TRAVEL: Are you afraid of flying at night? You might be after you read this (Pic: GETTY STOCK IMAGE)
Flying at night is a lot harder than you think, as pilots can often struggle to see outside the aircraft when its pitch-black.
According to one pilot, it can be difficult for them to locate the airport when theyre preparing to land.
Writing in his book “How to Land a Plane”, author Mark Vanhoenacker explains the troubles hes faced as a pilot.
He said: “Most of us think of airports as quite well-lit places and its truth that the apron areas around the terminal buildings are often brightly illuminated.”
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“Most of us think of airports as quite well-lit places ”
Mark Vanhoenacker
Mark added: “But taxiways and runways are so subtly lit that picking out an airfield at night, especially in an urban landscape often involves looking for a particularly dark spot.
“Close in, thankfully the approach and runway lights are unmistakable.”
Instead of a normal vision when its light, pilots must rely on flight instruments, navigation and weather sensors to travel through the night.
Pilots also use the lights on the aircrafts exterior to land and even spot planes nearby.
DARKNESS: A pilot revealed the truth behind flying at night (Pic: GETTY STOCK IMAGE)
But if the cabin crew member cannot see anything from the flight deck, they are trained to perform an “instrument landing”.
An instrument landing is when they carry out an approach and touch-down in minimal visibility.
This is often used in extreme weather, with the pilot using the information and positioning on their screens in the cockpit.
Luckily, airports provide an Instrument Landing System (ILS) to help the pilots find their way.
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On other travel news, we revealed why you should never order coffee on flights.
An anonymous flight attendant told Vice: “Its the same potable water that goes through the bathroom system.
“So avoid any hot water or tea. Bottled and ice is fine, of course.”
And another cabin crew member revealed why you should never drink tomato juice on places.
Andrea Song told Escape.co.au: “I always avoid high sodium foods in the days prior as joints especially in the legs, feet and ankles tend to swell as a result of this food group.
"When flying, I also avoid this food group and advise to avoid tomato juice at all costs.”
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