I recently started using instrument flying training glasses as a tool to help teach night flying to students. The FAA describes the device as a view-limiting device.
In the airplane cockpit, during instrument flight training we always called them horrible names. I always dreaded them as a student.
You will typically hear pilots call them foggles. Here is an example of the type of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) view-limiting device that I use for UAS training.
They are inexpensive and I purchase them through Sportys. I’ve always used the clear ones.
The advantage of using this to help with night flight training is you can use them during the day to help simulate the significant loss of visual clues that a night pilot must deal with.
The student is forced to focus on getting clues about operations from the controller data and also to heighten their listening clues.
The use of these IFR glasses is the best tool I have found that works well with all students to get them to develop night flying skills. Think about using them in your training.
You will find the less confident students will want to raise their chin to look up and around. I just train the class to yell NO if anyone tries to do that. It keeps everyone in line.
The glasses make it very uncomfortable for new pilots training for night operations and as an instructor that is exactly what I want them to work through so they become confident on the data the controller is giving them.
UAS night flying is similar to being a manned aircraft pilot since both have to rely on the data from the instruments and trust in their planning while trusting their instruments in flight.
Give them a try.
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