night rating

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.

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Program Requirements

Requirements:

You must have a Valid Private Pilots Licence (PPL).
Pass a Practical Flight Test, conducted by a Grade One Designated Flight Examiner (DFE).
You will have to complete 10 Hours Of Instrument Flight Time, of which 5 may be carried out in an approved simulator, and the balance in an aircraft. This is actually 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 of at least 150 NM’s with 2 full stop landings at two separate airfields away from base.
A basic Instrument flight test will be required, conducted by a Grade 1 or 2 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. This form, together with the required fee, is taken to the SA-CAA, for the night rating to be included in your licence.

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Duration

24 Months

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many flight hours does a student graduate with?

Students graduate with a total of 200 flight hours as part of the training programme.

Which licenses does the student receive?

During the training pathway, students obtain a Private Pilot Licence (PPL), Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL), and Frozen ATPL.

Which ratings does the student receive?

Students also receive important ratings, including Instrument Rating, Night Rating, and Multi-Engine Rating.

What do these ratings mean?

Ratings are additional qualifications gained alongside the main licence. They allow the student to operate aircraft in different flight conditions and training environments.

What does Frozen ATPL mean?

Frozen ATPL means the student has completed the theoretical requirements for an Airline Transport Pilot Licence and passed the required exams, while the licence becomes fully active after completing the required flight hours.

How many flight hours are needed for a full ATPL?

Pilots typically need 1,500 flight hours to meet the requirements for activating a full ATPL (Airline Transport Pilot License).

I graduated with 200 hours. How do I reach 1,500 hours?

After graduation, students can build flight hours by working in the industry. One possible pathway is working as a flight instructor, provided the required conditions are met.

Where can I build those flight hours?

Students can build flight hours within the same training environment where they studied, or through later work and training opportunities depending on their career path.

Will I train on small aircraft or large aircraft?

Training is conducted on approved training aircraft designed for both basic and advanced stages of the flight programme.

Can you give examples of the training aircraft?

Examples of training aircraft include Cessna 172, Piper PA30, and Piper PA44.

Are the licences recognised?

The licences are issued under the aviation authority governing the training in South Africa, and the required conversion or validation process can be completed depending on the country where the student plans to work.

Can I work in Egypt & other countries with these licences?

Yes, but students must complete the required licence conversion and equivalency procedures with the relevant authorities in Egypt.

What is licence equivalency?

Licence equivalency is the process of converting or validating a licence issued in South Africa so it matches the civil aviation requirements of the country where the student wants to work.