NIGHT RATING - AEROPLANE

Ref. CAR 421.42

If you are the holder of Private Pilot Licence (PPL) who does not want to be limited to daylight flying, you may want to consider the Night Rating. A Night Rating will allow you to expand your flying potential to 24 hours a day as it allows you to exercise the privileges of your licence at night. The Night Rating is an excellent rating to have for safety reasons and it is fairly simple to obtain!

HOW LONG WILL THE FLIGHT TRAINING TAKE?

On average, estimated training time would be:

  • Approximately 3 Weeks if flying 5 days per week
  • Approximately 5 Weeks if flying 3 days per week
  • Approximately 3.75 Months if flying 1 day per week

WHAT ARE THE AGE REQUIREMENTS FOR TRAINING?

  • You must be a minimum of 17 years of age and hold a valid Private Pilot Licence (PPL) to be issued a night rating

HOW MUCH FLYING TIME IS REQUIRED?

20 hours of pilot time as follows:

  • 10 hours of night flying time including a minimum of:

    • 5 hours dual night flying including 2 hours dual night cross country
    • 5 hours solo night flying including 10 takeoffs, circuits and landings

  • 10 hours dual instrument time (maximum 5 hours flight simulator)

Note: Any previous instrument training (including PPL instrument training) counts toward the 10 hour instrument training requirement

WHAT ARE THE AVIATION MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS?

  • Prior to beginning your flight training for the night rating, you must hold a valid Private Pilot Licence (PPL) and have a valid Category 1 or 3 aviation medical certificate from a Transport Canada-approved Civil Aviation Medical Examiner (CAME). If you are not planning to fly professionally as a Commercial pilot, a Category 3 medical is all that you need. Below is a list of approved list of medical examiners in the London, Ontario area:

Dr. Sirek

  • Office: 226-213-6700
  • Address: 701 Oxford Street East (London)

Dr. Chapeskie

  • Office: 519-461-0776
  • Address: Box 130, 21816 Fairview Road (Thorndale)

If you are from outside the London area, a list of Civil Aviation Medical Examiners can be found here on the Transport Canada website

DO I NEED TO WRITE AN EXAM?

  • No, there is no exam required for the night rating

IS A FLIGHT TEST REQUIRED?

  • No, a flight test is not required for the night rating

WHAT PRIVILEGES WILL I HAVE AFTER COMPLETION OF THE TRAINING?

  • A Private Pilot Licence allows you to fly single-engine, single pilot non-high-performance aircraft at night under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) weather conditions. You may not fly for hire or reward.

ARE THERE ANY PREREQUISITES TO TRAINING?

  • Candidate must hold a valid Private Pilot Licence (PPL) and a valid Category 1 or 3 Aviation Medical