The night rating is commenced after the completion of the Private Pilot’s Licence. We strongly advise obtaining your night rating even if you do not plan on obtaining your Commercial Pilot’s Licence. It is the introduction to instrument flying and forms the foundation for the instrument rating at the end of the training for the Commercial Pilot’s Licence. Initial training is done in a simulator, an FNPT-II, with final training being completed in the aircraft, the Cessna 172. The night rating comprises of 10 hours of instrument flying, 5 of which is in the simulator and 5 in the aircraft. It also comprises of 5 hours night flying which includes both circuit training and cross country flying. All testing is done by an approved Grade II instructor. There is also a SACAA exam which needs to be passed.
The next step in your pilot training, 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 is obvious in terms of being less restricted when planning and executing your particular flight.
