Night rating in the UK

[chester2005]

Night Qualification

Just getting a little confused about the NQ(H)

According to Lasors (quote below) for a NQ course 10 hours instrument and 5 hours flying need to be done.

Why is it then there are some schools in the UK offering a NQ(H) course for only 5 hours instrument and 5 hours night?

Answers welcome I am a little confused.
Thanks Chester



LASORS QUOTE

"The main features of the PPL(H) Night Qualification
Course are:
• 5 hours theoretical knowledge instruction;
• 10 hours dual helicopter instrument instruction -
this is in addition to any instrument instruction
completed prior to the course. The holder of an
IR(A) is credited 5 hours of this training;
• 5 hours helicopter night training, including 3 hours
dual instruction and 5 solo night circuits. Each
circuit shall include a take-off and landing.
• The course must be completed within 6 months."

[jemax]

The ten hours on instruments is done as part of your 30 hour commercial flying course. Then you can do the 5 hours night rating before your skills test.

Happen to have done the same myself last month for CPL

of course I have just noticed you are talking about PPL, so I have no idea about the 5 or 10 hour thing, but I needed to have done 15 hours instrument before I started the course,

5 hours in PPL and 10 hours during CPL course

[Bravo73]

I haven't got a copy of LASORS in front of me but I seem to remember it as follows:

<incorrect details snipped>


Edited to add: I now have LASORS in front of me so can confirm that:

10hrs dual helicopter instrument instruction - this is in addition to any instrument instruction completed prior to the course. The holder of an IR(A) is credited 5 hours of training.


Hope this helps,

B73

[Simon853]

JAA PPLs undertake 5hrs IF as part of the course.

Which is also allowed to be simulated, and not necessarily in a helicopter simulator.

Si

[ThomasTheTankEngine]

If you want to add a night rating to your PPL(H) national or JAA you need the following;

10 hours instrument flight training, 5 hours of this can be conducted in an approved simulator.

and 5 hours night instruction, including 3 hours dual, a navigation flight and 1 hour solo including 5 solo circuits.

So its 15 hours in total.

See JAR FCL 2 or LASORS for full details.

[chester2005]

Yes TTE thank you , thats what I have read also but I was questioning the two schools I have found that offer a NQ in only 5 hours IF and 5 hours night.

Do they know something we don't?

Thanks Chester

[ThomasTheTankEngine]

Hi Chester

I would say the 2 schools in question are mistaken.

[Billywizz]

the old UK PPL(h) did not need any instrument training whereas the JAA PPL(h) requires 5hrs of Instrument appreciation maybe that is where the schools are making the difference on the time

[scooter boy]

UK Helicopter Night Qualification

Can anyone please clarify the LASORS ruling on this for me.

As far as I understand it this involves a minumum of 5 hrs night and 10hrs Instrument flight. The book states that an IR(A) reduces the Instrument requirement to 5 hrs. As it is not specific about whether this is a JAA/CAA/FAA IR(A) does it matter which IR(A) one has?

Thanks,
SB

[scooter boy]

UK Helicopter Night Qualification

Can anyone please clarify the LASORS ruling on this for me.

As far as I understand it this involves a minumum of 5 hrs night and 10hrs Instrument flight. The book states that an IR(A) reduces the Instrument requirement to 5 hrs. As it is not specific about whether this is a JAA/CAA/FAA IR(A) does it matter which IR(A) one has?

Thanks,
SB

[thecontroller]

i would imagine it is a JAA IR. unless it says an "ICAO IR"

the JAA equate FAA licences/ratings with those coupons on the back of cereal packets

[chester2005]

JAA only counts

When i questioned the UK CAA about a similar reference made to "an IR" in LASORS i was told in no uncertain terms that if it doesn't say to the contrary, then all references are made to JAA qualifications and not ICAO.

You could check with the CAA to see if this has changed but i doubt it has.

Chester

[scooter boy]

Thanks Chester.
I will drop them a line for definitive clarification but you are probably right.
SB

[rotorboater]

Can anyone reccomend somewhere I can get a night rating in the UK.

(I know only bats & prats fly at night in a single engine but I just want to try it)

[Whirlygig]

On which type of helicopter? Also, you need to have 100 hours post-PPL before you can get the Night Qualification.

Cheers

Whirls

[helicopter-redeye]

The reply, 'somewhere dark' is not as daft as it sounds. From early April (2 months from now) you need an H24 airfield to have something open late enough to be in darkness, so get a move on.

Quite a few training fields (i.e. reasonable price) may only fly one or two nights a week at night and be licensed.

Geographically, where art thou?

(is the current/ Enstrom a clue ? ...)

h-r

[rotorboater]

Ideally I would like to do it in my own Enstrom but I have R22 & R44 ratings on my license. I don't mind where but would prefer midlands or North west.

There don't seem to be many airfields open at night so I don't think I can be too fussey.

[tomotomp]

try Blackpool heli centre

[206 jock]

I did mine last year in an R22/B206 at Sloanes: most of the airfield stuff was at Conington (but we also flew to Coventry once). Good guy and very 'practical' (PM me for a more precise definition!).
The biggest pain is the 10 hours of 'instrument appreciation'. At the risk of being called names, this is at least 5 hours too long and is designed I think to put people off!
I know Sywell isn't on your doorstep, but I'd recommend it if you can.

[helicopter-redeye]

For the NW, you've got Blackpool, Liverpool and maybe Harwarden as realsitic options. (Lit/ Licensed/FTO'ed). As you would not be done in one go you'd need to be able to drive home and need the flexibility about when the weather is bad as for the night flying components you need good vis.

Over this side you could fly before 8pm at Sheffield (low cost/ lit/ licensed) and probably also Doncaster although there are some restrictions at night at present due wrks, and I think Sherburn i E and Sandtoft.

If it is your machine (and it is night equipped) then you can take the instructor/ FTO of choice and the field of choice provided you have worked out the logistics of getting there and back for you both.

Choose soon. It will be too light otherwise!