VFR Night
VFR Night Rating is an additional rating on your pilot license that allows you to fly Visual Flight Rules (VFR) at night.
VFR Night regulatory requirements
EASA FCL.810 sets the minimum :
- Minimum of 5 hours night flight time in the appropriate aircraft category, including:
- 3 hours dual instruction at night, including:
- At least 1 hour cross-country navigation (dual) with a flight of at least 50 km (27 NM) between aerodromes.
- 5 solo take-offs and 5 solo full-stop landings at night.
- 3 hours dual instruction at night, including:
- Theoretical instruction on night flying:
- Human performance and limitations at night.
- Night vision and illusions.
- Lighting systems.
- Night navigation and emergency procedures.
VFR Night Privileges
- Fly VFR at night without needing an Instrument Rating.
- Typically valid across all EASA member states .
- Often a stepping stone towards an Instrument Rating (IR) .
Remarks about the VFR Night rating
- in the EASA region VFR Night is required to fly IFR at night
- in some EASA countries (such as Greece), VFR Night flying is not allowed
- Weather minima and airspace restrictions for night VFR are often stricter — some states require radio contact and/or transponders for night ops.
What is VFR Night rating?
- It's not a separate license — it's an endorsement added to your Private Pilot License (PPL).
- EASA does not require formal revalidation for the night rating itself, but you must meet your license's general recency requirements.
- it is required to become a Commercial Pilot License - CPL(A) holder
- Without Night Rating , PPL privileges are restricted to daytime VFR only .
- With it, you can fly at night under VFR in good weather (outside controlled restrictions), typically from the end of evening civil twilight to the beginning of morning civil twilight .