How many of you fly at night regularly?

[StinkBug]

I assume most of the commercial guys here do it a lot, but what about all the private pilots? I really enjoyed all the night flight during my training, and did my first night flight since getting my PPL last night. Just curious how many still fly after dark after getting their ticket.

 

[Jim Logajan]

Is there a recommended procedure?
Have they run the numbers to see what increases your chance for survival based on past night engine failures?

I am sure the numbers are significantly lower related to survivability but is there an official recommendation?

Here's a relevant article - one suggestion is to fly when the moon is out since it seems to halve the fatal accident rate:
http://www.avweb.com/news/airman/190849-1.html?redirected=1

It mentions this article "Into the Night" which looks good too (haven't read all the way through yet):
http://www.aerodynamicaviation.com/documents/IntotheNight.pdf

 

[Jim Logajan]

Pull at 400?! That's a little low even for a reserve on a sport parachute!
Heck base jumpers start out higher than that and they can flare.

Shy of a wing coming off I'd rather rely on my piloting skills that low.

Keep in mind that the BRS is a rocket deployed parachute. So according to the manufacturer:
In the first 0.1 second, the rocket accelerates to 150 feet per second (over 100 mph). In less than one second, the rocket will extract the parachute and will stretch tight its lines and the airframe harness attachments. Very shortly afterward -- depending on the forward speed of the aircraft -- the canopy will become fully inflated and will decelerate the aircraft. The aircraft stabilizes under the canopy quite quickly.
...
FAA certified tests have shown that full parachute inflation could occur as low as 260-290 feet above the ground.
From their FAQ: http://www.brsaerospace.com/faq.aspx