This guide will focus on the essentials required for obtaining a night rating, which is a certification that allows you to operate an aircraft outside of VFR.
Flying at nighttime requires skill, practice, and a lot of theoretical and practical training – but the truth is, flying after sunset is a wonderful experience and opens up several flying scenarios and opportunities for private pilots who want more from their licence and training.
Night-time flying may seem daunting at first. After all, you will be flying in pitch black with nothing but your instruments to help you guide you through the skies, but for pilots who are equipped with the proper tools and skills, it can be a freeing experience.
Witness glittering cities and get new perspectives through breathtaking views at night! This guide will focus on the essentials required for obtaining a night rating, which is a certification that allows you to operate an aircraft outside of VFR. We will also be sharing a few top practice questions to give you an idea of what you can expect during your training and theoretical learning for a night rating.
ADVANTAGES OF NIGHT-TIME FLYING
There are several advantages of night-time flying and here are some of the top reasons that might entice any ambitious private pilot to pursue a night rating:
Free Skies
Ever notice how traffic is just more tamed or less during late hours of the night while driving your car? It’s the same concept. Nighttime flying is more relaxed since there is less air traffic. This means that you will not only be able to fly peacefully, but you won’t have to worry about flight scheduling or busy airspaces. Most private pilots don’t have a night rating which means that they are only allowed to fly under Visual Flight Rules.
Furthermore, pilots flying at relatively lower altitudes usually have the added risk of bird strikes. However, at night, the majority of species of birds take to their nests - and when there aren’t enough planes in the sky, you might get a higher clearance which can significantly reduce this risk.
Smoother Experience
During clear nights, there is far less friction against the wings which makes for obstruction-free sailing across the sky, unless you bump into a cloud. Less air traffic also translates to smoother cruising, since most pilots can sit back and not worry about the aircraft in their path.
Focused Communication
Less air traffic at night also frees up airwaves and allows for ATC to provide focused communication to a small number of pilots which automatically allows for better radio communication.
A New Perspective
Night flying has a few pleasant surprises! Sure, flying under the sun has the advantage of providing clear visibility, but at night, the cityscape looks different, the moonlight is calming, and you can experience the same routes with a different perspective.
Night flying is truly one of the most freeing experiences for pilots. It’s quiet, peaceful, and just beautiful, especially during a full moon!
PRACTICE QUESTIONS FOR NIGHT FLYING
Now that you know the advantages and basics of night flying, let’s look at some of the top practice questions that can help you get an idea or prepare you for what you can expect during your night flying training. Please note that not all questions may be in the form of MCQs during your training.
To give you a better understanding of the concepts and questions for this certification, we have divided the sample questions into multiple categories.
We encourage you to try out your knowledge and check out the list of answers at the end of the test.
Here are some key questions to keep in mind:
Night Vision and Physiology
These MCQs will test the candidate’s knowledge of night vision and gauge their understanding of basic physiology during night flights.
- What is the average time it takes for the human eye to adapt to low-light conditions fully?
- a) 5 minutes
- b) 10 minutes
- c) 30 minutes
- d) 60 minutes
- Why is it important to avoid bright lights before a night flight?
- a) To reduce eye strain
- b) To prevent temporary blindness
- c) To maintain night vision adaptation
- d) To save battery power in the cockpit
- What part of the eye is responsible for night vision?
- a) Cones
- b) Rods
- c) Retina
- d) Cornea
Aircraft Lighting
These questions focus on the hardware aspects of night flying and the correct status of these instruments before and during a night flight.
- What colour is the navigation light on the right (starboard) wingtip?
- a) Red
- b) Green
- c) White
- d) Blue
- What is the purpose of anti-collision lights?
- a) To identify aircraft type
- b) To illuminate the runway during taxi
- c) To warn other aircraft of your position
- d) To help pilots find the aircraft in a parking area
- Which light(s) must be illuminated during all phases of night flight?
- a) Landing lights
- b) Navigation lights
- c) Strobe lights
- d) Cockpit lights
Night Operations
These questions pertain to the various night operations that all private pilots must adhere to while flying outside of VFR.
- What is the minimum visibility requirement for night VFR flights in the UK?
- a) 1,500 meters
- b) 3,000 meters
- c) 5,000 meters
- d) 10,000 meters
- What is the minimum altitude for night VFR flights over built-up areas?
- a) 500 feet above ground level (AGL)
- b) 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within 600 meters
- c) 2,000 feet above mean sea level (MSL)
- d) 1,500 feet AGL
Weather and Navigation
Pilots must be aware of all the weather and navigation requirements for night flights. These questions test the basic knowledge of pilots for these variables.
- What is the primary navigation method used for night flights?
- a) Visual navigation
- b) Dead reckoning
- c) Instrument navigation
- d) Pilotage
- When encountering reduced visibility at night, what is the recommended action?
- a) Descend to a lower altitude
- b) Climb to maintain terrain clearance
- c) Increase speed to reduce flight time
- d) Turn back or divert to a suitable airport
Emergencies and Instrumentation
Pilots can face several obstacles and emergencies which is why they need to know their instrumentation front and backwards! Here are some questions to test the general aptitude of pilots while conducting a night flight.
- What is the most important instrument for maintaining straight-and-level flight at night?
- a) Attitude indicator
- b) Altimeter
- c) Heading indicator
- d) Vertical speed indicator
- During an engine failure at night, what is the recommended initial action?
- a) Turn on all landing and strobe lights
- b) Look for the nearest lit area to land
- c) Maintain best glide speed and prepare for an off-field landing
- d) Activate emergency transponder code
- What should you do if cockpit lighting fails during a night flight?
