What do I need for an

Instrument Rating
and to
Maintain Currency

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 Instrument Rating Requirements
§61.65(a)
1. Hold at least a Private Pilot Certificate
2. Be able to read, speak, write and understand English
3. Receive and log ground training from an authorized
instructor or complete a home-study course
4. Hold a current FAA medical certificate
5. Obtain an endorsement for and pass the written knowledge
test with a score of 70% or better
6. Accumulate the required flight experience per §61.65(d)
7. Receive and log the required flight training
8. Obtain an endorsement for and pass a knowledge and
practical (flight) test
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 Required Flight Experience
§61.65(d)
• 50 hours of PIC cross country (10 of which must
be in an airplane)
• 40 Hours of actual or simulated instrument
experience
– 15 hours must be with an instrument instructor
• 3 hours of which must be within 2 months prior to the test
• One cross country flight under IFR with a filed flight plan
– 250 NM
– Instrument approach at each airport
– At least 3 different types of approaches

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 Aeronautical Knowledge
§61.65(b)
• You must receive and log ground training from a CFII or IGI or accomplish a
home-study course on the following aeronautical knowledge areas:
– Federal Aviation Regulations that apply to flight operations under IFR;
– Appropriate information that applies to flight operations under IFR in the
"Aeronautical Information Manual;"
– Air traffic control system and procedures for instrument flight operations;
– IFR navigation and approaches by use of navigation systems;
– Use of IFR en route and instrument approach procedure charts;
– 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;
– Safe and efficient operation of aircraft under instrument flight rules and conditions;
– Recognition of critical weather situations and windshear avoidance;
– Aeronautical decision making and judgment; and
– Crew resource management, including crew communication and coordination.

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 Flight Proficiency
§61.65(c)
• You must receive and log training from a CFII in an
aircraft, flight simulator or flight training device that
includes the following areas of operation:
– Preflight preparation
– Preflight procedures
– Air traffic control clearances and procedures
– Flight by reference to instruments
– Navigation systems
– Instrument approach procedures
– Emergency operations
– Postflight procedures
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 Maintaining Instrument Currency
Recent Flight Experience §61.57(c)
• You may not act as PIC under IFR unless within the 6
calendar months preceding the month of the flight, you
performed and logged at least the following in an
airplane in actual weather conditions, or under
simulated conditions using a view-limiting device:
– Six instrument approaches.
– Holding procedures and tasks.
– Intercepting and tracking courses through the use of
navigation
• Can use an simulator and/or advanced aviation training
device (AATD) with certain additional requirements
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 Maintaining Instrument Currency
Recent Flight Experience – Safety Pilot
• If a view-limiting device is used in an aircraft, §91.109(c) requires:
– A safety pilot who has at least an appropriate private pilot certificate
– Safety pilot has adequate vision forward and to both sides
– Dual controls or the view limited pilot holds a private certificate and the
safety pilot determines the flight can be conducted safely
• The safety pilot must hold a current medical certificate per §61.3(c)
as the safety pilot is a required pilot flight crewmember. A “flight
crewmember” includes a safety pilot since such person is required by
regulation to be on board.
• The safety pilot need not have an instrument rating, if the flight is
being conducted under VFR
• When the safety pilot is not the pilot in command, the safety pilot
need not satisfy the recent flight experience requirements of §61.57

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 Maintaining Instrument Currency
Recent Flight Experience §61.57(c)
• A pilot whose instrument currency has lapsed
for less than six months may reestablish
instrument currency by performing the tasks
and maneuvers required for §61.57(c) as
described in the prior slide
• If you fail to maintain instrument currency for
more than six calendar months you must
complete an instrument proficiency check

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 Instrument Proficiency Check
§61.57(d)
• An instrument proficiency check must consist of the
areas of operation and instrument tasks required in the
instrument rating practical test standards
• The instrument proficiency check must be—
– In an aircraft that is appropriate to the aircraft category
– In a flight simulator or flight training device that is
representative of the aircraft category
• The instrument proficiency check must generally be
given by a —
– Designated examiner
– CFII
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 Instrument Proficiency Check
§61.57(d)
• Section 61.57(d) does not stipulate a minimum time
requirement for the IPC. The FAA, however, indicates
that a good rule of thumb is to plan at least 90
minutes of ground time and at least two hours of flight
time
– Instrument Proficiency Check Guidance is available at http
://[Link]/pilots/training/media/IPC_guidance.pdf
(this is also a good review for the PTS)
• IPC should cover general operating and flight rules for
IFR as set out in 14 CFR Part 91 and in the Aeronautical
Information Manual (AIM)
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 Log Book Recordkeeping
Instrument Rating Requirements
• Endorsements for the rating signed by an authorized instructor
who certifies that the applicant §61.39(a)(6) –
– Has received and logged training time within 2 calendar months
preceding the month of application in preparation for the practical
test
– Is prepared for the required practical test §61.65(a)(6)
– Has demonstrated satisfactory knowledge of the subject areas in
which the person was deficient on the airman knowledge test
– Is prepared for the required knowledge test §61.65(a)(4)
• Must log flight proficiency time required by §61.65(a)(5) and (c)
• Must log ground training - §61.65(a)(3)
• Must log flight experience required - §61.65(d)

