What is a Night Rating?
A Night Rating affords the competent Private Pilot the chance to conduct operations at night. It effectively increases the versatility and skill of the pilot as flying at night requires comprehensive judgment to conduct a flight safely and effectively. It is a requirement for the aspiring Commercial Pilot to have a Night Rating and it’s also the practical second step to take towards their Commercial Licence (After their PPL).
A Night Rating affords the pilot the opportunity, not have to land the aircraft before it gets dark, effectively increasing range and time versatility. It has also been described, by many pilots, as a joy to fly at night because of the calmer weather, decreased traffic volumes and for many pilots the thrill of having their navigation and general aviation skills tested to a higher degree.
The Night Rating course will require the student to have at least five hours of theoretical knowledge lessons so that the student is well versed in the requirements and actions needed to pilot an aircraft at night, with on occasion, only the cockpit lights to illuminate the darkness.
The student will then learn the basics to piloting an aircraft at night, the procedures, cockpit drills, VOR and NBD navigation at night and at least 5 take-offs and landings by night. The course will culminate in the student conducting a night cross country of at least 150nm with two full stop landings at two different aerodromes.
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Syllabus for Night Rating:
Exercise |
Description |
Exercise 1 |
Intro to instruments
Reference of visual to instrument indications.
Basic attitudes and changes.
Human performance – false senses.
Scanning. |
Exercise 2 |
Instrument checks during taxi.
Straight and level at various speeds.
Climbing and descending.
Level turns at 30 deg. |
Exercise 3 |
Basic departures and clearance.
Level turns onto specific headings.
Climbing and descending turns.
Steep turns.
Intro to timed turns. |
Exercise 4 |
Timed turns.
Timed climb’s and descent’s
Intro to stalling. |
Exercise 5 |
Instrument take-off
Timed turns.
Stalling.
Unusual attitudes.
Simulated radar vectoring to final. |
Exercise 6 |
Limited panel.
Turns on the compass.
Timed turns.
Unusual attitudes.
Stalling. |
Exercise 7 |
Recap limited panel.
Incipient spin.
Combined climb, descend and timed turns. |
Exercise 8 |
Simulated patterns.
Intro. to QDM’s and QDR’s |
Exercise 9 |
QDM’s and QDR’s
Intro. to VOR Radials |
Exercise 10 |
Navigation at night |
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Where are we based?
Our Training Academy is based at Rand Airport on the South Eastern side of the Johannesburg CBD. Rand Airport has four runways that provide for little delay in taxing and getting airborne. Rand provides the perfect night circuit training area because of the low traffic volume and no control tower after 19:00 making circuit training quick and effective.
Rand is also located close to the Control area of O.R. Thambo International airport and is within visible distance of the large commercial traffic passing close to Rand airports ATZ. Rand’s close proximity to the Johannesburg CBD offers students the unbelievable view of the CBD lights at night.
Rand is centrally located between more then 10 different aerodromes, two of them being International; this allows the student a diverse cross country experience which shall afford him maximum theoretical and practical education. Our ground facilities include a large lecture room which is able to seat more than twenty students per lecture and a ground briefing and pre-flight area that provides the students a place to relax and revise before getting airborne.
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What are the requirements?
In order to qualify for the NIGHT RATING, you need to be at least 17 years of age, a holder of a valid Private Pilots Licence and a holder of a class one or two medical certificate. A practical flight test needs to be conducted by a grade two flying instructor. The following are the minimum requirements before undertaking the practical flight test:
- 10 Hours Instrument time with an instructor (Minimum).
- 5 Hours may have been done in an FSTD approved simulator.
- Must have undergone at least 5 hours of theoretical knowledge instruction.
- Must have completed at least 5 take-offs and five landings by night.
- A cross country flight not less than 150nm comprising of two full stop landings at different aerodromes
Once you have completed all the above mentioned you shall be eligible to receive your Night Rating.
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What is the cost?
5 Hours Instrument hours @ R 1515.00 per hour on PA28-181
5 Hours Instrument in a FSTD @ R 450.00 per hour
4 Hours Night flying @ R 1515.00 per hour on PA28-181
Total cost for flight training |
= R 7,575.00
= R 2,250.00
= R 6,060.00
= R 15,885.00 |
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Miscellaneous
Ground School -5 Briefing @ R 200.00 per briefing
CAA Fees
Minimum Total cost for NIGHT RATING |
= R 1,000.00
= R 350.00
= R 17,235.00 |
Please be advised this is only an estimated cost based on the MINIMUM requirements and that the total cost shall be based on student performance.
Terms: Due to practical consideration such as; weather, aircraft availability and serviceability, instructor availability and the progress of individual students, completion of any particular course may require more time and funding than specified in this quotation. The company reserves the right to terminate or suspend the flight training of any student at any time and will in such case, refund the student all funds in credit in that students account. Flight training shall not be conducted whilst in the possession of any weapons. |
