Instrument rating time requirments

[Holocene]

Ya but I'm still current. I am not using the hold to get current again.

If you're current right now, but won't be next week, either go up in actual IFR and hold, or get a safety pilot and fly under the hood if that's not possible. Hell, it doesn't even have to be done in a real plane.

Edit: Unless you're asking if you can maintain currency by holding in VFR conditions while on an IFR flight plan. I believe that would be a big no.

 

[tonyw]

Im a little skeptical about getting the instrument time on cross country flights because the reg says 50 hours of x/c PIC. Would you really be PIC while under the hood with a safety pilot?

Asking because another instructor is telling me something different.

Absolutely. If anyone tells you otherwise, fire him and find an instructor who knows what the hell he is talking about.

 

[av8or91]

OK so today I talked to someone who seems to know what know what they are talking about when it comes to this stuff.

He said:

1. You can use the solo x/c PIC time from you private which we have established here.

2. You cant count the instrument time from your private.

3. Instrument time form private even though it was with a II does not count towards the 15 hours.

I think I may call the FSDO and see what they say.

 

[Ralgha]

OK so today I talked to someone who seems to know what know what they are talking about when it comes to this stuff.

He said:

1. You can use the solo x/c PIC time from you private which we have established here.

2. You cant count the instrument time from your private.

3. Instrument time form private even though it was with a II does not count towards the 15 hours.

I think I may call the FSDO and see what they say.

Well he didn't know what he was talking about. The instrument time from private does count. As far as the FSDO is concerned, well, ask 5 different FSDOs and you'll get 5 different answers.

 

[BillPerryCFI]

OK so today I talked to someone who seems to know what know what they are talking about when it comes to this stuff.

He said:

1. You can use the solo x/c PIC time from you private which we have established here.

2. You cant count the instrument time from your private.

3. Instrument time form private even though it was with a II does not count towards the 15 hours.

I think I may call the FSDO and see what they say.

Reference this:


(d) Aeronautical experience. A person who applies for an instrument rating must have logged the following:
(1) At least 50 hours of cross-country flight time as pilot in command, of which at least 10 hours must be in airplanes for an instrument -- airplane rating; and
(2) A total of 40 hours of actual or simulated instrument time on the areas of operation of this section, to include -- (i) At least 15 hours of instrument flight training from an authorized instructor in the aircraft category for which the instrument rating is sought;


Question 1: Yes solo x-c time does count.

Question 2: Yes you may count any and all simulated or actual instrument that you have in your logbook regardless as long as it was completed in the same aircraft category.

Question 3: As long as the training was conducted with a CFII regardless of during private or instrument, it counts towards the 15 hours as is does not specify that it must be done as progress *towards* the instrument rating. (you will see the FAA specify if it has to be completed during the training for that specific certificate or privlige several times in the FAR's)

I personally would recommend utlizing a CFII for your training as it may be more beneficial that just 15 hours alone.

***Disclaimer*** As mentioned above, every FSDO and POI has their own interpretation of how those are meant to be taken...when in doubt, call ahead of time!

 

[av8or91]

I figured each FSDO would give a different answer but I can always call a few of them and hopefully some will agree. Even on my II stage checks I got two different answers from two different people but didn't really think much of it until I was talking about it with another instructor.

Im sure people here have signed students off for their instrument checkride and would probably know best.

 

[Joe Gremlin]

OK so today I talked to someone who seems to know what know what they are talking about when it comes to this stuff.

He said:

1. You can use the solo x/c PIC time from you private which we have established here.

2. You cant count the instrument time from your private.

3. Instrument time form private even though it was with a II does not count towards the 15 hours.

Make them prove it. Because someone at the FSDO told me so isn't proof. Because my CFI said so isn't proof. Have them show you in the regs where it specifically says you can't count the time. If they can't do that, make them provide a letter of interpretation from a regional counsel office. Anything less than that, is not proof. Make them prove it.

I think I may call the FSDO and see what they say.

The FSDO isn't who you want to call when it comes to this sort of thing. They'll give you an answer and tell you it's official but they are not the authority who gets to decide what the regs do and do not mean. That's the job of the regional counsel. Call the regional counsel and ask them. They are the only ones who can answer a question on the regs by saying 'because I said so' and have it be a valid and accurate response.

 

[Nihon_Ni]

In the FWIW category, you've probably spent more time then the 3 hrs of instrument training you have as a student pilot discussing & researching this. Do you really only need 12 more hours of instruction to be ready to take and pass an IFR check ride? In my experience this is a good academic discussion, but it doesn't amount to much in the real world because it normally takes a lot more than 12 additional hours of instruction for someone to be ready for to meet a DPE. Often times, it takes a lot more, especially at the end when guys are preparing for the test and are trying to put it all together.

 

[Joe Gremlin]

In the FWIW category, you've probably spent more time then the 3 hrs of instrument training you have as a student pilot discussing & researching this. Do you really only need 12 more hours of instruction to be ready to take and pass an IFR check ride? In my experience this is a good academic discussion, but it doesn't amount to much in the real world because it normally takes a lot more than 12 additional hours of instruction for someone to be ready for to meet a DPE. Often times, it takes a lot more, especially at the end when guys are preparing for the test and are trying to put it all together.

Agreed 100%. My comments were more directed the general concept of how to find the answer to these sorts of questions rather than whether or not this particular question is worth answering.