Ratings

At Flight Training College we offer Night, Instrument, Instructors as well as Mutli Engine Ratings.

NIGHT RATING

The next step in your pilot training, and one that improves your ability to fly in reduced visibility, is to obtain a night rating. This allows you to conduct or continue a flight during the hours of darkness and the benefit is obvious in terms of being less restricted when planning and executing your particular flight.

At this stage, you will be aware of your dependency on being able to see the outside surroundings, particularly the horizon, while controlling an aircraft in flight. At night, these visual cues are greatly reduced, or even completely absent and therefore you need to interpret and rely on the instruments in the aircraft. Similarly the cues you have been using to assist you when landing are also different, so additional landing practice at night is required.

Requirements for the issue of a night rating:

1. You must have a valid Private Pilots; Licence (PPL).
2. You will have to complete 10 hours of Instrument Flight time, of which 5 may be carried out in an approved simulator, and the balance in an aircraft. This is actually done during the day, as the emphasis is on learning to interpret instrument indications and control the aircraft purely by reference to these instruments.
3. The law requires a minimum of 5 take offs and landings by night, as well as a night cross-country flight of at least 150 NM’s with 2 full stop landings at two separate airfields away from base.
4. A basic instrument flight test will be required, conducted by a Grade 1 or 2 flight instructor. This takes around 1 hour, and may be included in the mandatory 10 hours instrument training.
5. Once the requirements have been met, an application form is completed. This form, together with the required fee, is taken to the SA-CAA, for the night rating to be included in your licence.

As with all aspects of flying, you must be made aware of the risks involved during all phases of night flight and the methods required to manage such risk safely.

INSTRUMENT RATING

For the aspiring professional pilot, or for the dedicated Private Pilot, the instrument rating takes you into the world of advanced flight, giving you the capability of flying, navigating and landing in weather conditions that keep the birds on the ground.

You will have encountered the basics of instrument flight during your night rating training, and these 10 hours of instrument time are counted towards your Instrument Rating training. From this base, you now learn radio navigation, controlled airspace communication, holding procedures, en-route risk management, approach and go-around procedures, transition to visual and landing in reduced visibility. Abnormalities and emergencies are continuously introduced and appropriate behaviour is emphasised.

Requirements for the issue of an Instrument Rating:

1. Hold a valid Private Pilots’ Licence (PPL) with a night rating.
2. Have a Class 1 medical.
3. Pass the SA-CAA required examinations.
4. Completed 50 hours of cross country time as pilot in command (PIC).
5. Complete a minimum of 40 hours of instrument flight time, 20 of which may be completed on approved simulators. If a multi-engine instrument rating is sought, a minimum of 5 hours instrument flight time must be acquired in a multi-engine aircraft.
6. Pass a practical flight test, conducted by a Grade One Designated Flight Examiner (DFE).
7. Be the holder of a General Radio Telephony licence.
8. Make the relevant application to the SA-CAA, pay the required fee, and your licence will be endorsed accordingly.

It is worth mentioning that the effort required for a Private Pilot wanting to hold an Instrument rating is almost as involved as completing the full CPL exams. therefore many of our Private Pilots who wish to hold an Instrument rating actually complete their CPL.

We offer training for both Single Engine and Multi Engine Instrument Ratings.

MULTI-ENGINE RATING

Flying a multi engine aircraft is a cornerstone of being a Commercial Pilot, and ensures the new CPL individual is as marketable as possible in the General Aviation market place. It is highly recommended that a pilot obtain this rating.

Requirements for the issue of a (VFR) Multi-Engine Class rating:

• Hold a valid Pilots Licence.
• Have at leaset 70 hours of Pilot in Command time on single engine aircraft and complete a minimum of 6 hours of multi-engine flight time.
• Successfully complete a practical flight test with a Grade One Designated Flight Examiner (DFE).
• Applying to the SA-CAA for the new class rating, and paying the appropriate fee.

Requirements for the issue of a (IF) Multi-Engine Class rating:

If a multi engine instrument rating is sought, you must also meet the requirements for the multi engine instrument rating, as listed previously. This training is in addition to the 6 hours above. This training may be incorporated into your Commercial licence preparation. Of course all of the Commercial Examinations and Instrument training must have been completed before the actual Skills test is carried out.

INSTRUCTOR RATING

This rating allows the commercially rated pilot to act as an instructor on the aircraft types appropriately endorsed. Some candidates find this a useful method of gaining experience, although it should be considered as a long term commitment to the aviation industry.

Requirements for the issue of the Instructor’s Rating:

• Be the holder of a valid Commercial Pilot’s licence or Airline Transport Pilots’ Licence.
• You must complete an approved training course, which involves theoretical knowledge pertaining to instruction and the presentation of ground and air exercise briefings.
• You must have completed 20 hour’s of “Patter”, which is the process of learning to teach in the cockpit environment, and learning how to effectively demonstrate the various flight manoeuvres, while providing meaningful commentary.
• You must have passed the SA-CAA theoretical examinations.
• Pass a combined theoretical and practical flight test with a SA-CAA nominated Designated Flight Examiner (DFE).

Every attempt is made for candidate instructors to be involved with student briefings, and develop technique and relevance as an instructor. We encourage use of all media available, including Computer Based Training, data projection briefings and PowerPoint presentations.