pilot#476398 Posted March 9, 2014 Posted March 9, 2014 As someone who loves to fly at night I have often wondered why some other countries require pilots to get a specific "night rating" and we (here in the States) do not? So, if there are any of you here who have this rating, or know a lot about it, could you please enlighten me as to why others require it but we don't, and what exactly a pilot must go through to get it? 1
Renaud Posted March 9, 2014 Posted March 9, 2014 For EASA land: If the privileges of a PPL for helicopters are to be exercised in VFR conditions at night, the applicant shall have: (1) completed at least 100 hours of flight time as pilot in helicopters after the issue of the licence, including at least 60 hours as PIC on helicopters and 20 hours of cross-country flight; (2) completed a training course at an ATO. The course shall be completed within a period of 6 months and comprise: (i) 5 hours of theoretical knowledge instruction; (ii) 10 hours of helicopter dual instrument instruction time; and (iii) 5 hours of flight time at night, including at least 3 hours of dual instruction, including at least 1 hour of cross-country navigation and 5 solo night circuits. Each circuit shall include a take-off and a landing. As you see, EASAland don't want the pilots fly...so complicated.Wonder why most of European guy want to go in USA for building time? As European, With Canadian and FAA licenses, I can tell you why I'm so happy to go on holidays in your country and enjoy the freedom or flying... EASA is a political band of Idiots, They just kill the industry nothing more! From this side of the pond, you keep the K.I.S.S attitude (so far!)...Flying by night is exactly like flying by day, except the light is out!
rick1128 Posted March 9, 2014 Posted March 9, 2014 As someone who loves to fly at night I have often wondered why some other countries require pilots to get a specific "night rating" and we (here in the States) do not? So, if there are any of you here who have this rating, or know a lot about it, could you please enlighten me as to why others require it but we don't, and what exactly a pilot must go through to get it? Actually we do require night training. It is just that we did it correctly the first time and required it as part of the initial certification, instead of as an additional rating. Keep in mind that in EASA land and other pilot certification environments that it is a license and that the government charges the pilot various fees to add ratings, so it is a taxing mechanism on pilots.
pilot#476398 Posted March 9, 2014 Author Posted March 9, 2014 I just thought that if its a seperate rating that maybe it required some type of advanced traing, like night autos, IIMC recovery, or CFIT avoidance, or something? I mean all I did was 10 trips around the pattern, a rather lengthy cross country, and a handful of pick-ups and set-downs with the lights off,...nothing really special! Oh' well?
apacheguy Posted March 10, 2014 Posted March 10, 2014 Autos at night? No thanks. Sounds a bit hairy. We don't even do maintenance test flights at night because of the higher risk. I do prefer to fly at night as well, less traffic, easier to see aircraft position lights, no sun cooking you in the cockpit, radios are pretty quiet, what's not to like?
Little Bird Posted March 10, 2014 Posted March 10, 2014 CASA (Australia) has a NVFR rating explained here, http://www.casa.gov.au/wcmswr/_assets/main/download/caaps/ops/5_13_2.pdfThe main details are 10 hours at night including nav of a specific time & distance. There is also "sufficient instrument flying time to achieve the specified standard". As our license previously did not include instrument time, this is something else that needs to be considered. It's a rather lengthy document so peruse it if you're interested.Interestingly, it only permits air work and private night flights, not charter. For this you need to meet recency requirements…and have a twin machine.I think an operator in Sydney considered doing night tours, but that aside, it's just the few Police, MPT (Marine Pilot Txfs), EMS and maybe ENG ships buzzing around, pretty quiet.I'm doing my FAA transition and have really enjoyed getting into the night flying. I do think it's strange though having to do an extra 20 hours night cross-country to qualify for (day only) Part 135 ops...
CharyouTree Posted March 11, 2014 Posted March 11, 2014 Autos at night? No thanks. Sounds a bit hairy. We don't even do maintenance test flights at night because of the higher risk. Also known as "Goggle appreciation night" during the IPC at Rucker... Fort Rucker: the only place left in the army where no one cares about illumination (that I know of). Can't have zero illum get in the way of the unaided time on the syllabus!
aeroscout Posted March 11, 2014 Posted March 11, 2014 Also known as "Goggle appreciation night" during the IPC at Rucker... Fort Rucker: the only place left in the army where no one cares about illumination (that I know of). Can't have zero illum get in the way of the unaided time on the syllabus!That's Mother Rucker for you.
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