Are you allowed to fly at night as a student pilot?

As a student pilot, you have restrictions on when and where you can fly. One of the most common restrictions is a limitation on flying at night. Let’s take a closer look at night flying privileges for student pilots.

Can student pilots fly at night?

The short answer is: generally no. Student pilots are usually not allowed to be pilot in command of an aircraft at night until they get further along in their training. However, a student pilot can fly at night if they have an instructor on board and are receiving dual instruction.

According to the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs), student pilots cannot act as pilot in command of an aircraft carrying passengers at night. They are also not allowed to fly solo at night. The regulations define night as the time between the end of evening civil twilight and the beginning of morning civil twilight, as published in the Air Almanac.

So in most cases, solo student pilots cannot legally operate an aircraft at night. The main exceptions are if they have an instructor onboard or if they have met the requirements to carry passengers at night under FAR 61.110. We’ll go over those exceptions in more detail shortly.

Why can’t student pilots fly at night?

There are a few key reasons why student pilot night flying is restricted:

  • Safety – Flying at night is more difficult and dangerous, especially for less experienced pilots. Hazards like reduced visibility, lack of visual references, and disorientation become much greater risks at night.
  • Training – Students need specific night flight training and experience before being allowed to fly solo at night. This training is part of more advanced certificates like the private pilot certificate.
  • Minimum solo requirements – Student pilots must meet aeronautical experience minimums before being able to fly solo. Night flights do not count towards these minimums.

Night flying requires different skills and techniques than daytime flying. Student pilots learning to fly have not yet developed the experience and proficiency to mitigate those additional risks. As pilots gain more advanced certificates and ratings, they are able to obtain privileges like flying at night.

Exceptions that allow student night flying

While the general rule prohibits student pilots flying solo at night, there are some exceptions that allow student night flying. These include:

  • Dual instruction – Students can log night flight time when flying with an instructor. These dual night flights let students start practicing night flying skills.
  • Passengers – Student pilots who meet the minimum requirements under FAR 61.110 can gain privileges to carry passengers at night. We’ll discuss these requirements more below.
  • Part 141 programs – Students in an approved Part 141 pilot school program can get some solo night flying privileges within 25 miles of the airport.
  • Military pilots – Student pilots with a military pilot’s license may have authorization for limited solo night flights.

While possible in those limited cases, most student pilots have restrictions on flying solo at night. Even the exceptions have specific night currency, passenger, and geographic limits placed on them.

Requirements for student pilots to carry passengers at night

One way student pilots can legally fly at night is by meeting the minimum requirements to carry passengers under FAR 61.110. This allows them to fly at night with passengers on board within 50 nautical miles of their home airport. To carry passengers at night, student pilots must have:

  • At least 10 hours of total flight time as pilot in command
  • At least 10 takeoffs and landings to a full stop as pilot in command
  • At least 1 hour of night flight training and a logbook endorsement from their instructor
  • Flown within 90 days as pilot in command carrying passengers in the same category and class aircraft they plan to fly

These requirements represent an increase in experience and recent flight time. Meeting them allows students to start practicing flying at night with an experienced pilot onboard. However, major restrictions still exist, including not being able to fly solo and staying within 50 nm of the departure airport.

Can you log night flight time as a student pilot?

Yes, student pilots can log night flight time, but with some restrictions. As mentioned before, students can log night flight time when flying with an instructor. These dual night instruction flights allow students to start learning night flying skills with the safety of an instructor onboard.

Students can also log night flight time when flying as pilot in command while meeting the passenger requirements of FAR 61.110. This includes accompanied flights at night within 50 nm of the airport. These types of flights let students practice takeoffs, landings, and other flight maneuvers at night.

For both dual and pilot in command night flights, the time is logged as night flight time but usually not total flight time. That is because flight time logged for most student pilot certificates does not count flights at night. The night flight time however still goes towards earning more advanced certificates like the private pilot license.

How much night flight time do you need?

