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What the UK rules and guidance say about landing a helicopter at night at a private site: lighting, portable lights and the ground itself.
At night the pilot cannot judge the size, shape, surface or surroundings of a landing area by eye the way they can by day. That is why UK guidance treats night use of a private site as a step up from day use. The main points, each explained with its source on the pages below:
Night is half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise (Air Navigation Order 2016, schedule 1).
What counts as night, who must provide lighting, and the difference between estimated, measured and surveyed sites.
What the law asks of site lighting, what the official guides say about perimeter lights, floodlights, wind indicators and obstacle lights.
The kinds that exist, what the documents say, and why there is no official list.
Grass, hardcore, concrete, asphalt, mats and portable pads: loading, loose objects, markings and drainage.
Whether a particular site is open to night landings is the owner’s decision and is not something this guide can confirm. Many private sites decline night arrivals because of neighbours and noise. Each site page shows what its own website says about helicopters, and a daylight table for that exact spot. Browse the full list of sites, read the guide to building a helicopter pad at home, or read the general landing rules and the helicopter types that use private sites.
It can, but only at a site the operator has surveyed for night use and only where there is enough lighting. UK guidance (CAA CAP 3043) says estimated and measured sites are day only, and a surveyed site can be used by night if adequate lighting is provided. The pilot in command decides on the day.
In the Air Navigation Order 2016 night runs from half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise. Every site page on this guide has a daylight table worked out for its exact position.
The person in charge of the site. CAP 3043 says the pilot must check, before a night approach and before a night departure, that the nominated person in charge has provided sufficient lighting.
We found none. No UK, ICAO or EASA document we could read lists or approves portable lights for private helicopter sites. CAP 3043 only records that many operators use portable lighting to mark the landing point and obstructions. Ask the operator what it accepts.
No. The CAA publishes detailed lighting figures for hospital heliports (CAP 1264) and offshore helidecks (CAP 437). They are useful as a reference for a private site but are not binding on one.
Where a line is tagged Verify we could not read the primary text, or the source does not state it. Treat it as unconfirmed until you have checked.
