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1-2 Rod Machado’s Instrument Pilot’s Handbook

Courtesy Avidyne
Fig. 2
Technically advanced aircraft (TAAs) are the newer generation of Fig. 3
glass cockpit airplanes that are becoming very popular for instru-

ment training.
choose. Certain weather phenomena like thunderstorms English? You must at least be able to do this. Pig Latin
and icing keep even the most experienced instrument and baby babble don’t count. If you’ve gotten this far,
rated pilots on the ground. Even big pilots in really BIG you’re probably qualified in the language department.
airplanes avoid, rather than challenge, the worst of the You’ll need to pass a knowledge test for the instrument
weather. The instrument rating extends, by a considerable rating, and that’s part of what this book is all about. In
number, your options to fly when the weather won’t allow addition to providing you with the information necessary
VFR operations. But it is not an unlimited extension. to pass the test, I’ll also be discussing and dissecting much
Knowing where to draw the line in the runway is one of more material that’s useful and practical for the instru-
the brain skills you will be acquiring. ment pilot in training. When we’re finished, you will thor-
I’m happy to play a part in helping you better under- oughly understand the physical and mental skills involved
stand what’s required to obtain this rating. I know it will in instrument flying.
make you a better pilot if you are willing to work hard to The instrument knowledge exam consists of 60 multi-
gain this credential. In short, it makes you an overall bet- ple-choice questions. You’re given 2 hours and 30 minutes
ter pilot even if you don’t wear overalls when you fly. to answer them, and you must obtain at least a 70% score
Let’s take a closer look at what you’ll be doing to to pass. Where can you take the test? Denny’s? Sorry, but
become an instrument rated pilot. you’ll have to visit one of the many FAA-approved test
What It Takes to Obtain an Instrument Rating—Part 61 centers around the country. Don’t worry. There’s almost
certainly one nearby. Ask your instructor. He or she will
You can start working on your instrument rating as
know. If not, you can fly to the nearest center with your
soon as you’ve earned your private pilot certificate. Yes,
instructor and log the time toward your rating!
five minutes later is fine, and many people jump into for-
In terms of aeronautical experience, you’ll need at least 50
mal instrument training immediately after passing the
hours of cross-country flight time as pilot in command (PIC). At
private checkride. There was a time when applicants for
least 10 hours of this must be in an airplane. Of course, I’m
the instrument rating needed a certain minimum flight
assuming that you’re working toward the airplane instrument
time (125 hours, for example) before they were eligible to
take the instrument rating practical (flight) test. Not any
more. The FAA, with help from the researchers in the avi-
ation industry, finally concluded that minimum flight time
wasn’t a strong predictor of a person’s readiness to be a
good instrument pilot.
It goes without saying that you’ll also need at least a
third class medical certificate or be BasicMed qualified
(Figure 3). Just thought I’d mention this in case you were
under the impression that the medical standards, such as
eyesight, cardiovascular health, and normal brain func-
tion, are suddenly suspended when you enter a cloud and
no one can see you.
So, are you qualified to obtain an instrument rating?
That depends. Can you read, speak, write, and understand