During a go-around at night, what should pilots be particularly aware of?

During a go-around at night, pilots should be particularly aware of somatogravic or acceleration illusions. At night, the lack of visual references can make it difficult for pilots to gauge their aircraft's orientation and altitude accurately. This can lead to misinterpretation of the aircraft's position during a go-around, as the sensations from acceleration or deceleration may not align with the visual perception of the flight's condition.

The somatogravic illusion occurs when pilots experience a false sensation of pitch due to rapid acceleration or deceleration, which can happen during a go-around maneuver. This is especially critical at night when visual cues are minimal, and reliance on sensation becomes more pronounced. Understanding and being conscious of these illusions can help pilots correct their inputs and maintain proper aircraft control.

In contrast, while reduced visibility and other factors like sensitivity to turbulence and wing icing conditions may also be considerations during nighttime flying, the particular focus during a go-around is largely related to the risk of somatogravic illusions.