Nachtflugzeit

Nachtflugzeit is a term used in aviation to denote the duration of flights conducted during nighttime hours. Nighttime is defined by regulatory authorities as the period between evening and morning twilight, though the exact times can vary by jurisdiction. The concept is used for flight planning, licensing, and fatigue management, as well as for tracking pilot experience.

In civil aviation, night operations typically require additional safety measures and equipment, such as appropriate aircraft lighting and procedures compatible with instrument flight rules. Some regulatory regimes also require a night rating or a minimum amount of night flight time to obtain or maintain certain licenses. The logging and counting of Nachtflugzeit toward qualifications are determined by national aviation authorities and may differ from day-time flight logging.

For pilots, accumulating Nachtflugzeit contributes to meeting minimum night-flight requirements needed for licensing or ratings and can affect command eligibility on certain aircraft. For operators, night flying influences scheduling, crew rest planning, maintenance windows, and airport slot management, since conditions and infrastructure for night operations differ from daytime operations.

Safety and fatigue management are central to Nachtflugzeit. Night flying demands heightened situational awareness, reliable instrument proficiency, and heavy reliance on avionics and lighting systems. Modern infrastructure—airport lighting, approach procedures, weather reporting, and navigation aids—supports safer operations after dark.

See also: Night flying, Night rating, Instrument flight rules, Fatigue management, Aerodrome lighting.