Daylight
Daylight means the period between the beginning of morning civil twilight and the end of evening civil twilight. For aviation purposes in Canada, daylight determines the boundary between day and night operations and defines when night VFR equipment requirements begin. It is not the same as sunrise to sunset.
Civil Twilight Definition
Civil twilight begins when the sun is 6° below the horizon — before sunrise in the morning and after sunset in the evening. During civil twilight, there is enough natural light that artificial lighting is not generally required for ground operations. For aviation, daylight extends through civil twilight, providing a broader usable period than strictly sunrise-to-sunset.
Night Definition in CARs
CARs define “night” as the period from the end of evening civil twilight to the beginning of morning civil twilight. Night operations (night VFR, Night Rating currency) begin and end at civil twilight, not at astronomical sunset/sunrise. For flight planning purposes, published twilight times are found in the CFS and in aviation weather resources.
On the TC Written Exam
Know that day VFR is permitted during daylight which extends through civil twilight. Night is officially from end of evening civil twilight to beginning of morning civil twilight.