Small Aircraft
Flight Crew Private; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 9.5; Flight Crew Total 2756; Flight Crew Type 1298
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Distraction; Fatigue; Training / Qualification
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors; Airport
I was returning to BED from the West. It was dark. I tuned in the ATIS. The current ATIS was broadcasting that BED was 'landing and departing Runway 23.' After copying the ATIS; I called BED Tower and reported my position as near Minuteman Airport (6B6) and informed the Tower that I was inbound landing with ATIS. The Tower Controller initially cleared me to enter a right downwind for Runway 29.  This confused me because the ATIS had stated that BED was 'landing and departing Runway 23.' I asked the Controller for confirmation of the runway assignment and he acknowledged that he had 'made a mistake' and told me to enter a right downwind for Runway 23. After I entered the control space; and near the airport; I noticed the high intensity runway lights and landing traffic was on Runway 29; while runway 23 had their lights on 'dim'.  Since the ATIS had not mentioned simultaneous operations to intersecting runways; I became disoriented. I mistook Runway 29 for Runway 23. I was so concerned that I even called the Tower and asked the Controller: 'Is the Aircraft Y lined up with the right runway?'The Tower Controller realized that something was not right and called me and asked me to confirm that I was setting up for right downwind 23 and offered me a clearance to enter a right downwind for Runway 29. I told him that I thought I could still correct; but I ended up flying through the final for Runway 23 and ended up on a left downwind for 23. At about this time; another aircraft; which I later learned was Aircraft Z arriving from the west had also turned inbound to Runway 23 from the north. The Tower Controller told me to turn 20 degrees further right which I did to widen out my downwind leg. Thanks to the Controller; the Aircraft Z was able to land safely and so was I.I now realize that several other factors contributed to my confusion.  I was more tired than I realized. I had a very long work week; yet this night was an opportunity to start flying more night flights; after being absent from this experience for over 16 months.  The pandemic means hazard [but not] if I bring an instructor to help me re-acquaint to night flying.   I allowed myself to be fooled by the warm weather; the light winds and the great visibility into thinking that it would be a good night to re-acquaint myself to cross-country night flying.  Tonight; with the lights dimmed in the cockpit; and the high intensity lights on Runway 29; a plane landing on 29; the lights dimmed on Runway 23; and my lack of night flying practice did this happen.I now realize that I had vastly underestimated the combined effects of fatigue; distraction and 'rust.' Added to that; my confusion resulting from the initial mistaken clearance to enter a right downwind for 29; the combination of bright runway lighting on a conflicting runway without any warning that such operations were being conducted; and traffic operating in unexpected directions all combined to make for a much more confusing situation than I ever would have expected.The controllers explained to me that even when Runway 23 is the operating runway; they still allow traffic to land and depart Runway 29 because Runway 23 is too short for some aircraft that use the field. Nevertheless; I believe that safety would be greatly improved if; during nighttime operations; the ATIS included the warning concerning operations being conducted simultaneously to conflicting runways. This is especially true at BED where runway alignment issues are already an issue. I believe that such a warning would have eliminated my confusion at seeing traffic landing and departing on Runway 29 and then mistaking it for Runway 23.
GA Pilot reported an airborne conflict after confusion identifying the correct runway for a night visual landing at BED airport.  Reporter cited lack of flying due to the COVID-19 pandemic was a contributing factor.