FLAPS: The Additional Equipment Required for Night VFR Flight (91.205c) Explained
- Nathan Hodell
- Dec 17, 2025
- 8 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Flying at night introduces unique challenges — reduced visual references, greater reliance on lighting and instruments, and far less margin for error. Because of these risks, the FAA requires additional equipment for VFR flight at night beyond the day VFR baseline, and pilots remember these extras with the acronym FLAPS. But night equipment has a few genuinely confusing edges: "night" is defined differently for equipment than for currency or logging, the position-light requirement runs on a different clock than the rest of FLAPS, and knowing which items are conditional matters. Understanding FLAPS as the precise 91.205(c) addition to the day VFR list — and knowing the definitional nuances — is a foundation of legal night flight and a reliable checkride topic.
This post covers night VFR required equipment in practical depth: how FLAPS builds on the day VFR list, each FLAPS item and its condition, the different definitions of "night" and which applies to equipment, the position-light timing subtlety, and the inoperative-equipment rules for night. (For the practical gear you should personally bring at night and the flying techniques, see our night-operations lesson; for the day VFR baseline, see our ATOMATOFLAMES post.)
Study this full length lesson (video, podcast, flashcards, and quiz) here: Full Length Lesson >
How FLAPS Builds on the Day VFR List
Night VFR equipment is additive — it's the day list PLUS the night items.
The layered requirement:
To fly VFR at night, the aircraft needs:
ALL day VFR required equipment (ATOMATOFLAMES — 91.205b), PLUS
The additional night equipment (FLAPS — 91.205c)
FLAPS doesn't replace the day list; it adds to it
Both are required at night
The regulatory structure:
91.205(b): day VFR (ATOMATOFLAMES)
91.205(c): night VFR — "the instruments and equipment specified in paragraph (b) of this section and..." (then lists the FLAPS items)
The regulation explicitly says day equipment PLUS the night additions
IFR (91.205d) adds even more (GRABCARD)
Why additive:
Everything needed by day is still needed at night
Night adds requirements (lighting, power reliability)
The lists stack
Day → Night → IFR, each building on the last
FLAPS Explained, Item by Item
Each letter with its requirement and condition.
F — Fuses (spare set):
A spare set of fuses is required IF the aircraft uses fuses (not circuit breakers)
Of the kinds and quantities appropriate for the aircraft (typically one spare of each kind, or three of each, per the manufacturer)
Must be accessible in flight
If the aircraft has circuit breakers (resettable), this doesn't apply
Conditional (fuses only)
L — Landing Light:
Required IF the aircraft is operated FOR HIRE
NOT required for private (not-for-hire) night operations by the letter of the regulation
Strongly recommended for ALL night operations regardless (see runway illumination, obstacle avoidance, conspicuity)
Conditional (required only for hire)
A — Anti-Collision Lights:
A rotating beacon and/or strobe lights
Enhances visibility to other aircraft
Required (for aircraft certificated with them — post-1996 aircraft)
May be turned off if the pilot determines their operation would be unsafe (e.g., in cloud, or reflecting off haze causing disorientation)
Note: anti-collision lights are required for BOTH day and night (they appear in the day list too), but are especially critical at night
P — Position Lights (navigation lights):
Red (left wingtip), green (right wingtip), white (tail)
Allow other pilots to determine your direction and orientation
Required from SUNSET TO SUNRISE (note this timing — see below)
The core night lighting
S — Source of Electrical Power:
An adequate source of electrical energy (alternator or generator)
Must supply the electrical systems (lighting, radios, instruments)
A reliable electrical system is essential at night (so much depends on it)
Required for night
The conditional items in FLAPS:
F (Fuses): only if the aircraft uses fuses
L (Landing light): only if operated for hire
The others (A, P, S) are required for night operations generally
The Different Definitions of "Night"
Here's a genuinely confusing point the basic treatment doesn't address: "night" has MULTIPLE definitions, and the one that applies depends on the context.
