The FAA requirements for
the instrument rating can be found under CFR Part 61.65:
(a) General. A person who applies for an
instrument rating must:
(1)
Hold at least a current 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 nonprecision approach, provided the flight training device is
approved for the procedure performed.
(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 windshear avoidance;
(9) Aeronautical decision making
and judgment; and
(10)
Crew resource management, including crew communication and coordination.
(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) Postflight procedures.
(d) Aeronautical
experience. A
person who applies for an instrument rating must have logged the following:
(1)
At least 50 hours of cross-country flight time as pilot in command, of which at
least 10 hours must be in airplanes for an instrument -- airplane rating; and
(2) A
total of 40 hours of actual or simulated instrument time on the areas of
operation of this section, to include --
(i)
At least 15 hours of instrument flight training from an authorized instructor
in the aircraft category for which the instrument rating is sought;
(ii)
At least 3 hours of instrument training that is appropriate to the instrument
rating sought from an authorized instructor in preparation for the practical
test within the 60 days preceding the date of the test;
(iii)
For an instrument -- airplane rating, instrument training on cross- country
flight procedures specific to airplanes that includes at least one
cross-country flight in an airplane that is performed under IFR, and consists
of:
(A) A
distance of at least 250 nautical miles along airways or ATC-directed routing;
(B)
An instrument approach at each airport; and
(C)
Three different kinds of approaches with the use of navigation systems;
(e) Use of flight
simulators or flight training devices. If the instrument training 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 training was accomplished 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 training was not accomplished in accordance with
part 142 of
this chapter. (This applies to training under Part 61 at our club)
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