How to Get Your Drone 'Night Rating' Certification in NZ Before Summer Flying Season

November 8, 2025

Key Takeaways

Timing is critical: October offers the last practical opportunity to complete night training before summer's extended daylight severely limits evening darkness for practice flights.
Prerequisites required: You must hold an RPAS Pilot Certificate to Part 102 standard and operate under a UAOC with night privileges before pursuing drone night rating certification.
12-month completion window: The entire certification process—theory modules, exam, and practical flight test—must be finished within 12 months to ensure knowledge remains current.
Competitive advantage: Night rating certification opens exclusive operational windows for commercial work during cooler evening hours, providing services that daylight-only competitors cannot offer during peak summer season.

As October draws to a close, drone operators across New Zealand face a unique timing challenge. While most pilots eagerly await the extended daylight hours of summer, those looking to expand their capabilities should be focusing on something different: obtaining their drone night rating certification before the season arrives.

The irony isn't lost on experienced pilots. Summer's long days mean fewer opportunities to practise night operations, making October the ideal month to complete your certification whilst darkness still falls early enough to log meaningful flight hours.

Understanding the Night Rating Privilege

Flying drones at night outside of shielded operations requires a UAV Night Rating in addition to your RPAS Part 102 pilot certificate. This certification opens up a valuable operational window that many competitors cannot access, allowing you to offer services during cooler evening hours and capture unique footage unavailable during daylight.

The Night Rating qualifies you to act as pilot-in-command and conduct night drone operations in accordance with your Part 102 UAOC. However, there's an important distinction: if you're only flying indoors or within 100 metres of and below the height of a natural or man-made object—known as a shielded operation—you don't require the Night Rating at all. However, it is still recommended to complete night flying training to ensure you understand the unique challenges and hazards associated with operating drones in low light conditions.

Prerequisites for Night Certification

Before pursuing the drone night rating certification, you must meet two essential requirements. First, you must already hold an RPAS Pilot Certificate to Part 102 standard, demonstrating you're an experienced pilot. Second, you need to be operating for a UAOC that has night privileges.

These prerequisites ensure that only pilots with solid foundational skills and proper organisational support attempt the complexities of night operations.

The Certification Process

The night flying course consists of two parts: an online theory component and a practical flight assessment. The theory portion covers essential topics including the CAA's definition of night flying, determining official night times, human factors affecting night operations, drone lighting requirements, and emergency procedures.

After completing the online theory, you'll undertake a practical night flight assessment with a CAA-approved training organisation, which takes between 2 to 3 hours. During this assessment, you'll demonstrate your ability to safely operate at night while adhering to CAA rules and your Part 102 exposition.

One critical detail often overlooked: the entire course must be completed within 12 months, including all theory modules, the final open book exam, and the practical flight test. This timeframe ensures your knowledge remains fresh and readily applicable during the final practical assessment.

Why October Is Your Last Chance

The timing couldn't be more crucial. As New Zealand moves into summer, sunset times shift dramatically later. By December, many regions won't experience true darkness until after 9:00 PM, severely limiting practical training opportunities. The long twilight periods of summer also compress the available window for completing the required flight hours under proper night conditions.

Starting your certification process now in October means you can complete theory modules whilst building towards your practical assessment during conditions that still offer reasonable evening darkness. Waiting until summer means either training in the early morning hours—impractical for most operators—or postponing until autumn, losing six months of potential night operation privileges.

The Commercial Advantage

For commercial operators, drone night rating certification represents more than regulatory compliance—it's a competitive differentiator. Evening shoots offer cooler temperatures for equipment, reduced air traffic, and dramatic lighting opportunities. Property inspections, infrastructure surveys, and event coverage all benefit from the flexibility of night operations.

With summer's peak season approaching, operators with night ratings can offer extended service hours that daylight-only competitors simply cannot match. The certification positions you to capitalise on the busy months ahead whilst others remain grounded after sunset.

October's darker evenings won't last much longer. For drone operators serious about maximising their Part 102 privileges, now is the time to pursue night rating certification—before summer's endless daylight arrives.