← All explained questions · Supplemental · XI — Night Operations

Night flight CRUISE altitude over featureless terrain (e.g., ocean, dark countryside) should be

Choices

as low as practical for ground reference.
Low altitude at night = high CFIT risk.
✓ higher than equivalent day flight.correct
many CFIs recommend 2,000+ ft AGL — to allow time for emergency planning, increase glide range, and avoid unseen terrain or towers. Night cruise: altitude is your friend. More altitude = more glide range if engine fails, more time to identify a forced landing area, more clearance from unseen obstacles (radio towers, ridges). 14 CFR 91.119 sets minimum altitudes (1,000 ft over congested area, 500 ft non-congested) but PERSONAL minimums for night should be much higher. 2,000 ft AGL is a common floor.
at the minimum required by 14 CFR 91.119.
91.119 minimums are NOT safe night minimums.
between 500-1,000 ft AGL for visibility.
500-1000 AGL too low for night except in pattern.

Why

many CFIs recommend 2,000+ ft AGL — to allow time for emergency planning, increase glide range, and avoid unseen terrain or towers. Night cruise: altitude is your friend. More altitude = more glide range if engine fails, more time to identify a forced landing area, more clearance from unseen obstacles (radio towers, ridges). 14 CFR 91.119 sets minimum altitudes (1,000 ft over congested area, 500 ft non-congested) but PERSONAL minimums for night should be much higher. 2,000 ft AGL is a common floor.

FAA source: AC 61-134, 14 CFR 91.119browse the reference library →

Covered in Supplemental · XI — Night Operations — study the lessons free, then practice with grading and mastery tracking.

Original study question written for this course — representative of FAA knowledge-test topics, not an actual current FAA exam question.