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SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/drone-night-definition

For FAA rules, when does night begin?

At the end of evening civil twilight, about 30 minutes after sunset in the lower 48.

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  1. At the end of evening civil twilight ✔
  2. At official sunset
  3. At 8 p.m. local time

Why: The FAA defines night as the time between the end of evening civil twilight and the beginning of morning civil twilight. Outside Alaska, Part 107 treats civil twilight as the 30 minutes before sunrise and after sunset.

Huh, didn't know that: Morning civil twilight starts 30 minutes before official sunrise, so the rule for lights applies at dawn too.

The dad joke
Why did the drone wait for twilight? It wanted to make a glowing entrance.
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References

Answer: At the end of evening civil twilight. The FAA defines night as the time between the end of evening civil twilight and the beginning of morning civil twilight. Outside Alaska, Part 107 treats civil twilight as the 30 minutes before sunrise and after sunset.

  1. 14 CFR 1.1 General definitions www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-A/part-1/section-1.1
    Night means the time between the end of evening civil twilight and the beginning of morning civil twilight
    Checked 2026-10-09.
  2. 14 CFR 107.29 Operation at night www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-F/part-107/section-107.29
    Except for Alaska, a period of time that begins 30 minutes before official sunrise and ends at official sunrise
    Checked 2026-10-09.

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