Night Rating Course
Night Rating Course
GST Exclusive
CAA Part 141 certified training organisation — certificate #TR104722
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Get certified to fly after dark with the Night Rating course. Covering the CAA rules, human factors, and lighting requirements for safe night operations, DroneTrust combines online theory with a one-on-one practical assessment to get you flying at night, legally and confidently.
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This course qualifies you to fly a drone at night outside of a shielded operation, under either Part 101 or Part 102 rules.
The online theory covers the CAA's definition of night, how to determine when night officially begins and ends, human factors affecting night vision, drone lighting requirements, and emergency procedures, all delivered through readings, graphics, and short quizzes.
Once you've completed the theory, you'll book a practical night flight assessment (2-3 hours) with a CAA-approved examiner, who'll confirm you can operate safely at night in accordance with CAA rules and, where applicable, your organisation's Part 102 exposition.
You need a Night Rating if you plan to fly at night outside of a shielded operation:
- Under Part 101, flying unshielded at night, in addition to a Part 101 Pilot Certificate
- Under Part 102, flying unshielded at night for an organisation, in addition to a Part 102 Pilot Certificate and an active UAOC
You don't need a Night Rating if you only fly indoors at night, or within 100m horizontally and no higher than 10m above a natural or man-made object (a shielded operation), though the training is still recommended so you understand the hazards of low-light flying.
Good to know: once qualified, there's no formal recurrent assessment, but you need 3 take-offs and landings in the previous 3 months to stay current. Shielded night flights count toward this if needed.
$434 covers:
- Full online theory, covering definitions, rules and certification, human factors, lighting systems, operational planning, and emergencies
- One practical night flight assessment (2-3 hours) with an approved examiner
Not included:
- Examiner travel costs, if applicable
- A Part 101 or Part 102 Pilot Certificate (required alongside this rating, not included in it)
Note: this course must be completed within 12 months of purchase, including all theory and the practical flight test.
By the end of this course, you'll be able to:
- Apply the CAA's definition of night flying and determine when night begins and ends
- Understand certification and currency requirements for night flying under Part 101 and Part 102
- Apply human factors knowledge, including night vision and scanning techniques, to safe night flying
- Meet drone lighting requirements and understand how they differ from manned aircraft
- Plan a night flight, including take-off/landing site and emergency lighting considerations
- Respond correctly to night-flying emergencies, including loss of visual line of sight or control signal
Final assessment: a practical night flight test (2-3 hours) with an approved examiner.