Getting the NVFR rating

It has long been felt by flight instructors that the NVFR rating was meant to assist pilots to get home after dark or to get a pilot away for an early start. Given the fact that most NVFR flights are conducted in single engine aircraft the rating has both operational and commonsense limitations to it. It cannot really be used for commercial work although NVFR Ag work is possible. History also records that flying single engine aircraft cross country at night can be a problem should a fault develop with the gyro instruments, the electrical system, the aircraft lighting, the engine, the avionics, and most importantly, the weather.

In order to get a NVFR rating the usual route is for a pilot is to undertake night circuit instruction and nav aid work to a satisfactory standard, then do several dual cross country training flights before going for a test with an Authorised Test Officer (ATO). A minimum of 10 hours night training is required. There is no written examination for the rating but the student will be subjected to a probing quiz by the ATO and any quality flying school will have an internal self-education program to complete. There are several study books available for use to assist in obtaining the knowledge required to obtain the rating. CAO 40.2.2 and CAAP 5-13.2(0) spell out the CASA requirements.

Flight instructors are required to obtain a NVFR rating before they complete the flight instructor course.

Now the fun starts.

To go night flying, even circuits, the student will require an aircraft that is both night flight legal and night airworthy on the day. The lighting system and instrumentation must be airworthy for night flying. Then the student has to be available when the night current instructor is available. The weather also has to be suitable for the night flight be it circuits or cross country. Circuits weather can be less critical than for a cross country. Aerodrome lighting and suitable nav aid availability are also considerations.

Once the training has been completed then an ATO has to be obtained to conduct the test given the above elements. It really is a case of getting all the ducks lined up in a row. For the instructor it can mean coming in late on the night flight date and not flying the next morning in order to meet flight and duty limitations. Should the flight be cancelled due to weather or other reasons the instructor may not be readily available for the next night as he may have other day flight bookings and has already effectively lost a day of daytime flight training. The postponing of a night flight is one of the biggest problems with night training as it means that once again the ducks have to be lined up in order for the next flight to take place. Some students seem to expect that the instructor will be constantly available for them with no consideration for the instructor’s daytime training commitments, flight & duty limitations or even that the instructor has a life outside flying.

It can be good that the student has more than a just-acquired private licence. Daytime cross country flying, after obtaining the licence, will give the new pilot much needed added experience.

How many pilots actually use the NVFR rating beyond just obtaining it is anyone’s guess. It is acknowledged that night flying is a whole new ball game over and above daytime flying. Things that happen during daytime flying might not be given second thoughts but by night can be a major issue. Weather, the engine and the vac pump driven gyro instruments are things that stand out as being potential major issues. There is also the aspect of night recency.

A flight of one hour duration per annum is required to maintain currency. A pilot also needs to have made at least one take-off and landing in the preceding six months. In order to carry passengers the pilot must have carried out three landings within the preceding 90 days. If outside 90 days the pilot needs to do three night landings to regain the passenger carrying currency.

Maintaining currency is probably the biggest drawback to holding the rating but night currency is more critical than day currency.

In summary the NVFR rating is a good ticket to have if only for the experience and flight skills that are required to obtain it. It is however a rating that has limitations to it and should be flown with the respect that it deserves.

Contact Dave by email at [email protected]