Lighting upgrades can be big work and are electrically intensive. But you don’t have to reinvent your panel to improve what’s visible in the dark of night.

By Larry Anglisano

It was close to midnight and after a long day of flying we were cooked. A couple miles out something just didn’t look right. If not for the landing light reflecting off the trees, we might not be here to review cockpit lighting upgrades. The instrument-panel lighting in that 70s-vintage Arrow was so poor we cranked in the wrong altimeter setting—misreading a two for a three in the Kollsman window.

Most round instruments are available with internal lighting, but you’ll pay a premium to get a replacement that’s internally lit.

There’s no reason to live with (or risk death due to) substandard cockpit lighting. Panel upgrades require skill and a decent budget. The good news is there are several options to light up your night. Some Human Factors …