Instrument Rating IR(A) study guide
Instrument Rating IR(A) · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Instrument Rating (IR(A)) is a Part-FCL pilot licence rating that allows an aeroplane pilot to operate under instrument flight rules, and this page is written for candidates studying the regulatory side of that rating within the EU framework. The material is organised around three domains: Flight Crew Licensing, aircrew medical fitness standards, and Flight Simulation Training Devices. The regulatory backbone is Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011, which sets the technical requirements and administrative procedures for civil aviation aircrew, supported by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/723 on acceptance of third-country pilot certification and Regulation (EU) No 2015/340 for air traffic controllers. A key point for candidates is that only National Competent Authorities issue licences; EASA does not issue individual licences but provides technical support and interpretation. The Instrument Rating IR(A) study guide has 3 sections and about 1,264 words.
01Flight Crew Licensing (FCL): building, validating and revalidating the IR(A)
This domain tests the Part-FCL rules that create the instrument rating, keep it valid, and the examiner system that makes skill tests comparable between candidates and across authorities. Questions concentrate on prerequisites, validity periods, knowledge credit and who is allowed to test you.
415 words, about 2 min02Aircrew medical fitness (MED): classes, validity and day-to-day fitness
This domain tests Part-MED: which certificate class matches which privileges, how long each certificate lasts, the sensory standards that matter, and the operational rule on flying with reduced fitness. Questions are often date arithmetic or a scenario about medication.
427 words, about 2 min03Flight Simulation Training Devices (FSTD): levels, qualification and credit
This domain tests how EASA qualifies synthetic training devices under CS-FSTD(A), what each device type can and cannot do, and the principle that training credit flows from the approved course, not from the hardware. FFS Levels A-D : full cockpit replica with motion.
422 words, about 2 min