THE PRACTICAL AVIATOR INSTRUMENT RATING

The first section of the APO Instrument Rating Edition, Pilot Resources, provides you with checklists to make sure you that you have all of the necessary documentation before you show up for your oral exam. You’ll easily be able to provide your examiner with your personal information and evidence of your flight time. Additionally, there’s a checklist for items to bring to your exam as well as an aircraft quick facts sheet, which is a reference that you can fill out and use throughout your training for each make and model of airplane you fly.

Section I relates to the first part of your oral exam, during which you will be asked to show the necessary certificates and qualifications for instrument flight. Section I is also where you will compile all of the information you need to prepare for your cross-country Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) checkride. As an Instrument Rating applicant, you will need to show a broader range of weather knowledge; this section outlines those expectations with a detailed checklist. Section I also provides a place to compile examples of weather charts and background weather information that can be used as a reference on the day of your checkride. You will be able to use this section to record the training lessons so that you will have examples to reference when preparing for your oral exam.

Section II deals with systems related to IFR operations: flight instruments and navigation equipment. Worksheets are provided to record notes related to each system and instrument. This information is specific to your airplane and will be compiled from the Pilot’s Operating Handbook and the Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge and placed here for easy reference.

Section III is where you will compile all of the necessary documents required for flight to show that the airplane is airworthy. Again, this is specific to the airplane you will use on your checkride. Each section has a detailed checklist, with a brief description of what is required. It is your responsibility as an Instrument Rating applicant to provide an airworthy, certified aircraft for use during the practical test.

The APO is a great resource to have during your oral exam because it will provide a quick reference to the information specific to your checkride, including maintenance summary sheet, weather information for that day’s flight, and your planned cross-country. It is important to note, however, that certain sections cannot be referenced during your oral exam. Your instructor will be able to guide you with regards to what information you’ll be expected to know.