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Instrument Rating
(FAR Part 61.65)
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(a) General. A person who applies for an instrument rating must:
(1) Hold at least a private pilot certificate with an airplane, helicopter, or
powered-lift rating appropriate to the instrument rating sought;
(2) Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language. If the applicant
is unable to meet any of these requirements due to a medical condition, the Administrator
may place such operating limitations on the applicant's pilot certificate as are necessary
for the safe operation of the aircraft;
(3) Receive and log ground training from an authorized instructor or accomplish a
home-study course of training on the aeronautical knowledge areas of paragraph (b) of this
section that apply to the instrument rating sought;
(4) Receive a logbook or training record endorsement from an authorized instructor
certifying that the person is prepared to take the required knowledge test;
(5) Receive and log training on the areas of operation of paragraph (c) of this section
from an authorized instructor in an aircraft, flight simulator, or flight training device
that represents an airplane, helicopter, or powered-lift appropriate to the instrument
rating sought;
(6) Receive a logbook or training record endorsement from an authorized instructor
certifying that the person is prepared to take the required practical test;
(7) Pass the required knowledge test on the aeronautical knowledge areas of paragraph (b)
of this section; however, an applicant is not required to take another knowledge test when
that person already holds an instrument rating; and
(8) Pass the required practical test on the areas of operation in paragraph (c) of this
section in—
(i) An airplane, helicopter, or powered-lift appropriate to the rating sought; or
(ii) A flight simulator or a flight training device appropriate to the rating sought and
for the specific maneuver or instrument approach procedure performed. If an approved
flight training device is used for the practical test, the instrument approach procedures
conducted in that flight training device are limited to one precision and one
no precision
approach, provided the flight training device is approved for the procedure performed. |
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(b) Aeronautical knowledge. A person who applies for an instrument rating must have
received and logged ground training from an authorized instructor or accomplished a
home-study course on the following aeronautical knowledge areas that apply to the
instrument rating sought:
(1) Federal Aviation Regulations of this chapter that apply to flight operations under
IFR;
(2) Appropriate information that applies to flight operations under IFR in the
“Aeronautical Information Manual;”
(3) Air traffic control system and procedures for instrument flight operations;
(4) IFR navigation and approaches by use of navigation systems;
(5) Use of IFR en route and instrument approach procedure charts;
(6) Procurement and use of aviation weather reports and forecasts and the elements of
forecasting weather trends based on that information and personal observation of weather
conditions;
(7) Safe and efficient operation of aircraft under instrument flight rules and conditions;
(8) Recognition of critical weather situations and wind shear avoidance;
(9) Aeronautical decision making and judgment; and
(10) Crew resource management, including crew communication and coordination.
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(c) Flight proficiency. A person who applies for an instrument rating must receive and log
training from an authorized instructor in an aircraft, or in a flight simulator or flight
training device, in accordance with paragraph (e) of this section, that includes the
following areas of operation:
(1) Preflight preparation;
(2) Preflight procedures;
(3) Air traffic control clearances and procedures;
(4) Flight by reference to instruments;
(5) Navigation systems;
(6) Instrument approach procedures;
(7) Emergency operations; and
(8) Post flight procedures. |
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(d) Aeronautical experience for the instrument-airplane rating. A person who applies for
an instrument-airplane rating must have logged:
(1) Fifty hours of cross country flight time as pilot in command, of which 10 hours must
have been in an airplane; and
(2) Forty hours of actual or simulated instrument time in the areas of operation listed in
paragraph (c) of this section, of which 15 hours must have been received from an
authorized instructor who holds an instrument-airplane rating, and the instrument time
includes:
(i) Three hours of instrument flight training from an authorized instructor in an airplane
that is appropriate to the instrument-airplane rating within 2 calendar months before the
date of the practical test; and
(ii) Instrument flight training on cross country flight procedures, including one cross
country flight in an airplane with an authorized instructor, that is performed under
instrument flight rules, when a flight plan has been filed with an air traffic control
facility, and that involves—
(A) A flight of 250 nautical miles along airways or by directed routing from an air
traffic control facility;
(B) An instrument approach at each airport; and
(C) Three different kinds of approaches with the use of navigation systems. |
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(e) Aeronautical experience for the instrument-helicopter rating. A person who applies for
an instrument-helicopter rating must have logged:
(1) Fifty hours of cross country flight time as pilot in command, of which 10 hours must
have been in a helicopter; and
(2) Forty hours of actual or simulated instrument time in the areas of operation listed
under paragraph (c) of this section, of which 15 hours must have been with an authorized
instructor who holds an instrument-helicopter rating, and the instrument time includes:
(i) Three hours of instrument flight training from an authorized instructor in a
helicopter that is appropriate to the instrument-helicopter rating within 2 calendar
months before the date of the practical test; and
(ii) Instrument flight training on cross country flight procedures, including one cross
country flight in a helicopter with an authorized instructor that is performed under
instrument flight rules and a flight plan has been filed with an air traffic control
facility, and involves—
(A) A flight of 100 nautical miles along airways or by directed routing from an air
traffic control facility;
(B) An instrument approach at each airport; and
(C) Three different kinds of approaches with the use of navigation systems. |
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(f) Aeronautical experience for the instrument-powered-lift rating. A person who applies
for an instrument-powered-lift rating must have logged:
(1) Fifty hours of cross country flight time as pilot in command, of which 10 hours cross
country must have been in a powered-lift; and
(2) Forty hours of actual or simulated instrument time in the areas of operation listed
under paragraph (c) of this section, of which 15 hours must have been received from an
authorized instructor who holds an instrument-powered-lift rating, and the instrument time
includes:
(i) Three hours of instrument flight training from an authorized instructor in a
powered-lift that is appropriate to the instrument-powered-lift rating within 2 calendar
months before the date of the practical test; and
(ii) Instrument flight training on cross country flight procedures, including one cross
country flight in a powered-lift with an authorized instructor that is performed under
instrument flight rules, when a flight plan has been filed with an air traffic control
facility, that involves—
(A) A flight of 250 nautical miles along airways or by directed routing from an air
traffic control facility;
(B) An instrument approach at each airport; and
(C) Three different kinds of approaches with the use of navigation systems. |
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(g) Use of flight simulators or flight training devices. If the instrument time was
provided by an authorized instructor in a flight simulator or flight training device—
(1) A maximum of 30 hours may be performed in that flight simulator or flight training
device if the instrument time was completed in accordance with part 142 of this chapter;
or
(2) A maximum of 20 hours may be performed in that flight simulator or flight training
device if the instrument time was not completed in accordance with part 142 of this
chapter.
(h) Use of an aviation training device. A maximum of 10 hours of instrument time received
in an aviation training device may be credited for the instrument time requirements of
this section if—
(1) The device is approved and authorized by the FAA;
(2) An authorized instructor provides the instrument time in the device;
(3) No more than 10 hours of instrument time in a flight simulator or flight training
device was credited for the instrument time requirements of this section;
(4) A view-limiting device was worn by the applicant when logging instrument time in the
device; and
(5) The FAA approved the instrument training and instrument tasks performed in the device. |
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Flight Training