Here are just a
few of the basic requirements for the Instrument Rating. Well discuss whats
entailed in each of these requirements later in this section.
You must be able
to read, speak, write, and understand the English Language
You must be able to obtain
a 3rd class medical certificate
You must be 17 years of age
You must hold at least a private pilot
license in the category and class
of aircraft for which the rating is sought
You must have recieved and logged the
appropriate ground and flight
training for the Instrument Rating
You must have
50 hours of cross country flight time
as pilot in command
You must have 40 hours of actual or
simulated instrument flight time
You must pass the FAA Instrument Rating written exam
You must pass the Instrument Rating Oral and Practical Exam
Training
The training for
the instrument rating consists of several distinct phases of training. Each
level builds on the knowledge and skills learned in the previous level. The
first phase is called basic attitudes. This is where you learn basic instrument
maneuvers such as turns, climbs, and descents at a constant rate of airspeed,
rate of vertical speed, or rate of turn. This helps you develop your scan,
which is the ability to look at the many instruments and quickly make
adjustments to maintain the desired heading, altitude, and speed.
After developing
your basic scan its time to move onto holding patterns. Holding patterns are
racetrack shaped patterns flown over a navigation fix. Holding is required due
to delays in the Air Traffic Control system due to weather or other situations.
For example lets say your destination has several runways but only one runway
has the equipment required to allow landing in poor weather.When poor weather conditions exist the
airport now has a decreased capacity for takeoffs and landings. So in order to
slow the flow of takeoff and landings air traffic controllers put airplanes in
the these holding patterns. Holding patterns require skill to correct for winds
aloft to keep the aircraft flying over the navigation fix in the right direction
and to keep the length of holding pattern the same.
Once youve
mastered holds it time for instrument approaches. Instrument approaches are used
to facilitate landing under instrument weather conditions. Approaches are
accomplished by tracking a ground based navigation aid, flying at predetermined
speeds, and descending to specified altitudes at predetermined distances or time
from a navigation fix. All of this turning and descending at just the right
speed makes it possible to find the airport or runway threshold in low
visibility and low ceilings.
After approaches
you are in the home stretch! Next comes instrument cross-country training. Now
you have to use all the skills youve learned so far to get you from point A to
point B without having to look outside. You learn to interact with the air
traffic control system on a broader scale. Until now the majority of your
training probably has been within your local airport area. You could probably
shoot your local instrument approaches from memory. Now its time to go someplace
youve never been, shoot some approaches and land at an airport that you dont
have all the radio frequencies memorized. Go see the world!
After cross
country its on to training for emergencies that you can encounter under IFR,
examples are radio or instrument failures. You learn the ins and outs of flying
partial panel (simulated loss of one or more instruments) including holds and
approaches. In addition you learn procedures for lost communications with
ATC.
Thats about all
there is to the flying side of things. Now its time to polish up any weak areas
and sign you up for the check ride. Good luck!
Testing
The FAA
Written
The written test for the Instrument Rating
like all other licenses and ratings is an 80 question computerized
test. The questions consist primarily of IFR regulations, weather, and navigation
systems.
The FAA Oral
Exam
The oral exam will
consist of various question related to IFR operations, most importantly weather and cross country planning.
The examiner will most likely have you plan an instrument cross-country and then
discuss your flight planning and give you some scenarios to evaluate your
thought process. Once the examiner is satisfied then it's on to the flight
portion.
The FAA Practical
Exam
The practical exam should
be a summary of your instrument training. You will usually warm up with some
basic attitudes. Then at some point you have to fly at least one hold followed
by several approaches. One of these approaches will be partial
panel. After successfully demonstrating your instrument flying skills you will then be
issued a new pilot license with an instrument rating.
Costs
Costs for the instrument rating like other licenses and ratings can vary. You
can save a lot of money by doing some of your training in a
FAA approved flight-training device. These are basically a
generic instrument panel and controls hooked up to a computer to allow the practice
of instruments skill with the ability to stop, pause, and discuss your actions in
addition to seeing your movements plotted on a computer screen. This is a luxury you
don't have in the airplane. Most larger flight schools have these FTD's and
it's usually cheaper than flying in the airplane. Most schools have a training program
that entails a mixture of flight time in both aircraft and FTD's. Again as
always check with your local FBO to determine the exact costs in your area.
