How much does the Night cost?

The Night Rating typically costs €1,000–€2,500 for flight training, excluding theory exam fees. Costs vary significantly by country and training organisation.

How long does the Night take?

The Night Rating typically takes 5–10 flying hours to complete, depending on your existing experience and how intensively you train.

What licence do I need for the Night?

You need a PPL(A) to begin Night Rating training.

All add-on ratings

Night

Night Rating

The Night Rating permits holders of a PPL to fly VFR at night — without it, PPL privileges are restricted to daylight hours. It is one of the simplest add-on ratings to obtain in terms of theory and training hours, but opens up a wider range of flying environments and is a prerequisite for pilots planning to build hours towards a CPL or ATPL.

Duration

5–10 flying hours

Typical cost

€1,000–€2,500

Requires

PPL(A)

Exam topics

6 key areas

Prerequisites

PPL(A)
Valid Class 2 Medical (or higher)

What you'll learn

Night visual circuit flying

Navigation by landmarks and lights

Instrument interpretation at night

Night emergencies and forced landing techniques

Human performance in darkness (visual illusions)

Lighting systems — airfield, aircraft, obstacle

Theory exam topics

These are the areas covered in the written theory exam for the Night.

Human performance — visual illusions, dark adaptation, night vision
Night visual circuits and crosswind technique
Navigation by night — beacons, lights, dead reckoning
Airfield lighting systems (PAPI, VASIS, edge lights)
Emergency procedures at night
Aircraft lighting requirements for night VFR

Authority differences

EASA Night Rating requires 5 hours night flying including 3 hours dual and 1 hour solo cross-country by night. FAA night flight training is embedded in the Private Pilot Certificate requirements. UK CAA follows EASA standards post-Brexit.