Night Rating

The next step in your pilot training after completing your Private Pilot License, and one that improves your ability to fly in reduced visibility, is to obtain a Night Rating. This allows you to conduct or continue a flight during the hours of darkness and the benefit  of being less restricted when planning and executing a particular flight.

Night is defined for aviation purposes,  as 15 minutes after sunset to 15 minutes before sunrise.

Requirements for the issue of a night rating:

• You will have to complete 10 hours of Instrument time, of which 5 may be carried out in an approved simulator such as Foster Aero's AST 300, and the balance in an aircraft. The in aircraft training portion  is usually done during the day, as the emphasis is on learning to interpret instrument indications and control the aircraft purely by reference to these instruments.
• The law requires a minimum of 5 take offs and landings by night, as well as a night cross-country flight. This, again, is the minimum, and as a rule, one can expect to fly dual for 5 hours total at night.
• A basic instrument flight test will be required, conducted by a Grade One or Two flight instructor. This takes around 1 hour, and may be included in the mandatory 10 hours instrument training.
• Once the requirements have been met, an application form is completed, you will again make the journey to the SA-CAA, for the night rating to be reflected in your license.