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Instrument Rating Time

Asked by: 6381 views Instrument Rating

I have a commercial helicopter license and currently I am working on my instrument rating.  My question is whether or not my previous instrument time (5 hours from commercial training) will count toward the 40 required for my instrument rating.  Any FAR references would be great.

 

Thank you in advance.

2 Answers



  1. Wesley Beard on Jan 20, 2011

    Yes that time counts but it may not work the other way.  First, let’s cover 61.129(c) the aeronautical knowledge requirements for a commercial helicopter certificate.
     
    (i) Five hours on the control and maneuvering of a helicopter solely by reference to instruments using a view-limiting device including attitude instrument flying, partial panel skills, recovery from unusual flight attitudes, and intercepting and tracking navigational systems. This aeronautical experience may be performed in an aircraft, flight simulator, flight training device, or an aviation training device;
     
    Instrument Rating Requirements
    61.65(e)(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:
     
    61.65(c)(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:(1) …(4) Flight by reference to instruments;
     
    So any flight by reference to instruments can count towards the 40hrs of the actual or simulated instrument time but may not count towards the 15hours with an authorized instructor.

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  2. Thomas Vaillencourt on Feb 13, 2011

    The 15 hour minimum is there to ensure you are getting a minimum amount of training in the particular aircraft type. And instrument rated airplane pilot with 10,000 hours of IFR experience in airplanes is still required to fly 15 hours with an Instrument Helicopter rated instructor in a helicopter if seeking an Instrument endorsement to his Helicopter rating if he has one. its more about the aircraft than the instrument flying itself.

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