It’s Lights Out for Some Military Aircraft

The FAA approved a U.S. Air Force petition to conduct night-vision flight-training operations at and above 18,000 ft msl in aircraft without their position lights on, according to AOPA. The association reported these flights will occur in Class A airspace (above 18,000 ft msl), where ATC can provide separation advisories to civil aircraft when lights-out training is being conducted. AOPA noted that a related Air Force petition, still under review by the FAA, requests similar relief for lights-out operations at lower altitudes in some MOA airspace.