What Does It Take To Get Your Instrument Rating | FAA Requirements
All right, so you're a pilot and you want
to take the next step and get your instrument rating. Which begs the
question what does it take to get your instrument rating? Well, the answer to
that coming up. Getting your instrument rating is a
great thing. It unlocks a whole new level of flying and helps you become a
better safer pilot. As well as give you some other perks. Today we're going to go
through the requirements found in FAR section 61.65 which I'll go ahead and
link down in the description below. Now, let's get started with the prerequisites.
The first thing you're going to need is your private pilot's certificate. If
you're just exploring aviation and found this video, you can check out the
description down below and what it takes to get your private pilot license. Or,
more accurately, the Private Pilot certificate which is what it's actually
called. We go over the actual FAA regulations to get one and talk about
how much it should cost you.
But the next prerequisite you need to be able to
speak write and understand English. I know this may sound silly since its a
requirement for the private pilot certificate, but it's still a requirement
here because sometimes English may not be a pilot's first language and language
skills diminish over time. So, think of it more like a proficiency check. Last
you're going to need 50 hours of cross-country time as pilot-in-command.
This is to give you real-life experience beyond your initial flight training. Now
not all 50 hours need to be completed to get started with your instrument rating.
But, you do need to have 50 hours before you take your instrument check ride. I
recommend having about 30 to 35 hours completed before you start your
instrument training and you can complete the rest as you go through it. So ,that's
all the prerequisites but there is one more thing you should consider doing
before you really get started.
Just like the Private Pilot certificate, the
instrument rating has a written test. You'll need to receive and log ground
training from your instructor or take a course that provides a certificate of
completion saying you're ready for the test. Again, this isn't a prerequisite to
get started. You can actually take your test at any point to your training, but
we recommend getting your written done first. If you do, you'll understand what
you're doing, reduce your workload, and it'll help
things go more smoothly. So what's going to be covered in the test? Well, things
like regulations, navigation, approach procedures, weather, aircraft operations,
single pilot resource management, and decision-making related specifically to
instrument flight rules, or IFR for short. Alright so those are all the
prerequisites and hopefully it's through written test out of the way you're ready
for your flight training.
Now, you're going to need 40 hours of instrument
time that covers: pre-flight preparation, pre-flight procedures, air traffic
control clearances Procedures, flight by referenced
instruments, navigation systems, instrument approach procedures, emergency
operations, and post flight procedures. Now, the list seems short but there's a
lot of training to go over in each category. There is some good news though,
not all the training has to be done in an aircraft. You can use an FAA approved
flight training device or simulator. Now don't confuse a simulator you play it on
your computer with an FAA approved flight training device. In some scenarios
they may use the same software but approved flight training devices are
exactly what they sound like, approved for flight training, so you can log time in
them.
Using a simulator can be a great choice that offers a lot benefits. Like,
less the workload, lower costs, and enhanced training. If you're getting your
instrument training under far part 61, you can use a simulator for a maximum of
20 of your 40 hours of instrument time. So let's talk a little bit more about
the 40 hours, like how you only need a certified instructor for 15 hours of it.
Crazy right? The other 25 can come through other people like a friend who's
a private pilot and qualified to act as pilot command. They can be your safety
pilot while you practice logging time for your training this may or may not be
helpful though because most people will need close to 40 hours of dual
instruction anyways. But, it's good to know that there's an option. Towards the
end of your training you need to be able to practically apply the knowledge
you'll learn by taking your instructor on a 250 mile cross-country IFR flight.
You'll need to plan the flight, file a flight plan, and be directed by air
traffic control byte direct routing or along.
Airways each stop along your route
needs to be made using instrument approaches and you'll have to conduct
three different approaches and using your plane's navigation systems. It's
quite the task but it'll get you ready for your instrument check ride. Speaking
of your check ride you need to make sure you have at least three hours of
training from your instructor within the preceding two calendar months before you
take it. Then you just need to make sure your instructor fills out the proper
endorsements in your logbook before the day of the check ride. Just like your
private pilot certificate it consists of an oral portion to see how you apply the
things you've learned and a flying portion to make sure able to safely
apply them. Alright, that should be everything you need to know about what
it takes to get your instrument rating.
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