Night Qualification

As a private helicopter pilot you can't operate during the hours of darkness, with or without passengers, without obtaining a night qualification. The rating covers any helicopter types that you are rated on and the night flying course must be conducted under Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC). If you are aiming to get your CPL(H), the night qualification is normally included as part of the CPL(H) course, however, private pilots can also obtain the rating provided they meet the following requirements:

* 100 hours of flight time in helicopters after the issue of the PPL(H), including:
* 60 hours as Pilot in Command (PIC)
* 20 hours cross country flight

The night qualification course entails:

* 5 hours theoretical knowledge instruction
* 10 hours dual instrument flying**. This instruction is in addition to any instrument instruction completed prior to the course
* 5 hours helicopter night training, including 3 hours of dual instruction and 5 solo night circuits, each circuit to include a take-off and landing

The course must be completed within 6 months and is carried out on site at Coventry airport.

** This requirement is based on the assumption that the applicant has previously completed 5 hours dual instruction during their training for a JAR-FCL PPL(H). The holder of a UK PPL(H) who had not since completed 5 hours instrument flying will be required to complete 15 hours dual helicopter instruction.