What action should a pilot take to properly prepare for a night flight regarding vision adaptation?

The correct action a pilot should take to properly prepare for a night flight regarding vision adaptation is to avoid bright white lights for at least thirty minutes. This is crucial because the human eye takes time to adjust to low-light conditions, a process known as dark adaptation. Exposure to bright lights can significantly hinder this adaptation, making it difficult for pilots to see clearly in the dark and to perceive subtle visual cues, such as other aircraft, terrain features, or lighting on the ground.

When avoiding bright lights prior to a night flight, pilots allow their eyes to adjust to reduced lighting levels, enhancing their night vision capabilities. This adaptation involves a combination of physiological changes in the eyes, including the regeneration of rhodopsin (visual purple) in the rod cells, which improves sensitivity to low light.

While the other options might seem relevant to lighting and visibility, they do not specifically address the need for effective vision adaptation prior to night flight. For instance, using bright lights would detract from a pilot's ability to see in the dark, focusing only on cockpit instruments may neglect situational awareness outside, and ensuring exterior lights are on is more related to visibility to others rather than the pilot’s own vision adaptation. Thus, avoiding bright white lights is the direct action that