Your Flight Begins with us
Build your night rating with confidence.
Night Rating Training
Course Information
- Prerequisite: Private Pilot Licence
- Minimum aircraft time: 15 hours
- Simulator time: 2 hours
- Additional instructor time: 2 hours
Fly Later, Train Smarter, and Build More Confidence
A night rating lets you expand your flying beyond daylight hours.
If you already hold a Private Pilot Licence, this course can help you fly with more flexibility, especially during shorter winter days. It can also be a smart step if you are starting to plan toward commercial pilot training.
At Adventure Aviation, we help you understand the requirements, build your skills, and move forward with clear instructor support.
Night rating Requirements
To complete the Night Rating, your aircraft time is broken into:
- 10 hours of dual instruction, including 5 hours of night training
- 2 hours of cross-country night training within the dual time
- 5 hours of instrument training
- 5 hours solo at night
- In addition, 5 hours of instrument training will carry over from your Private Pilot Licence course, bringing your total instrument training time to 10 hours.
- You must also meet the skill requirements in accordance with the Flight Instructor Guide, TP 975E, as determined by Transport Canada.
Night Rating Cost
All prices are subject to GST. Flight times are based on the use of C172 legacy aircraft, and prices are current as of February 15, 2026.
Your final cost may vary depending on your preparation, progress, effort, and ability. A fuel surcharge may also apply to aircraft rates.
Night Rating FAQ
A Night Rating is added to your pilot licence so you can fly at night within the privileges of that licence.
For many pilots, it is one of the most practical next steps after a Private Pilot Licence. It gives you more flexibility, more useful flying time, and more confidence when the sun goes down.
A Night Rating allows you to exercise the privileges of your licence by night.
That means you are no longer limited to daylight flying only. This can be especially useful during winter, when daylight hours are shorter and your flying window can feel limited.
A Night Rating is a strong next step if you want to keep building as a pilot after your Private Pilot Licence.
It can help you:
- Extend your flying day
- Fly during shorter winter daylight hours
- Build confidence after sunset
- Improve your instrument awareness
- Stay active after your PPL
- Prepare for future commercial training
If you want more freedom and more capability as a pilot, this rating is a practical upgrade.
Yes. To begin Night Rating training, you must already hold a Private Pilot Licence.
The Night Rating is not a separate licence. It is added to the licence you already have.
For a Private Pilot Licence, Aeroplane, Transport Canada requires a minimum of 20 hours of pilot flight time.
That includes:
- 10 hours of night flight time
- 10 hours of dual night flight time
- 2 hours of dual night cross-country flight time
- 5 hours of solo night flight time
- 10 night takeoffs, circuits, and landings
- 10 hours of dual instrument time
Up to 5 hours of the required dual instrument time may be completed as instrument ground time.
You must also complete a qualifying flight and show the required skill level.
At Adventure Aviation, your Night Rating training includes:
- Minimum aircraft time: 15 hours
- Simulator time: 2 hours
- Additional instructor time: 2 hours
The 5 hours of instrument training from your Private Pilot Licence can carry over, which helps connect your PPL training to your next step.
Yes. Some of your instrument training from your Private Pilot Licence can carry over toward your Night Rating.
That matters because you may already have part of the required foundation in place. From there, your training focuses on building night flying skill, confidence, and safe decision-making after dark.
No. There is no separate written exam for the Night Rating.
However, you still need to understand night flying procedures, weather, aircraft lighting, airport lighting, navigation, emergencies, and safe decision-making.
The focus is practical skill and readiness, not just passing a written test.
No. There is no formal flight test for the Night Rating.
However, the rating is not automatic. Your instructor needs to know you are competent and ready to exercise the privileges of the rating.
In other words, you still need to prove you can fly safely at night by completing a qualifying flight with an instruction.
Night Rating training helps you get comfortable when the visual picture changes after sunset.
You can expect to work on:
- Night takeoffs and landings
- Night circuits
- Night cross-country flying
- Aircraft lighting
- Airport lighting
- Night navigation
- Instrument awareness
- Weather and visibility decisions
- Emergency planning at night
- Situational awareness after dark
The goal is not just to help you meet the minimums. The goal is to help you feel calm, prepared, and in control when flying at night.
No. A Night Rating and an Instrument Rating are different.
A Night Rating allows you to fly at night within the privileges of your licence.
An Instrument Rating allows you to fly under Instrument Flight Rules, also known as IFR, when you meet the proper requirements.
Night flying can build useful discipline and instrument awareness, but it does not give you IFR privileges.
No. A Night Rating does not allow you to fly in IFR conditions.
You still need to follow the weather and visibility rules that apply to your licence and type of flight.
This rating lets you fly at night. It does not replace an Instrument Rating.
For many pilots, yes.
A Night Rating can fit well before or during your Commercial Pilot Licence path. It helps build night experience, instrument awareness, and stronger decision-making.
If commercial flying is part of your goal, it is worth talking to an instructor about where this rating fits into your full training plan.
Your timeline depends on your schedule, weather, aircraft availability, and how consistently you train.
If you train regularly and your PPL skills are still fresh, you may progress more smoothly. If there are long gaps between lessons, you may need more review before moving ahead.
The goal is not just to finish quickly. The goal is to be ready to fly at night with confidence.