Whether you’re interested in sharing your love of aviation or becoming more employable once you’ve achieved your CPL, a Flight Instructor Rating is a good choice. Undertaken in our Cessna 150 aeroplanes and with instructors with over 50 years of collective experience, the FIR will improve your own flying skills and also allow you to further develop your interpersonal skills. The spinning flight activity endorsement will be carried out in conjunction with the Flight Instructor Rating. You’ll need to pass the Instructor Rating theory exam as well as a Flight Test with an Examiner acting as your student. 

The Night VFR rating is designed to provide pilots with the skills to take-off, navigate, and land visually by night. It is ideal if you ever expect to take off later in the day and land after nightfall. The first time you fly solo at night is an absolutely unforgettable experience! In military flying culture, you earn your “Pin” once you’ve flown an aeroplane solo in both day and night conditions. Many commercial operators require Night VFR or Instrument Ratings of their pilots.  

The PIFR is available to private pilots who wish to fly under the Instrument Flight Rules in Private Operations in single pilot aircraft with MTOW not greater than 5700kg. To gain your Private Instrument Rating, you must complete 20 hours of instrument flight time (some of which may be conducted in our simulator), pass the Private IFR theory exam, and the flight test. Additional instrument endorsements may be added as needed. Our team will tailor an individual package suitable to your needs.  

For any other operation under the IFR, you will need a full Instrument Rating. 

To gain your instrument rating you need to hold at least a PPL, study the aeronautical knowledge syllabus and pass the instrument rating theory examination (IREX). You also need to complete flight training at a Part 141 flight training operator for single engine or multi engine aeroplane endorsements and at least a 2D instrument endorsement.  

The aeronautical experience required is as follows: 

• 50 hours cross-country flight time as pilot-in-command 
• 40 hours of instrument time, including at least 10 hours of dual instrument time, plus 20 hours of instrument flight time. 

There are experience standards for each aircraft endorsement (the experience can be in aircraft or a flight simulation training device that is approved for the purpose). The hours can be counted in the requirements specified above. 

The experience standards for each endorsement are detailed below. 

• Single-engine aeroplane endorsement - at least 10 hours of dual instrument time in an aeroplane, and at least five hours experience at night as the pilot of an aeroplane (including at least one hour of dual flight and one hour of solo night circuits). 
• Multi-engine aeroplane endorsement - at least 10 hours of dual instrument time in a multi-engine aeroplane and at least five hours experience at night as pilot of an aeroplane (including at least one hour of dual flight and one hour of solo night circuits). 

You will also need to pass the instrument rating flight test.