NIGHTRATING
Extend your flying beyond sunset. The Night Rating opens a new dimension of aviation, cities glittering below, smooth air, quiet radio, and experiences that daylight flying simply cannot match.
Extend Your Horizons
The Night Rating is an additional qualification that allows Private Pilot Licence holders to exercise the privileges of their licence during the hours of darkness. Without this rating, PPL holders are restricted to flight from thirty minutes before sunrise to thirty minutes after sunset. The Night Rating removes this limitation, opening up the full twenty-four hours of the clock to your flying.
Practical Flexibility
No longer must you rush to complete a flight before sunset or cancel because winter daylight hours are too short. Cross-country flights that would be impossible in a single winter day become feasible. Evening departures and arrivals open up entirely new possibilities.
A Different World
London viewed from a helicopter at night becomes a living map of light and shadow, the Thames a dark ribbon winding through illuminated streets. The peace of night flying, the radio quieter, the airspace less congested, offers a meditative quality many pilots find profoundly satisfying.
Sharper Skills
Night flying demands greater precision, more thorough planning, and heightened situational awareness. Pilots who complete a Night Rating invariably report that their daylight flying improves as well. The disciplines learned at night carry over into all operations.
Prerequisites
PPL(H) Holder
Valid Private Pilot Licence for Helicopters
100 Hours Total
Minimum total flight time accumulated
60 Hours PIC
As Pilot in Command, demonstrating experience
Medical Certificate
Valid Class 2 medical or LAPL medical
Training Process
Ground School
1-2 DaysComprehensive theory covering night operations, visual illusions, spatial disorientation, physiological factors, equipment requirements, and flight planning considerations specific to night flying.
Dual Night Circuits
2-3 HoursCircuit work at Denham Aerodrome with its excellent lighting systems. Learn to judge height and distance using runway lights, develop night scan patterns, and practise approaches and landings in altered visual conditions.
Night Navigation
2-3 HoursCross-country navigation exercises learning to read a new landscape of lights: towns, motorways, and illuminated features. Includes flight to and from another aerodrome and emergency procedures training.
Skills Test
1-2 HoursFinal assessment with a CAA examiner demonstrating your ability to handle all aspects of night operations safely. Upon passing, the Night Rating is entered in your licence.
Denham Aerodrome
Mon – Sun · 08:30 – 17:00
Frequently Asked
What is a Night Rating?+
How long does the Night Rating course take?+
Can I fly in cloud or poor visibility at night?+
What aircraft is used for night training?+
When is night training conducted?+
Will my daylight flying improve after night training?+
Discover the Night Sky
Contact our training team to discuss the Night Rating, review your logbook, and check whether you meet the prerequisites. Training is typically conducted during winter months when early darkness makes scheduling practical.