Flight Training - July 2019 - 22

PREFLIGHT AFTER THE CHECKRIDE

HOW:
The instrument rating requirements are specified in FAR 61.65
A person who applies for an
instrument rating must:
* Hold at least a current private
pilot certificate or be concurrently applying for a private
pilot certificate with an airplane,
helicopter, or powered-lift rating
appropriate to the instrument
rating sought.
* Be able to read, speak, write,
and understand the English
language.

GET YOUR INSTRUMENT RATING
WHETHER YOU CAN FLY WILL NO LONGER DEPEND ON THE CLOUDS

EVERY DAY WON'T BE SEVERE CLEAR-BLUE SKIES, NO CLOUDS. AND WHILE EVERYONE LOVES

aopa.org/training-and-safety

22 FLIGHT TRAINING JULY 2019

MIKE FIZER

to fly in CAVU (ceiling and visibility unrestricted), the day will come when you wish you could
go, but the weather says no. Is it time to get your instrument rating? A good question to ask
yourself before you start instrument training is, why do you want this rating? The answers
can usually be grouped into three areas. One common answer is that it's a good thing to have
in your pocket just in case you need it. Next is that it's another important step to a career in
aviation. The third reason is that you want to increase the productivity of your personal or
business flying.
There are different ways to obtain training for your instrument rating, and the reason you
want the rating may affect the training method that you choose. Should you enroll in a highly
regimented FAR Part 141 school? Perhaps a full-time or part-time instructor at your local airport could do the job. Or, maybe an accelerated course that may have you finished up in 10 to 12
days. What's the best? That depends on you.

You must have logged the
following:
* At least 50 hours of
cross-country flight time as pilot
in command. At least 10 of these
hours must be in airplanes for an
instrument-airplane rating.
* A total of 40 hours of actual
or simulated instrument time on
the areas of operation listed in
61.65(c). This includes at least 15
hours of instrument flight training from an authorized instructor
in the aircraft category for the
instrument rating sought.
* Instrument training
on cross-country flight
procedures that includes
at least one cross-country
flight in an airplane that is
performed under instrument
flight rules. This flight must
consist of a distance of at
least 250 nm along airways
or ATC-directed routing, an
instrument approach at each
airport, three different kinds
of approaches with the use
of navigation systems (Example: ILS, VOR, GPS).
* At least three hours of
instrument training appropriate to the instrument rating
sought from an authorized
instructor in preparation for
the checkride within two
calendar months before the
examination date.
* Receive and log flight training
from an authorized instructor in
an aircraft, flight simulator, or
flight training device that represents the aircraft appropriate
to the instrument rating sought
on the areas of operation listed in
FAR 61.65(c).
* Receive a logbook or training
record endorsement from an
authorized instructor certifying
that you are prepared to take the
required practical test.

http://www.aopa.org/training-and-safety

Flight Training - July 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Flight Training - July 2019