On Oct. 7, a small plane was flying around the area where I live, by the Kendall-Tamiami Airport. It was almost 8 p.m. and the plane had no lights whatsoever.

I called 911. The 911 operator transferred me to the police. The police officer called the airport control tower and explained my concern to the controller.

I saw the plane disappear in the dark sky. My understanding is that small planes have no radar to advise them if another plane is approaching.

Since I live very close to the Tamiami Airport, I'm always concerned about airplane crashes. I have never seen a plane flying at night without any lights on. Can you please clarify for me if my concerns are unwarranted?

-- Mirta Rudolph, Miami

A.We contacted Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen. You are right, it is not OK for a plane to fly at night, after sunset, without lights.

Pilots flying into and out of Tamiami Airport must be in communication with the FAA's airport traffic control tower, Bergen said.

FAA controllers in the tower observe all aircraft visually, and on the tower radar, to ensure that pilots maintain the required separation, to advise pilots about other air traffic in the area and to provide air traffic control instructions.

Between sunset and sunrise, pilots must turn on their airplane navigation lights so other pilots can see them, and controllers can identify their location on the airfield and in the sky, Bergen said.

If air traffic controllers observe aircraft flying without their lights on, they will remind pilots to turn on their lights.

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