Airforcejunior

Hey guys,

Just a quick question, is there a time limit to send your night rating documents to the CAA after passing it? For example, I completed it in April 2010 how long until the CAA would not accept the application because it's too late?

Cheers.

mad_jock

The is no such thing as a night rating these days under UK JAR. Its a qualification and as such is based on experence training with no final test.

You have completed the required course. It never expires.

It is not uncommon for wannabies to not get it issued then to get the whole lot issued in one go ie CPL/IR/MEP because its cheaper. The night training is a requirement for issue but it can have been done at any point previously or even during the IR

Slopey

You need to do 3 take off and landings, one of which needs to be at night (if you want to take a pax at night), all within the last 90 days.

(Although if you've not flown for a year, might be better to go up with an instructor - the landings still count regardless who is PIC, the key being "as sole manipulator of the controls" or words to that effect).

S-Works

You did your night qualification not your night rating.......

Fuji Abound

Slight thread drift but I have never understood why they changed this one so the pilot without PAX could do a night landing whenever he felt like it even if the last night landing was 9 months ago. I have also never understood why night landing privilges are automatic with an IR even though you might never have landed an aircraft at night.

Night flying is one thing, but night landings are a little different; currency during day light doesnt in my opinion translate into the same currency at night - even though it would seem night landing accidents are not significant - so maybe I am wrong.

S-Works

Not quite. To get an IR you must have a night rating/qualification but if you hold an IR you are exempt from the currency requirements for night flight as long as the IR is current.

I should imagine that there are actually very few people who are actually exercising night privileges as a PPL due to the lack of airfields with suitable facilities. You also generally find that people have a great fear of lack of currency at night and more people tend therefore to seek Instruction hence why I think the accident stats are negligible?

Fuji Abound

Bose - yes, of course, I am corrected.

Yes I think that also explains the low accident rates. I am not in favour of regulation to deal with the few who dont take "instruction" because the law enables them not too (even though it is obvious they need to top up their currency) but I think the point is well made that it is worth a flight or two with an instructor as the nights draw in rather than believing you are as current as you were nine months earlier.

flybymike

I would have thought that at this time of year, instructors with recent night flying experience, are fairly thin on the ground.

S-Works

Not really, I am night current and know quite a few Instructors the same. Not difficult to find someone if you look.