When landing at a non-towered field at night, what should pilots do with the lights?

Setting the lights to the brightest level during the approach and then lowering them once established on final is the recommended practice for landing at a non-towered field at night. This approach maximizes visibility for the pilot and helps with the identification of the runway and its surroundings during the critical phases of the landing.

Using the brightest setting enhances the aircraft's visibility to ground personnel and ensures the pilot can clearly see the runway environment, including any potential obstacles or other aircraft. Once the pilot is established on final approach and aligned with the runway, reducing the brightness can minimize glare and improve the pilot's ability to see the runway lights and visual references.

Other options, such as keeping the lights off or switching them off during the approach, would reduce the aircraft's conspicuity and could lead to difficulties in accurately assessing the landing environment. Leaving the lights on at all times might not provide the same beneficial effect of controlling brightness according to the phases of flight, especially during landing, when clarity and focus are critical.