When to Log Night Flight Times and Landings
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Logging night flight time isn’t as simple as flying after sunset. FAA rules draw clear lines between what counts for flight time and what counts for landing currency. The two are often confused, which leads to logbook errors and missed requirements.
Understanding how night is defined helps you track your time correctly and stay in step with what your training or certificate level requires.
What Counts as Night Flight Time?
The FAA defines night flight time in 14 CFR 1.1 as any flight that takes place between the end of evening civil twilight and the beginning of morning civil twilight. These times change daily and vary by location, so pilots should check official sources like the FAA’s Air Almanac or use aviation apps that track twilight times based on their airport or route.
Any portion of a flight that occurs during this period can be logged as night flight time, even if takeoff or landing happens outside of it. What matters is the actual time the aircraft is operated in flight between those twilight markers.
Why Logging Night Flight Time Matters
Night flight time shows up in multiple parts of training, currency, and certification requirements. Private and commercial pilot applicants both need documented night hours, including takeoffs and landings. Flight schools, examiners, and future employers often look at how much night experience a pilot has logged. Cross-country flights can also help build time toward these requirements.
Accurate entries help confirm that the required experience has been met. If time is logged incorrectly, it can delay a checkride or cause problems during a logbook review. Pilots tracking time for an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) or
airline job may also be asked to explain their night hours during an interview or audit.
When You Can Log Night Landings
Night landings follow a different rule from night flight time. According to 14 CFR 61.57(b), landings count toward night currency only if they take place between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise, and they must be full stop landings.
This distinction matters for pilots carrying passengers at night. To stay current, you need three full stop landings during that specific time window within the past 90 days. Landings during evening civil twilight may qualify as night flight time but won’t count for currency unless they fall within the required one-hour window.
Touch-and-go landings don’t meet the requirement. Full stop landings are required to stay current for night passenger operations.
Common Mistakes When Logging Night Flying Time
Pilots often mislog night time due to small but important differences in FAA definitions. Here are some of the most frequent mistakes:
Using sunset instead of civil twilight:
Logging flight time starting at sunset misses the FAA’s actual night definition. Only time after evening civil twilight counts.
Counting landings outside the one-hour window:
Landings that occur after sunset but before one hour has passed don’t count for night currency.
Logging touch-and-go landings:
Night currency requires full-stop landings. Touch-and-go landings do not meet the standard in 61.57(b).
Using the same flight time for multiple purposes without checking the limits:
A flight may include night time for logging purposes, but not meet the criteria for landings or training requirements tied to night currency.
Not checking local twilight times:
Relying on general sunset data instead of actual civil twilight times can lead to over- or under-reporting night hours.
Getting these details right makes logbooks more reliable and keeps training and certification on track.
Train Smarter and Build Night Time at J.A. Flight
Many pilots have trouble logging the night hours they need. Missed definitions, limited access to aircraft, and unclear instructions can slow progress or create gaps in training.
J.A. Flight offers focused night flight instruction in a structured program. Instructors walk through the FAA requirements, so you know exactly what counts and why. Flights are scheduled to match the right twilight and landing windows, making every hour count toward your goals.
Start flying at night with confidence.
Contact JA Flight to schedule your next lesson or speak with a member of our training team.
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