Initial Instrument Airplane Applicants

Instrument Rating Applicants can expect all tasks outlined in the appropriate PTS. This equates to precision, non-precision instrument approaches, holding, circling and other listed tasks.

Common problem areas that are noted are a lack of IFR regulations, as well as operational knowledge of IFR procedures, and knowledge regarding what some common IFR clearances allow or don't allow a flight to do. 

Having a firm working knowledge of when alternates (both takeoff and landing) are required, what airports can serve as your alternate, etc. is imperative to safe IFR flight.

There a three phases to a practical test:

• Qualification Phase
  • This is where all of your training documents are checked (logbook or training record), Aircraft logbooks and documents, and we establish that you have met all the requirements to begin the test. 
• Oral Exam
  • This is where we go over the items in the ACS that will be tested orally and your knowledge will be evaluated to ensure you have an adequate working knowledge to function safety as an Instrument Rated Pilot. The Oral Exam must be successfully completed in order to advance to the Flight Portion.
• Flight Exam
  • This is where the remaining items not tested orally or test in conjunction with the oral segments are evaluated. Most well prepared applicants can complete the flight in about 1.5 hours, depending on location and traffic. 

There are three possible outcomes once you being the practical test:

• Temporary Airmen Certificate Issued
  • You have successfully completed all required items and found qualified to act as a Private Pilot.
• Notice of Disapproval
  • You have failed to meet the standard on one or more tasks. At this point, you must return to your instructor and get remedial training. When your instructor finds you competent on the items that you have failed on, they will re endorse you for a retake exam. The Notice of Disapproval will also give you credit for the items that you have successfully completed, and at the examiners discretion, you will not be required to repeat the items that you have already passed. This Notice is good for 60 days. If you do not take the retest within those 60 days, you will be required to take the entire practical test over again. In order to take the retest, you will have to complete another application, and there will be a retest fee that will have to be paid to the examiner.
• Letter of Discontinuance
  • This letter states that you could not complete the entire exam due to circumstances beyond your control. (Illness, Weather, Mechanical). It will give you credit for the items you have completed successfully. You have 60 days from the beginning of the exam to complete all items. This is not a fail, and will not require another endorsement or application to continue the test. There is no extra fee for a discontinuance.

When adding an Instrument Airplane Rating to an existing Instrument Helicopter Rating, the ACS allows us to waive certain tasks at the examiners discretion. This option will be discussed at the beginning of the practical test to ensure that both parties are understanding of what tasks will be evaluated. 

Remember, as an applicant for an instrument rating, all tasks are able to be tested, so please prepare accordingly.

Common problem areas noted when going from Instrument Helicopter to Instrument Airplane are often found in the Unusual Attitude tasks as well as the Circling Approach tasks, both of which are either vastly different or not applicable to helicopter instrument flying. Both tasks put the PIC at a high risk for task saturation in a single pilot environment with disastrous consequences if incorrectly carried out.