Night flight looking for...what?

[G4yvm]

Hi, I am a pilot and on the night of the 23rd this month I am tasked with flying around for four hours from about 2100 local out of Bristol. I dont know the flight plan yet but its out and back. Just curious as to what the passengers might actually be looking for, so that I can do my job better and give them aa decent look if it is in my gift.

david

[LeoLion]

Looks like an Omega Aurora (Northern Lights ) flight . Visit the website below and you will find your probable flight is listed on that date from that venue. Other links to these flights can be found on Paul Money's website and also that of Pete Lawrence.
Hope this helps
http://www.astrospace.co.uk/NLights.html

[stella]

Well, my guess is that they are interested in seeing comet
Lulin, which will be close to Saturn on that date, rising in
the East at around take-off time. However, it seems that
some discussion with the organizers would probably give
you a clearer indication of their target(s).

[@@]

looks like your spot on there LeoLion

[G4yvm]

Thanks guys. We will certainly be getting a full brief from our company, but there's nothing like a bit of background gen.


thanks again

david

[G4yvm]

Got the company brief now and we are tasked with "flying around searching for northern lights"!. Oh what a job!

David

[Hawk]

A couple of years ago I was on a night flight from Montreal to London and was lucky enough to look out of the window and catch a sight of the northern lights. Absolutely fantastic! Hope you manage to get some good views.

[Robin Scagell]

Hopefully you will be able to get some up-to-date info before your flight! I found this site which gives real-time data on the position and intensity of the auroral oval:

http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/pmap/index.html

Here's the map it shows which should be updated to when you view this page:



Just head north! But Comet Lulin will be more of a challenge through an aircraft window as it is not particularly bright.

Robin