61.65—Instrument rating requirements.
(1)
Hold at least a 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
(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:
(2)
Appropriate information that applies to flight operations under IFR in the “Aeronautical Information Manual;”
(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;
(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:
(d) Aeronautical experience for the instrument-airplane rating.
A person who applies for an instrument-airplane rating must have logged:
(1)
Fifty hours of cross country flight time as pilot in command, of which 10 hours must have been in an airplane; and
(2)
Forty hours of actual or simulated instrument time in the areas of operation listed in paragraph (c) of this section, of which 15 hours must have been received from an authorized instructor who holds an instrument-airplane rating, and the instrument time includes:
(i)
Three hours of instrument flight training from an authorized instructor in an airplane that is appropriate to the instrument-airplane rating within 2 calendar months before the date of the practical test; and
(ii)
Instrument flight training on cross country flight procedures, including one cross country flight in an airplane with an authorized instructor, that is performed under instrument flight rules, when a flight plan has been filed with an air traffic control facility, and that involves—
(A)
A flight of 250 nautical miles along airways or by directed routing from an air traffic control facility;
(e) Aeronautical experience for the instrument-helicopter rating.
A person who applies for an instrument-helicopter rating must have logged:
(1)
Fifty hours of cross country flight time as pilot in command, of which 10 hours must have been in a helicopter; and
(2)
Forty hours of actual or simulated instrument time in the areas of operation listed under paragraph (c) of this section, of which 15 hours must have been with an authorized instructor who holds an instrument-helicopter rating, and the instrument time includes:
(i)
Three hours of instrument flight training from an authorized instructor in a helicopter that is appropriate to the instrument-helicopter rating within 2 calendar months before the date of the practical test; and
(ii)
Instrument flight training on cross country flight procedures, including one cross country flight in a helicopter with an authorized instructor that is performed under instrument flight rules and a flight plan has been filed with an air traffic control facility, and involves—
(A)
A flight of 100 nautical miles along airways or by directed routing from an air traffic control facility;
(f) Aeronautical experience for the instrument-powered-lift rating.
A person who applies for an instrument-powered-lift rating must have logged:
(1)
Fifty hours of cross country flight time as pilot in command, of which 10 hours cross country must have been in a powered-lift; and
(2)
Forty hours of actual or simulated instrument time in the areas of operation listed under paragraph (c) of this section, of which 15 hours must have been received from an authorized instructor who holds an instrument-powered-lift rating, and the instrument time includes:
(i)
Three hours of instrument flight training from an authorized instructor in a powered-lift that is appropriate to the instrument-powered-lift rating within 2 calendar months before the date of the practical test; and
(ii)
Instrument flight training on cross country flight procedures, including one cross country flight in a powered-lift with an authorized instructor that is performed under instrument flight rules, when a flight plan has been filed with an air traffic control facility, that involves—
(A)
A flight of 250 nautical miles along airways or by directed routing from an air traffic control facility;
(g) Use of flight simulators or flight training devices.
If the instrument time 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 instrument time was completed 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 instrument time was not completed in accordance with part 142 of this chapter.
(h) Use of an aviation training device.
A maximum of 10 hours of instrument time received in an aviation training device may be credited for the instrument time requirements of this section if—
(3)
No more than 10 hours of instrument time in a flight simulator or flight training device was credited for the instrument time requirements of this section;
(4)
A view-limiting device was worn by the applicant when logging instrument time in the device; and