Instrument Rating IR(A) cheat sheet

IR(A) is a class/type-specific instrument rating appended to a Part-FCL pilot licence (PPL, CPL or ATPL); it is issued under Part-FCL Subpart B (aeroplanes) and requires completion of an approved IR training course or a competency-based (CB-IR) or modular course at a declared ATO.

Applicants for the IR(A) must hold at least a PPL(A) with night rating privileges, a valid Class 1 or Class 2 medical certificate (Class 1 required for commercial operations), and a certificate of completion of the IR training course.

The theoretical knowledge examination for the IR(A) comprises seven subjects: Air Law, Aircraft General Knowledge, Flight Planning and Monitoring, Human Performance, Meteorology, Radio Navigation, and IFR Communications; each subject is passed with at least 75%.

Skill test for the IR(A) is conducted by a flight examiner (FE) or, where authorised, an IRE(A); the applicant must pass all sections in one attempt, and failure of any section requires re-examination of the whole skill test unless the competent authority permits partial re-test.

The IR(A) skill test includes: pre-flight and departure, en-route IFR, precision approach, non-precision approach, missed approach, circling approach (if applicable), and abnormal/emergency procedures under IFR; the examiner records results on the skill test report form.

Recency for IR(A): within the preceding 12 months the pilot must have completed at least 3 IFR departures, 3 IFR arrivals and 3 instrument approaches, or completed a proficiency check with an examiner; otherwise the IR privileges lapse and a proficiency check is required to restore them.

A proficiency check for the IR(A) is valid for 12 months (renewable), and if the pilot also holds a type rating, the IR check may be combined with the type rating check provided the examiner is authorised for both.

Examiner standardisation under Part-FCL Subpart K requires examiners to hold an examiner certificate, complete initial and recurrent standardisation training, and be subject to oversight by the competent authority; examiner certificates are valid for 3 years.

The CB-IR (competency-based IR) route allows experienced pilots to obtain the IR(A) with reduced training hours (minimum 40 hours instrument time, of which up to 10 may be in an FSTD), subject to meeting the prerequisites defined in Part-FCL Appendix 6.

IR(A) holders exercising commercial privileges require a Class 1 medical certificate; private IR privileges require at least a Class 2 medical certificate, both issued under Part-MED.

Class 1 medical certificate validity for single-pilot commercial operations: 12 months for applicants under 40, 6 months for applicants aged 40–59, and 6 months for applicants aged 60 and above (with reduced intervals for older applicants).

Class 2 medical certificate validity: 24 months for applicants under 40 and 12 months for applicants aged 40 and above; validity may be reduced by the AME where clinically indicated.

Colour vision: applicants for the IR(A) must demonstrate normal colour vision or, if deficient, pass an approved colour vision test (e.g., CAD, Holmes-Wright lantern) to ensure correct interpretation of instrument and chart colour coding.

Hearing standards: Class 1 requires hearing ability sufficient for safe performance, tested by audiometry (speech discrimination in quiet and with background noise); the AME may require a hearing aid assessment.

Cardiovascular standards: Class 1 applicants must have a normal ECG at initial examination and periodically thereafter (at age 40, 50, 60 and annually after 60); significant coronary artery disease is disqualifying unless a specified waiver is granted by the competent authority.

Visual standards: Class 1 requires distant visual acuity of at least 6/9 in each eye separately, with or without correction, and near acuity of at least N5 at 30–50 cm; refractive error limits and post-refractive surgery waiting periods apply.

Medication and mental health: use of psychoactive substances, certain antidepressants, and any medication that impairs cognitive or psychomotor performance is disqualifying for IR(A) privileges unless an approved waiver is obtained from the licensing authority.

A medical certificate that expires while the pilot is exercising IR privileges invalidates those privileges; the pilot must not act as PIC under IFR without a valid medical certificate appropriate to the operation.

Under Part-FCL and Part-ORA, FSTDs used for IR(A) training and testing must be qualified by the competent authority in accordance with the applicable FSTD qualification standards (CS-FSTD(A) for aeroplanes).

FSTD categories relevant to IR(A): Flight Training Device (FTD) levels 1–3, Flight Navigation Procedure Trainer (FNPT) levels I and II, and Full Flight Simulator (FFS) levels A–D; the level determines which training credits and checking privileges are permitted.

Maximum credit for FSTD time in an IR(A) course: up to 30 hours of the required instrument flight time may be completed in an FFS or FNPT II, and up to 10 hours in an FNPT I or FTD, subject to the ATO's approved syllabus.

An FFS level C or D may be used for the entire IR(A) skill test, including the approach and missed approach phases, provided the device is qualified for the specific manoeuvres and the examiner is authorised to conduct tests in that device.

An FNPT II may be used for a maximum of 20 hours of IR(A) training and for instrument approach procedures, but the skill test must include at least one approach in the aeroplane unless the competent authority approves otherwise.

FSTD qualification is time-limited: the qualification certificate is valid for a defined period (typically 12 months for recurrent evaluation) and requires periodic recurrent evaluations by the competent authority to confirm continued compliance with the qualification basis.

Objective evidence of FSTD fidelity (e.g., validation data, motion and visual system performance) must be retained by the FSTD operator and made available to the competent authority on request; failure of recurrent evaluation suspends the qualification.

Use of an FSTD for IR(A) training requires that the device is operated under the ATO's approval and that the instructor holds the appropriate instructor rating with FSTD instructional privileges.