Night visual flight rules

Night VFR, or night visual flight rules (NVFR), are the rules under which a flight primarily by visual reference may be performed at night. The alternative is flight by IFR under which visual reference to terrain and traffic is not required.

In EASA countries the requirements for a NVFR rating (at an approved training organisation) are:

• total of 5 hours of VFR flying at night (NVFR),

• including 3 hours dual flying (with an instructor),

• including 5 take-offs and landings at night,

• including 1 dual navigational flight by visual flight rules at night, at least 50 km and 1 hour.

In many countries, VFR flight at night is not permitted, in which case night flying is by IFR which requires an instrument rating. Countries that permit NVFR include Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Germany, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Finland, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland, Serbia, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States and Bosnia & Herzegovina.