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Commercial instrument helicopter/private pilot ASEL, add on airplane instrument rating

Asked by: 6436 views Commercial Pilot, FAA Regulations, Helicopter, Instrument Rating, Private Pilot

I am a 3500hr commercial helicopter pilot with instrument rating, who recently completed a private airplane ASEL add on. My question is what does it take to add onto my private ASEL, an instrument rating, seeing that I am already a commercial helicopter instrument pilot? Thank you

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  1. BJ Miller on Dec 09, 2015

    According to Part 61.65, you must:

    (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 the airplane 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)…an applicant is not required to take another knowledge test when that person already holds an instrument rating; and

    (8) Pass the required practical test in an airplane appropriate to the rating sought; or

    (ii) A flight simulator or a flight training device…

    However, before you can be endorsed for your practical, the following minimums must be achieved:

    -50 hours of cross-country flight time as pilot in command, of which 10 hours must have been in an airplane; and

    -Forty hours of actual or simulated instrument time of which 15 hours must have been received from an authorized instructor who holds an instrument-airplane rating, and the instrument time includes (note: nothing specifies that these hours must be accomplished in an airplane) However:

    (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;

    (B) An instrument approach at each airport; and

    (C) Three different kinds of approaches with the use of navigation systems.

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