Night time activity

[pym]

I haven't heard the air corps this active - at this time, ever.

The last few weeks they've been very busy up until around 22:30-23:00 - presumably doing IFR training.

They're doing their best to shake off the 9-5 image, by my count there's at least 4 PC-9's up simultaneously tonight and like I say, this has been going on for about 2 or 3 weeks.

Interesting stuff.

[Irish251]

I've also heard them using "Fox Tango" callsigns, e.g. "FT267", on these flights of late.

[RJB]

Great to see quite a lot of PC9 activity over county meath at this moment.What a lovely engine sound in the darkness !!!

[Flyboy]

Out of interest, did they not fly much at night before? How then did they pilots get their Night Rating ?

[Claudel Hopson]

PC9 flights for training are called FOX when an instructor is on board and when solo with a cadet/student is then called Fox Tango (T=Trainee Pilot)

FTS flies at night twice a year for up to four weeks at a time. This has been the way for as long as I can remember, even since we had tail wheels!

[pym]

Hey all,  I'm fairly certain I remember the SF.260's doing it but never like this. What has surprised me is the number up at one time.

It's probably always been the way but for whatever reason it seems busier.

[RMR]

I remember the cessnas doing a lot of night flying when they were in gormonston.

[Claudel Hopson]

Who said the Air Corps doesn't have stealth technology. Turn off the nav lights and beacon at night and try to spot the Cessna then!

[RMR]

C-172 "NIGHTHAWK" those yanks know nothing 

[Whiskey Section]

In relation to the Callsigns used, why do the PC 9's regularly use the "Irish" callsign?

[Broc]

When the PC-9s arrived there was an idea of changing all callsigns to 'Irish' prefix, presumably for corporate identity. It never spread to the rest of the aircraft and with the PC-9s now utilising 'Fox', only certain missions use the 'Irish' prefix.

[pilatus]

I stayed in Dublin in the Stillorgan area around 2 months ago it must have been, and the PC-9's must have been doing night flying then aswell, because i was watching the airliners flying into Dublin airport and i noticed on the same course as the airliners but maybe not at the same altitude a few lights nearly following the airliners almost into the airport but maybe turning within around 3miles of the airport and doing the same circuit over and over and there was about 4 of them roughly?!

[Fouga]

Hey all, Just wondering are the PC9's using or have they NVG's when night flying?

[Claudel Hopson]

The Primary and Secondary Flight Displays, ARCDU, HUD, GPS and ESDP are all flat screen and can be turned down to a glimmer, just like an ordinary instrument. After that it is just the pilot and his MK1 eyeballs.

[Whiskey Section]

I also noticed the Defender flying quite high above Casement on Thursday night, i've noticed it a few times doing this.