The first step towards enjoying flight is completing the training leading to the Private Pilot Licence PPL(A). With a PPL(A), you can fly freely – though all flights must be completed before sunset. Fortunately, at Smart Aero Flight Academy we have a straightforward solution to this limitation. If you want to fly not only during the day but also at night, the fastest and most effective way to do so is to obtain the Night VFR rating.

This training typically consists of a one-day theoretical course followed by practical training – a minimum of 5 hours of night flying with an instructor, including supervised solo landings. Night operations are an extraordinary experience, particularly at the professionally lit controlled airport in Modlin, where all our night training takes place.

During this course, you will learn how to conduct efficient navigation on night cross-country flights, become familiar with take-offs and landings in reduced visibility, and discover the outskirts of Warsaw from a perspective unlike any other.

Requirements to commence VFR Night training

The Night VFR rating is an extension of an existing LAPL(A) or PPL(A) licence. To enrol in this course, you must:

• hold a valid LAPL(A) or PPL(A) licence,
• have at least 5 hours of flight time on the aircraft type used for the course,
• hold a valid Class 1 or Class 2 aviation medical certificate,
• have completed at least five landings in the preceding two weeks on the aircraft type used for training,
• have completed an instrument flight within the previous six months.

How is VFR Night training conducted?

The Night VFR rating consists of two main parts. The first is a one-day theoretical course, during which you will cover:

• minimum VMC conditions,
• regulations applicable to night flying,
• rules governing airspace at night,
• collision avoidance procedures and navigation lighting,
• risks of spatial disorientation at night,
• recovery from loss of orientation in night conditions,
• physiological aspects of night vision, spatial awareness, and visual illusions,
• chart reading under cockpit lighting conditions,
• on-board instruments – operation, function, and potential errors,
• causes and mitigation of deteriorating meteorological conditions at night,
• interpretation of weather forecasts,
• practical principles of night navigation,
• flight planning and the use of safety altitudes.

After completing the theoretical course, you proceed to a minimum of 5 hours of practical training, which consists of two stages. The first is a navigation flight of at least one hour, including at least one cross-country leg of a minimum distance of 50 km conducted with an instructor. The second stage comprises five supervised full-stop take-offs and landings.

Throughout training, the instructor places particular emphasis on navigation skills in reduced visibility. You will learn how to take off and land in entirely new conditions, how to prepare the aircraft properly for night operations, and how to apply procedures that often differ from those used in daytime flying. All training is conducted in night conditions.

Upon completing both parts of the course, the student receives the appropriate licence endorsement permitting night flight operations.

Cost of VFR Night training

The VFR Night course comprises 5 hours of theoretical instruction and a minimum of 5 hours of practical flight training. The total cost (theoretical and practical combined) starts from approximately 7,245 PLN gross. It should be noted that NVFR training undertaken as part of a professional pilot training programme may be VAT-exempt.

Benefits of obtaining the VFR Night rating

With the Night VFR rating, you will be able to conduct flights after sunset – offering a completely new flying experience, particularly during the long winter evenings. This is not the only benefit, however. The rating also permits night flight operations across the European Union, provided you hold an ICAO English Language Proficiency endorsement at a minimum of Level 4.

The Night VFR rating is also the first step on the path towards obtaining the Instrument Rating IR(A).