Taxiing at night

thewaffles

thewaffles

Well-Known Member
Hey guys, quick question for you.

I've been doing a lot of night cross country flights recently, mainly because of my work schedule and sometimes it's just more fun.

I fly a Cessna 172 (G1000), and landing at a towered airport (KPIE) or uncontrolled airport (X06), after you slow down to a safe speed to turn off of the runway, I can't see where the taxiway entrance is. I'll see the blue edge lights, but can't differentiate if it's grass or concrete. Don't get me wrong, I don't need glasses, but sometimes it's hard to try and get off the runway quick.

I know of the runway lead off yellow lines, but sometimes those get confusing and most uncontrolled airports don't have them.
 
Study the airport diagram hardcore first. Otherwise, look for TWO sets of blue lights that will be usually about 25' to 50' apart and go in between them. Then do the whole "let's follow the yellow line" routine. That's about all you can do.
 
Yeah, it's sometimes hard after landing because I'm looking to the left and trying to see which ones are seperated wider. I'm assuming that I'm the only one that doesn't have this problem!
 
The Key is the yellow line. Never leave it. Find it before you make your turn in.
A good, professional pilot keeps the yellow line under the nose gear ALL THE TIME. Unless the situation calls for something different.
 
BigGuyFlying said:
Yeah, it's sometimes hard after landing because I'm looking to the left and trying to see which ones are seperated wider. I'm assuming that I'm the only one that doesn't have this problem!
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I have never been to X06 and dont remember PIE, but I know an airport is socal (SMO) is all asphalt. and you just turn off whenever you want. If its that hard to distinguish the taxiways at ur airport, maybe its the same set up as SMO. but i would definitely double check the 10-9 page before you end up in the grass. haha

-brian
 
I usually find that there will be a taxiway BEHIND where the yellow sign with black lettering is on the side of the RWY.
 
BigGuyFlying said:
Yeah, it's sometimes hard after landing because I'm looking to the left and trying to see which ones are seperated wider. I'm assuming that I'm the only one that doesn't have this problem!
Click to expand...

Definitely not the only one. Good question cause I was asking it to myself a year ago but pretty much what has been said is good advice from what I use.
 
BigGuyFlying said:
Hey guys, quick question for you.

I've been doing a lot of night cross country flights recently, mainly because of my work schedule and sometimes it's just more fun.

I fly a Cessna 172 (G1000), and landing at a towered airport (KPIE) or uncontrolled airport (X06), after you slow down to a safe speed to turn off of the runway, I can't see where the taxiway entrance is. I'll see the blue edge lights, but can't differentiate if it's grass or concrete. Don't get me wrong, I don't need glasses, but sometimes it's hard to try and get off the runway quick.

I know of the runway lead off yellow lines, but sometimes those get confusing and most uncontrolled airports don't have them.
Click to expand...

Think thats a challenge, wait until they approve u to turn onto an intersecting runway, thats a little harder to see if its unlit. Plus, there's usually no yellow line to follow. My rule of thumb, don't even start a turn until u have a lead off centerline under u, or the next center line in sight. At night, look for the alternating yellow and green lead off lights.
 
You can also turn down or off all the instrument/cockpit lighting so all you see is the beam of light that is thrown off your taxi lights. You will be surprised how well this helps sometimes. Just make sure that you can safely do this in your particular aircraft. In the 172 G1000 I see no reason why you couldn't, once off the runway and cleaned up there is very little reason to be looking at the instruments anyway in the Skyhawk.
 
most airports have a taxi lead-in light which is pure white. If you can find that inbetween two blues then you're good.

other wise know the airport diagram, find the yellow line and keep it on the nose.
 
Does anyone else find the green taxi centerline lights a bit distracting with good weather? We flew into some big airport awhile back on a severe clear night, and I found them to be more of a PITA. But maybe it's just me.
 
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