- a) Use a flashlight or backup lighting to illuminate instruments
- b) Rely solely on external navigation aids
- c) Immediately return to the departure airport
- d) Descend to a lower altitude for better visibility
That’s it! Congratulations on reaching the end of the test. Please feel free to check your answers using the answer sheet below.
How many did you get right? What are the learning points for the questions that you got wrong?
This test was designed to give a taste of what private pilots can expect while pursuing a night rating. While these are samples, you can expect questions of a similar nature during your training as well.
Answers
- c) 30 minutes
- c) To maintain night vision adaptation
- b) Rods
- b) Green
- c) To warn other aircraft of your position
- b) Navigation lights
- b) 3,000 meters
- b) 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within 600 meters
- c) Instrument navigation
- d) Turn back or divert to a suitable airport
- a) Attitude indicator
- c) Maintain best glide speed and prepare for an off-field landing
- a) Use a flashlight or backup lighting to illuminate instruments
NIGHT FLIGHT SAFETY
Apart from tests, there are several other factors that private pilots must keep in mind before pursuing their night rating. Here is a short guide for how to conduct night flights using the most important safety considerations:
Available Airports
Knowing about all available airports is standard practice but becomes more critical during night flights. In case of an emergency due to poor visibility, mechanical fault, or the added stress of flying at night, pilots will have to ground their aircraft as quickly and safely as possible.
This is why every private pilot must know all the available airports that they can access during their route at night.
Higher Altitudes
Higher altitudes may prove to be a safer and better way to train for night flights. For example, during an emergency, the few extra minutes it will take to get to the ground may allow for important decisions that may aid the pilot.
Additionally, the extra altitude may also come in handy when gliding due to a power failure, in which case the few extra miles can make a lot of difference.
Keep a flashlight handy
This goes without saying. Having visibility inside the cockpit is crucial! This is why you should always carry a flashlight.
This is also important for pre-flight inspections at night where you would have to keep a high-beam flashlight handy. Keep in mind that smartphone flashlights may be convenient but may not provide the kind of power you need.
Supplemental oxygen
Lack of oxygen during emergencies can exacerbate problems when you are flying in pitch black. It can cause disorientation and may also induce panic in pilots.
This is why you should ideally carry supplemental oxygen in case you plan on flying the aircraft above 5000 feet. However, you must ensure that the oxygen is stored correctly since it is highly flammable and can prove hazardous on an aircraft.
Rest in the daytime
Everyone’s physiology is different. However, what remains constant is the body's ability to perform better when it is rested. If you plan to operate an aircraft during the late hours of the night, then it would be a good idea to adjust your sleep cycle so that you can rest during the day and be active during your night flight.
Please note that your physical and mental health will be in optimal condition if you are well-rested and that a foggy brain cannot make quick decisions. When you are well-rested, you minimise the risk of physiological problems and can be alert during each phase of your flight.
We also encourage pilots to remain hydrated. Night flying can be exciting, but it is also important that you remain active and hydrated during your flight as dehydration can affect your body’s ability to react and your brain's capacity to process information quickly. While you may think that caffeine might be a good option, too much of it can be detrimental for you during your flight.
WHAT LICENCE DO YOU NEED TO FLY AT NIGHT?
Night flying doesn’t have any particular licence requirement. You can fly after dark on a Private Pilot Licence (PPL), a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL), as well as the Light Aircraft Pilot Licence (LAPL). However, what is important is that you get the right theoretical and practical training from a qualified flight school like Sherburn Aero Club.
If you have taken up aviation as a hobby and want to explore more than just the UK, then the licence of choice for you would be the Private Pilot Licence (PPL) while the Light Aircraft Pilot Licence (LAPL) would be reserved for hobbyists that wish to stay within the borders of the UK.
The important thing to keep in mind is that you will need to work for your ability to fly at night. In other words, you will have to spend additional training hours and enrol in classes that will allow you to obtain a Night Rating.
None of these licences, whether general or commercial, automatically qualify the holder to be able to fly at night so make sure you start your journey right and obtain your Night Rating using the right programme at your club or flight school.
WHY CHOOSE SHERBURN AERO CLUB?
Sherburn Aero Club has been operational since 1964 and is the ideal place for all of your training and flying needs. We cater to brand-new flyers who have just started their journey to the skies, as well as seasoned flyers who have been operating aircraft for decades.
With a large fleet of new aircraft and an airfield refurbishment with new runways, hangars, and an extended clubhouse, we cater to brand-new flyers who have just started their journey to the skies, as well as seasoned flyers who have been operating aircraft for decades.
If you wish to begin your career in aviation or wish to take to the skies as a hobby, Sherburn’s flight training school offers private and commercial licences, along with pilot medicals to ensure a smooth journey going forward.
Sherburn offers a dedicated day-long Flight Radiotelephony Operator’s Licence (FRTOL) course for those wishing to get the certification, running the first Sunday of every month.
The club also has a dedicated weather webcam that constantly monitors the meteorological conditions in the aerodrome to help pilots decide whether it's safe to take to the skies or not.
For those who wish to experience the thrill of a flight for fun or to help fuel their aviation dreams, Sherburn offers experience flights for the newbie, as well as the veteran. The flight experience option is also available for people who wish to take to the skies for special occasions, even if they aren’t into aviation in the long run.
Call us on 01977 682 674, email us at flightdesk@sherburnaeroclub.com, or message us via our online contact form for more information on flying after dark and adding a Night Rating on top of your Private Pilot Licence (PPL).
Photo by Benjamin Voros on Unsplash
