How to log night flying time

The EASA definition of night, how to split a flight that crosses sunset, and how night landings are counted.

The short answer

Under EASA, night is the period between the end of evening civil twilight and the beginning of morning civil twilight. Only the part of the flight inside that period is night time, and it is logged as part of the total, not on top of it.

Splitting a flight across sunset

Take a flight off blocks at 18:40 and on blocks at 20:10, with civil twilight ending at 19:25. The total is 01:30, of which 00:45 is night. The landing counts as a night landing, the takeoff as a day takeoff.

Why the definition matters

Night time feeds the night rating, the 5 hours of night flying for the CPL, and your night passenger currency. The FAA uses different windows for different purposes, one hour after sunset for night currency, so a flight logged for both authorities may count differently in each.

Where caeloo fits

In caeloo you record the night portion alongside the total, it is always kept inside the block time, and night landings count straight into your night currency.