The three definitions:
1. For LOGGING night flight time (14 CFR 1.1):
Night is the time between the END of evening civil twilight and the BEGINNING of morning civil twilight
Civil twilight (from the Air Almanac)
This is when you LOG night flight time
2. For NIGHT CURRENCY / carrying passengers (14 CFR 61.57b):
Night is the period from 1 HOUR AFTER SUNSET to 1 HOUR BEFORE SUNRISE
The most restrictive definition
For the passenger-carrying currency requirement (3 takeoffs/landings to a full stop)
3. For POSITION LIGHTS / equipment (14 CFR 91.205c and 91.209):
Position lights are required from SUNSET TO SUNRISE
The equipment requirement uses sunset-to-sunrise
This is when the FLAPS position-light requirement applies
Why this matters (the timing subtlety):
Position lights (P in FLAPS): required SUNSET to SUNRISE
Night VFR equipment (FLAPS generally): applies at "night"
Logging night: civil twilight to civil twilight
Currency: 1 hour after sunset to 1 hour before sunrise
These are DIFFERENT time windows
The practical overlap:
In the evening: sunset happens first (position lights on), then civil twilight ends (~30 min later, log night), then 1 hour after sunset (currency night)
The requirements phase in at different times
Position lights come on earliest (at sunset)
Currency night starts latest (1 hour after sunset)
The key takeaways:
Turn on position lights at SUNSET (91.209/91.205c)
Log night time from the end of evening civil twilight
Count currency from 1 hour after sunset
The FLAPS equipment (including the electrical/lighting) is for "night" operations
Know which definition applies to which requirement
The Position-Light Timing (91.209)
A related regulation worth connecting: when lights must actually be on.
The operating requirement (91.209):
No person may operate an aircraft from sunset to sunrise (or in Alaska, during the period a prominent unlighted object can't be seen from 3 SM) without lighted position lights
So position lights must be ON from sunset to sunrise
This is the operating rule (91.209), complementing the equipment rule (91.205c)
The distinction:
91.205(c): the aircraft must be EQUIPPED with position lights for night VFR
91.209: the position lights must be turned ON from sunset to sunrise
Equipment (have them) vs. operation (turn them on)
Both apply
The parked-aircraft provision:
91.209 also addresses lighting a parked aircraft in certain conditions
An aircraft parked/moving in a dangerous area at night may need lighting
A related provision
Part of the night lighting rules
What's NOT Required (Night-Specific)
Clearing up night misconceptions.
Flashlights:
A flashlight is NOT a regulatory equipment requirement (not in FLAPS)
But carrying one (two, really) is essential practice
A flashlight doesn't replace the aircraft lighting requirements
Recommended, not required by 91.205
GPS and glass panels:
Not required for night VFR
Basic lighting and power ARE required (FLAPS)
Advanced avionics are optional
The requirement is the basics
Radios:
Not required by 91.205 for night VFR (same as day — airspace may require)
The airspace drives the radio requirement
Not a FLAPS item
Separate consideration
The landing light (for private ops):
NOT required for private (not-for-hire) night flight by the regulation
Strongly recommended (most pilots won't fly at night without one)
Only strictly required for hire
A recommendation vs. a requirement distinction
What If Night Equipment Is Inoperative?
The inoperative-equipment rules as they apply to night.
