What is the minimum flight visibility for helicopter operations under 1,000 feet AGL during the night?

The minimum flight visibility for helicopter operations at night when flying under 1,000 feet AGL is three miles. This requirement is stipulated to ensure that pilots have adequate visual reference to navigate and maintain situational awareness during low-light conditions.

Having a minimum visibility of three miles allows pilots to detect other aircraft, terrain, and obstacles, which is particularly important during night operations when depth perception and the ability to see visual references are considerably reduced. It also helps in ensuring safety margins for separation from other aircraft and enables adherence to airspace regulations.

Understanding the importance of visibility is crucial for maintaining operational safety, especially at night when conditions can change rapidly, and other visual cues are less pronounced. Thus, three miles is established as a standard to support safe and effective helicopter operations in such environments.