Do You Know: Category, Class, & Night Requirements?

Oct 24, 2025

Over 30 check rides in 30 months, one truth stood out — most pilots don’t get tripped up by the big stuff. They stumble on the basics. It’s the small, fundamental knowledge areas that separate a confident, prepared pilot from one who struggles under pressure. 

 

 

The final topic in our 30-day series brings three of those problem areas front and center: Category, Class, and Night Requirements. These aren’t obscure trivia questions — they’re FAA fundamentals that every examiner expects you to know cold. And yet, pilot after pilot shows up unsure, second-guessing, or flat-out blank.

Let’s start with Category and Class. These two terms form the foundation for understanding right-of-way rules and the way aircraft are separated and certified. If you don’t know Category and Class, you can’t possibly interpret who has the right of way in mixed-aircraft situations — which is something your examiner is absolutely going to ask.

Category refers to the broad classification of aircraft — airplane, rotorcraft, glider, lighter-than-air, and powered-lift. Within each category are classes that define specific groups: for airplanes, that’s single-engine land, single-engine sea, multiengine land, and multiengine sea. For rotorcraft, the two you must know are helicopter and gyroplane. These definitions aren’t just words on a page — they’re essential to understanding how the FAA views the entire system of flight operations.

When Kenny sits down with a new student during a ground session, he can almost predict it: “Category and class?” The pause. The hesitation. The examiner sees it, too. It’s not a trick question — it’s a test of how well you understand the language of aviation. And if you stumble here, it signals to the examiner that your foundation isn’t solid.

Then there’s the second trouble spot — night requirements. Across 30 check rides, this is one of the most consistently missed sections. The questions sound simple, but the details matter:

  • What is the definition of night?
    → The time between the end of evening civil twilight and the beginning of morning civil twilight, as published in the Air Almanac, converted to local time.

  • When must position lights be on?
    → From sunset to sunrise.

  • When can you log night flight time?
    → Same as the official definition of night — between the end of evening civil twilight and the beginning of morning civil twilight.

  • And finally, when can you log night takeoffs and landings?
    → Beginning one hour after sunset and ending one hour before sunrise.

Mixing up even one of these answers can derail an oral exam in seconds. It’s not just about memorizing — it’s about understanding why those definitions exist and how they impact your judgment and safety as a pilot.

After 30 months of working with students from all over the country, one thing is clear: success on check-ride day comes from mastering the fundamentals, not chasing the exotic. Know your Category and Class. Know your night requirements. Get those simple things right, and you’ll earn instant credibility with your examiner.

 

 


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Every successful pilot starts with a solid foundation. Don’t overlook the basics — master them, live them, and fly with confidence.