, wear sunglasses
during the day (15% light transmission is recommended). This will increase the
rate of dark adaptation and improve night vision sensitivity;
- avoid bright lights for 30
minutes immediately before a night
flight;
- just before takeoff, after the eyes have adapted to darkness, adjust the instrument lighting level so that all displays are readable. Use the minimum setting required to preserve dark-adaptation levels
while maintaining the ability to see outside the flight deck;
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- if a map light or utility light must be used, keep
the light as dim as possible and use it for the briefest
possible period;
- because dark adaptation is an independent process in each eye, close one eye when being briefly exposed to
a bright light (for
example while reading a map). This protects that eye and eliminates
the need for re-adaptation;
- while flying an aircraft near storm clouds, increase the level
of instrument lighting to its maximum level in anticipation of
lightning flashes.
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