Drone Night Rating Course

Get qualified to fly a drone at night outside of a shielded operation, under Part 101 or Part 102 rules. DroneTrust's Night Rating combines online theory with a one-on-one practical night flight assessment with a CAA-approved examiner.

The theory covers the CAA's definition of night, human factors affecting night vision, drone lighting requirements and emergency procedures, delivered through readings, graphics and short quizzes. Once it's done, you'll book a 2-3 hour practical night assessment to show you can operate safely at night under CAA rules and, where it applies, your organisation's Part 102 exposition.

By the end of the course, you'll be able to:

• Apply the CAA's definition of night and work out when it begins and ends
• Understand certification and currency requirements for night flying under Part 101 and Part 102
• Use night vision and scanning techniques for safe night flying
• Meet drone lighting requirements and know how they differ from manned aircraft
• Plan a night flight, including take-off and landing sites and emergency lighting
• Respond correctly to night emergencies, including loss of visual line of sight or control signal

What's included:

• Full online theory
• One practical night flight assessment (2-3 hours) with an approved examiner

Once qualified, there's no formal recurrent assessment. You'll need 3 take-offs and landings in the previous 3 months to stay current.

The theory is fully online, so you can start any time and work at your own pace, then book your night flight assessment with an examiner near you.

Got questions about the course? Hit Send enquiry and we'll get back to you. Ready to go? Use the Provider's course page link below to buy directly from our website and start today.

You'll need a Part 101 or Part 102 Pilot Certificate, held alongside this rating. Part 102 pilots flying at night for an organisation also need to be operating under an active UAOC.

Examiner travel costs may apply depending on your location. The course must be completed within 12 months of purchase.

DroneTrust has been providing certified drone training in New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, and the United States since 2018. It is our mission to grow an industry of safe, knowledgeable and trusted drone pilots by providing quality training.

We provide drone training courses in a cost-effective and scalable way, so all drone pilots can learn the rules and up-skill to maximise their drone experiences and income-earning opportunities. The quality of our courses shows in the results - we have a 95.5% pass rate across more than 1,200 flight assessments in the last three years alone.

DroneTrust is a certified CAA Part 141 aviation training organisation #TR104722. Our courses are delivered online, meaning you can learn at your own pace at your own place. This makes it a convenient, affordable exercise, and throughout that time, you can be confident we are here to support you and help you achieve your desired outcome. Watching you succeed is our business. Note that the final practical assessment must be completed in person with an approved examiner.