Instrument Rating

Last Updated on Wednesday, 10 October 2012 10:49 Written by Administrator Tuesday, 29 November 2011 14:02

An instrument rating is an exceptionally useful aid to any pilot and a prerequesite if you want to make a career out of being a pilot. In order to be issued with an instrument rating in South Africa, the following requirements must be met:

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• An applicant for an instrument rating must hold a valid pilot’s licence
• The applicant must hold a valid night rating, unless the night rating is a requirement for a particular licence (ie; a night rating is needed in order to get a CPL)
• The applicant must hold a valid class II medical certificate
• The applicant must have successfully completed his/her training at a CAA approved flight training institution
• An applicant must have passed all the theoretical knowledge examinations. If the applicant is not doing his/her CPL, the examinations to be written are: 1) Aviation Meteorology, 2) Flight Planning and Performance, 3) Radio Aids and Communication, 4) General Navigation, 5) Instruments and Electronics, 6) Human Performance and Limitations, 7) Air Law and Procedures
• The applicant must hold a valid General Radio Licence
• The applicant must have completed a minimum of 50 hours cross country flight experience as pilot in command
• He/she must have done 40 hours of instrument flight training with an instructor, of which 20 hours may be made up in an approved flight simulation training device
• If the applicant is doing an instrument rating on a multi-engine aircraft, 5 hours of the required flight experience mentioned above needs to be done on a multi-engine aircraft over and above the flight time necessary for the initial issue of rating for the multi-engine aircraft

PRIVILEGES OF AN INSTRUMENT RATING

• The holder of a valid instrument rating may exercise all the privileges of his/her licence in compliance with IFR and in IMC by day or night
• The holder may carry out approaches and landings whilst flying in IMC with the use of the approved navigational aids
• An instrument rating is valid for 12 months provided that the maintenance of competency for the associated licence is complied with