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 Instrument Rating Endorsements
• Written Test:
– Aeronautical knowledge test: section 61.35(a)(1) and section 61.65(a) and (b).
I certify that (First name, MI, Last name) has received the required training of section 61.65(b). I have determined that He/She is prepared for
the Instrument Pilot Rating knowledge test. [DATE] Instructor Name, 1234567CFI, Exp. __/__/201_

• Flight Test:
– Aeronautical Knowledge/Flight proficiency/practical test: section 61.65(a).
I certify that (First name, MI, Last name) has received the required training of section 61.65(b)(c) and (d). I have determined He/She is
prepared for the Instrument—(airplane, helicopter, or powered-lift) practical test. [DATE] Instructor Name, 1234567CFI, Exp. __/__/201_

• Prerequisites for Practical Tests: section 61.39(a)

I certify that (First name, MI, Last name) has received the training as required by section 61.39(a)(6)(i) within the preceding two calendar
months and have determined that he/she is prepared for the Instrument Pilot practical test. [DATE] Instructor Name, 1234567CFI, Exp.
__/__/201_

• Prerequisites for Practical Tests: section 61.39(a)

I certify that (First name, MI, Last name) has demonstrated satisfactory knowledge of subject areas shown to be deficient on his/her
Instrument Pilot Airman’s Knowledge Test as required by 61.39(a)(6)(iii). [DATE] Instructor Name, 1234567CFI, Exp. __/__/201_

• Meta Endorsement
I certify that Mr./Ms.____________________ has received training time required within the preceding 60 days in preparation for the (Name
of test) (category and class) practical test and find him/her prepared for that test per CFR 61.39(a)(6). (if knowledge test is required and
applicant has achieved less than 100%) He/she has demonstrated satisfactory knowledge of the subject areas found deficient on the (Name
of Test) aeronautical knowledge test. [DATE] Instructor Name, 1234567CFI, Exp. __/__/201_

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 Logging Instrument Time
§61.51(g)
• May log instrument time only for the flight time in which you
operate the aircraft solely by reference to instruments under
actual or simulated instrument flight conditions
• An authorized instructor may log instrument time when
conducting instrument flight instruction in actual instrument
flight conditions
• For the purposes of logging instrument time to meet the
recent instrument experience requirements of § 61.57(c), the
following information must be recorded in your logbook—
– The location and type of each instrument approach accomplished
• Some debate exists as to how low the ceiling must be to log the approach
– The name of the safety pilot, if required

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 Logging Simulator Time
§61.51(g)
• A person can use time in a flight simulator, flight
training device, or aviation training device for
acquiring instrument aeronautical experience for a
pilot certificate, rating, or instrument recency
experience
– Provided an authorized instructor is present to observe
that time and signs the person's logbook or training record
to verify the time and the content of the training session.
– The person also performs 2 unusual attitude recoveries
and flies at least 3 hours of simulated flight time.
§61.57(c)(3).
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 Safety Pilot Time Logging
• Pilot-in-command time may be logged by the safety pilot, if he or she is
acting as the PIC
– The two pilots must agree that the safety pilot is the acting PIC
– PIC time may be logged only while the other pilot is "under-the-hood"
– PIC time may be logged because FAR 61.51(e)(1)(iii) allows certificated pilots
to log PIC when acting as PIC of an aircraft on which more than one pilot is
required by the regulations (§91.109(b)) under which the flight is conducted.
A safety pilot is required for "hood work"
• Second-in-command time may be logged by the safety pilot, if the
safety pilot is not acting as PIC. SIC time may be logged because
§61.51(f)(2) allows a pilot to log all flight time during which he acts as
second in command of an aircraft under which more than one pilot is
required.
• There can only be one person acting as PIC on a flight at any given time

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 Simulator Time Logging
§ 61.51(b)
• Sim time should not be logged as flight time because you never
left the ground
– Not counted as total flight time
• Log the following
– Date - § 61.51(b)(1)(i)
– Total time of lesson - § 61.51(b)(1)(ii)
– Location of the flight simulator - § 61.51(b)(1)(iii)
– Type and identification number of the simulator - § 61.51(b)(1)(iv)
– Time is entered in the "simulator” column - § 61.51(b)(2)(v)
– Time is entered in the “simulated instrument conditions” column - §
61.51(b)(3)(iii)
– Training time may also be entered if endorsed by the instructor and it
includes a description of the training - § 61.51(h)
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17
 Disclaimer
• Instrument flight can be dangerous. Do not rely solely
on this presentation – PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTION IS
REQUIRED
• The foregoing material should not be relied upon for
flight
• ALTHOUGH THE ABOVE INFORMATION IS FROM
SOURCES BELIEVED TO BE RELIABLE SUCH
INFORMATION HAS NOT BEEN VERIFIED, AND NO
EXPRESS REPRESENTATION IS MADE NOR IS ANY TO BE
IMPLIED AS TO THE ACCURACY THEREOF, AND IT IS
SUBMITTED SUBJECT TO ERRORS, OMISSIONS, CHANGE
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