Last light

Once it’s gone, it’s gone

The panel gauges become harder to see as the sun slips down below the horizon. The aircraft continues flying as the pilot realises that daylight has rapidly slipped away and that there is still a distance to go to the destination.

Last light has passed. It is now night. What do you do? How many pilots have been in that situation? Winter is now upon us and one consideration in flying daytime VFR aircraft is that of last light. CASA regulations state a VFR aircraft should be on the ground at least 10 minutes before last light, while quite often a charter operator’s or flight school’s ops manual will stipulate that the aircraft be on the ground a minimum of a half hour before last light.