Instrument flight rating

The instrument rating (s. Instrument Rating , abbr .: IR) entitled to fly aircraft for instrument flight rules (s. Instrument Flight Rules , abbr .: IFR called). It can be acquired as an additional authorization after appropriate training and examination. For commercial pilots (holders of a commercial pilot's license) for fixed-wing aircraft, the instrument flight rating is an integral part of the pilot's license.

European Union

With the entry into force of Regulation (EU) No. 245/2014 as an amendment to Regulation (EU) No. 1178/2011 in April 2014, the instrument flight rating in Europe can be for the aircraft category aircraft , helicopter , airship or an aircraft with vertical take-off and landing capability can be acquired. In addition, the training paths for instrument authorization have been expanded:

Integrated training with other licenses (ATPL, MPL, CPL)
Modular course (practically obsolete for fixed-wing aircraft, as the competence-based course only offers advantages)
Competency-based course (CB-IR) (only for aircraft)

There is also a non-ICAO-compliant en route instrument flight authorization EIR - En-route IR: flight to instruments in cruise flight.

With the introduction of the simplified training routes (EIR and CB-IR) for obtaining an instrument flight license, the previous training content of the modular course was simplified for fixed-wing aircraft.

	EIR	IR, comp. Bas. course	IR, modular course
requirements	PPL or CPL Radiotelephony certificate (e.g. AZF ) English language skills (at least ICAO level 4) Medical certificate class 1 or 2 with pure tone audiometry
Flying experience overland flight	20 hours as PIC	50 hours as PIC	50 hours as PIC
Theory training	at least 80 hours Theory test	at least 80 hours Theory test	at least 150 hours Theory test
Practical training	at least 15 hours Practical exam	at least 40 hours Practical exam	at least 50 hours Practical exam

The training must take place at an approved flight school ( ATO ). The theoretical training can be completed as a distance learning course with supplementary instruction.

Parts of the practical training can be carried out outside the ATO, e.g. B. with your own aircraft and a flight instructor for instrument flight or with an approved procedure trainer (e.g. FNPT II).

The instrument flight rating is entered in the pilot's license. The authorization is valid for one year. In order to extend it, the applicant has to carry out a proficiency check with a recognized examiner within three months before the authorization expires .

United Kingdom

In Great Britain there is a “small” instrument flight rating within the country, the so-called IMC rating. The minimum training is shorter, but no airways and certain airspaces may be flown in instrument flight. It is intended to be used for piercing cloud cover rather than flying in the clouds.

United States

For IFR authorization by the Federal Aviation Regulations at least have a private pilot license for airplanes, rotorcraft, or airships, the applicant shall and 50 hours of cross-country flight time ( English Cross Country have) as pilot in command.

The training includes theory, whereby neither the form of teaching or autodidactic, nor a minimum number of hours is prescribed. The practical training comprises 40 hours in instrument flight, of which at least 15 hours by a flight instructor certified for instrument flight training, including a 250 mile long-distance flight under instrument flight rules with simulated or actual instrument meteorological conditions . Before taking the written and later the oral and practical test, a declaration ( English endorsement ) by the flight instructor must be entered in the flight log, in which the instructor certifies that the student pilot is adequately prepared for the tests. The exam consists of a written and a combined oral and practical test. Large parts of the training, depending on the type of training (Part 61 or Part 141) up to 30 flight hours, can be carried out on flight simulators certified by the Federal Aviation Administration .

The IFR authorization is suspended if the pilot has not carried out at least 6 IFR approaches including holding procedures and intercepting and tracking courses in the previous 6 months. The authorization can be reactivated within the following 6 months if the pilot simulates the corresponding missing maneuvers under VFR conditions. A safety pilot (at least PPL for VFR) is required to monitor the airspace. After 12 months without the necessary maneuvers, the IFR authorization is suspended and can be reactivated by an Instrument Proficiency Check (IPC) with a flight instructor for IFR (CFII). A new examination is not necessary.

For CAT II and CAT III, further training and examinations are required.

literature

Federal Aviation Administration (Ed.): Instrument Flying Handbook . FAA-H-8083-15B. 2020 (English).
Federal Aviation Administration (Ed.): Instrument Procedures Handbook . FAA-H-8083-16B. September 14, 2017 (English).

Web links

Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b ^c VO (EU) 1178/2011 Part.FCL 600ff
↑ ^a ^b ^c Code of Federal Regulation - 14 CFR § 61.65 - Instrument rating requirements. In: Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Retrieved April 15, 2020 .
↑ Code of Federal Regulation - 14 CFR § 61.57 - Recent flight experience: Pilot in command. In: Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Retrieved April 15, 2020 .

[eu1-1] VO (EU) 1178/2011 Part.FCL 600ff

[cfr-2] Code of Federal Regulation - 14 CFR § 61.65 - Instrument rating requirements. In: Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Retrieved April 15, 2020 .

[cfr2-3] Code of Federal Regulation - 14 CFR § 61.57 - Recent flight experience: Pilot in command. In: Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Retrieved April 15, 2020 .