The basic rule:
If a required FLAPS item is inoperative, the aircraft is NOT airworthy for night VFR
Unless properly deferred
Same framework as day (91.213), applied to the night items
Night equipment being inop may still allow DAY VFR (if it's a night-only item)
The day-vs-night deferral nuance:
Some equipment is required for night but NOT day (e.g., position lights, the electrical source's night role)
If a night-only item is inoperative, the aircraft may be legal for DAY VFR but not NIGHT VFR
You could fly it during the day (properly handled) but not at night
The operation determines what's required
The deferral process (91.213d, no MEL):
The inoperative item must not be required for the operation (91.205 for that operation), on the equipment list/KOEL, or by an AD
Remove/deactivate and placard "INOPERATIVE"
Determine it's not a hazard
Then defer (for the operation where it's not required)
The night example:
Position lights inoperative: can't fly night VFR (required by 91.205c and 91.209)
But might be legal for day VFR (position lights aren't required for day by 91.205b — though 91.209 timing applies at sunset)
The landing light (if not for hire) inoperative: night VFR may still be legal (not required for private ops), but strongly reconsider
Know what's required for YOUR operation
The placard requirement:
Inoperative deferred equipment must be placarded "INOPERATIVE"
And deactivated/removed as appropriate
Standard deferral requirement
Applies to night items too
Why FLAPS Matters
The stakes at night.
Night leaves less margin:
Reduced visual references
Harder to see obstacles and traffic
Fewer emergency options
Greater reliance on lighting and electrical systems
Proper equipment:
Improves situational awareness (lighting)
Reduces collision risk (position and anti-collision lights)
Ensures electrical reliability (the source)
Provides electrical protection (fuses)
Ensures legal compliance
The go/no-go decision:
Knowing FLAPS (and what's required vs. recommended) informs the night go/no-go
Verify the required equipment before a night flight
Consider the recommended items (landing light, flashlights) too
Preparation matters more at night
On the Written Test and Checkride
Night VFR equipment appears on tests and checkride orals. The most commonly tested topics:
The FLAPS items (91.205c)
That night VFR = day equipment (ATOMATOFLAMES) + FLAPS
The landing light being required only for hire
The definitions of night (civil twilight for logging, sunset-to-sunrise for lights, 1 hour after/before for currency)
Position lights required sunset to sunrise (91.209)
The inoperative-equipment process
Quick Reference
FLAPS (Additional Night VFR Equipment — 91.205c):
F — Fuses (spare set, if the aircraft uses fuses)
L — Landing light (if operated for hire)
A — Anti-collision lights
P — Position lights
S — Source of electrical power
Night VFR = Day + Night:
ATOMATOFLAMES (91.205b) + FLAPS (91.205c)
Additive (day list still applies)
Conditional FLAPS Items:
F (Fuses): only if the aircraft uses fuses (not breakers)
L (Landing light): only if operated for hire (recommended always)
The Three Definitions of Night:
Purpose | Definition | Regulation |
Logging night | End of evening to beginning of morning civil twilight | 1.1 |
Currency (passengers) | 1 hour after sunset to 1 hour before sunrise | 61.57b |
Position lights / equipment | Sunset to sunrise | 91.205c, 91.209 |
Position Lights:
Red (left), green (right), white (tail)
Required sunset to sunrise (91.209 — turn them ON)
Equipped for night (91.205c)
NOT Required (Night):
Flashlights (essential, but not a regulatory requirement)
GPS/glass panels
Radios (unless airspace requires)
Landing light for private (not-for-hire) ops (recommended)
Inoperative Night Equipment:
Night-only item inop: may be legal for DAY VFR but not NIGHT VFR
Defer per 91.213(d): not required by 91.205 for the operation, not on equipment list/KOEL, not required by AD
Placard "INOPERATIVE," deactivate, determine not a hazard
Key Principle:
Night VFR requires the day VFR equipment (ATOMATOFLAMES) PLUS FLAPS — Fuses (if used), Landing light (if for hire), Anti-collision lights, Position lights, and a Source of electrical power. Position lights must be on sunset to sunrise (91.209), but "night" is defined differently for logging (civil twilight), currency (1 hour after sunset to 1 hour before sunrise), and equipment (sunset to sunrise). An inoperative night-only item may still permit day VFR.
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Author: Nathan Hodell
CFI, CFII, MEI, ATP, Creator and CEO
Nathan is an aviation enthusiast with thousands of hours of flying and dual instruction over the past 15+ years. Through his aviation career he has been able to earn his ATP, fly as an airline pilot, own/operate flight schools, and create and host wifiCFI.