The amount of required night flight time increases for more advanced certificates and ratings. Here are some of the key night flight time minimums student pilots will need to earn:

  • Private pilot certificate – 3 hours (with 10 takeoffs and landings)
  • Instrument rating – 15 hours
  • Commercial pilot certificate – 5 hours (with 10 takeoffs and landings)

Those requirements represent minimums, but more night flight experience can certainly help hone essential night flying skills. As you progress through pilot training as a student, you’ll log night flight time during dual and solo flights with an instructor.

It’s important to note that simulator and ATD (advanced training device) time can partially substitute for some of the night flight time requirements above. For example, up to 1.5 hours of the private pilot night requirement can be done in an approved simulator.

When can you fly solo at night as a student?

As mentioned before, student pilots have restrictions on flying solo at night under the FARs. However, there are a couple instances where student pilots can fly solo at night while under supervision of an instructor:

  • Part 141 programs – Students enrolled in an approved Part 141 flight school can obtain limited privileges for solo flights at night after receiving applicable training. These flights must remain within 25 nm of the airport.
  • Military pilots – Student pilots with a military pilot’s license can get authorization for limited solo night flights from their commanding officer and flight instructor.

Those cases represent narrow exceptions though. The general rule is that student pilots must have an instructor onboard until they earn further certificates or ratings. Some examples include the private pilot certificate and instrument rating, which confer greater night flying privileges.

Can you get a student pilot certificate with night flying privileges?

No, a regular FAA student pilot certificate does not grant night flying privileges. The student pilot certificate is a basic certificate that allows you to fly solo under visual flight rules (VFR) in limited circumstances.

To fly at night, you need an endorsement from an instructor and need to meet the passenger currency and flight time requirements of FAR 61.110. Those endorsements allow accompanied night flights within 50 nm of your home airport.

It’s not until you earn more advanced pilot certificates, like the private pilot license, that you can get full night flying privileges. The private pilot certificate allows you to fly at night and carry passengers without distance restrictions. The instrument rating also permits flying solo at night under instrument flight rules (IFR).

Do you need a medical certificate for night flying?

Yes, you need an FAA medical certificate to fly solo at night as a student pilot. Some key things to know:

  • You need at least a third-class medical certificate to fly solo at night
  • A third-class medical is valid for 60 months for student pilots under age 40
  • First- or second-class may be needed for certain commercial or airline pilot training
  • Make sure your medical certificate is current before flying solo at night

An up-to-date medical certificate is required for solo flight, and this applies to student night flying as well. The medical process helps identify any conditions that could impair pilots and compromise safety when flying at night.

Some conditions that may restrict night flying include problems with vision, balance, orientation, or medications that cause drowsiness or otherwise affect alertness and concentration.

Do you have to have instrument training to fly at night?

You don’t need a full instrument rating to start flying at night as a student, but you do need to complete an endorsement and training for night flying. Some key points:

  • You need a logbook endorsement from your CFI to fly at night with passengers
  • Instrument training helps develop key skills for night flying like cockpit instrumentation proficiency
  • Night VFR is easier with basic instrument competency and scanning techniques
  • An instrument rating allows you to fly at night under IFR if needed

While not mandatory, having some instrument training can certainly help make night flying easier and safer as a student. Maneuvers like straight-and-level, turns, climbs, and descents are all easier if you can fly by reference to instruments.

As you progress through advanced certificates like the private pilot and instrument ratings, you will get more complete night flight instruction and preparation.

Conclusion

In most cases, student pilots cannot legally fly solo at night unless they have specific authorizations or endorsements. The reasons include limited experience, not yet meeting flight time minimums, and reduced safety margins at night.

However, student pilots can log night flight time during dual instruction flights with an instructor. They can also get limited privileges to fly with passengers at night after obtaining endorsements from their instructor and meeting flight time minimums.

As training continues, student pilots earn more advanced pilot certificates and ratings that confer greater night flying privileges. While constraints exist early in training, students gradually gain the experience and skills to fly solo at night through progressive instruction.

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