Single Engine Instrument Rating
You have your pilot licence, and you have lots of experience flying on nice sunny smooth days, and some experience on those bumpy cloudy days too. There have been a number of occasions in your flying career where you had a trip planned but had to cancel because the cloud was too low, or visibility was limited. There have been a couple of times when you were in the air on those marginal weather days, that all of a sudden started to take a turn for the worse…and you thought to yourself “I should really get my instrument rating”. If this is you, you’re not alone, and if it’s not you yet, fly a little big more often and it will be.
The instrument rating adds many things to your pilot licence; education, perspective, skill, versatility, enjoyment and moments of shear happiness. The IFR rating can solve many of those flying days where you were on the ground wishing you were in the air, and those hair raising times when you were in the air wishing you were on the ground. Is it time to take that next step and get your head in the clouds?
What is the Instrument Rating?
For the ultimate flying experience, an Instrument Rating is a must have. Don’t let your flying be limited by weather, but instead learn how to navigate through the clouds rather than standing on the ground looking up at them.
The Instrument Rating is one of the most advanced and respectable ratings to possess, and the training will challenge you, but at the same time provide you with a level of safety no other rating can provide. Not only will an Instrument Rating sharpen your flying skills, but it requires an intricate knowledge of aviation weather reports and forecasts.
During the instrument training you will hone the fundamentals of instrument flying skills, elevating spatial awareness and scanning techniques to the next level. We’re going to tighten up your tolerances on altitude and heading from the VFR pilot that is happy at a few hundred feet low and slightly off course, to the proficient IFR Pilot holding assigned altitudes and headings +/- 50 feet and 5°.
You will learn new radio phraseology, terms and acronyms [because you didn’t know enough three letter acronyms before (T.L.A.’s)]. You will navigate using traditional ground based navaids like VOR, while integrating the newer more efficient technology of GPS. You will fly ILS and RNAV Approaches down to minimums with and without vertical guidance. You will apply wind corrections to inbound and outbound legs of holding patterns, drawing ovals in the sky with precision while you give Hold and Approach Briefings. You will learn to multitask like never before and it will make you a sharper pilot than you have ever been. It will be challenging and equally rewarding and you will grow tremendously in your confidence and skill.
Owen Sound Flight Services presently offers the Single Engine Instrument Rating – Group 3 IFR. There are plans to bring back another twin engine online in the coming years, check back with this page for more updates.
Pre-Requisites and Requirements
The Pre-Requisites to Start the Group 3 – Single Engine Instrument Rating:
- Private Pilot Licence
- A valid Category 3 Aviation Medical or Category 1 Aviation Medical.
- Groundschool does not have to be compled prior to starting this program, though it is encouraged to have one started.
- An iPad (ideally with LTE capability as they have a built in GPS). OSFS has iPads available for rent with a Foreflight Subscription if needed.
- Foreflight Pro Plus Subscription minimum for geo-referenced approach plates
- You should have a decent amount of PIC Cross Country experience in your logbook, as there is a requirement for 50 Hours for the rating.
The Requirements to Complete the Group 3 – Single Engine Instrument Rating:
- 50 Hours Pilot in Command Cross Country Flight Time
- Have a valid Category 3 Aviation Medical or Category 1 Aviation Medical
- Complete the required Groundschool and Written Exam
- Complete the Flight Training syllabus and Flight Test
Groundschool
Groundschool for the Instrument Rating is avaialbe online through Hangaaar. OSFS does not presently offer an in person IFR Grounschool.
If you are looking to get additional groundschool training outside of a self paced study system, we also recommend the Aero Course program
Books and Documents recommended for the Instrument Rating Program (available at OSFS)
- Aeronautical Information Manual (TC AIM)
- Canada Flight Supplement (CFS)
- Canada Air Pilot (CAP)
- CAP Gen
- Royal Canadian Air Force Weather Manual (formerly called Air Command Weather Manual)
- Instrument Procedures Manual (IPM)
Flight Training
The Flight Training required for an Instrument Rating is as follows:
- 40 Hours Minimum (Transport Canada)
- 20 hours minimum in Aircraft
- 20 hours can be Simulator
- One dual cross-country flight under simulated or actual IMC conditions of a minimum of 100 nautical miles, the flight to be conducted in accordance with an IFR flight plan to include at two different locations, an instrument approach to minima
- As stated earlier in the pre-requisites, 50 hours of PIC Cross Country time is required. This time is to be completed prior to the Fligth Test, but can take place after the Written Exam.
See the Canadian Aviation Regulations for more detail on the reuirements for an Instrument Rating.
Flight Tests and Written Exams
In order to complete the Instrument Rating you must also complete:
- Instrument Rating Written Exam (INRAT).
- The exam is a 3 hour, multiple choice type exam with 50 questions.
- The pass mark is 70%.
- This exam is not available in Owen Sound. This exam can be written at a Transport Canada office in Hamilton or Toronto.
- A letter of recommendation is not required to write the written exam
- Proof of medical fitness, identification and 20 hours of instrument time in Aircraft or Simulator is required to write the exam.
- Instrument Rating Flight Test (With a designated Transport Canada Flight Test Examiner)
- The flight test is undertaken at the Owen Sound Airport
- Written Exam must be completed prior to undertaking the flight test
Hours and Cost Estimate
The total cost to complete the program is heavily dependant on student performance and the total hours it takes to reach the level of proficiency required to complete the program. The following breakdown assumes students complete the course in the projected timeline.
The course outline assumes candidates begin the program with 9 hours of Instrument Time already, either Hood or Actual. The course outline accounts for 30 hours of Simulator Time and 15 Hours of Aircraft Flight Time. Instrument Time from the PPL, Night Rating or Commercial Pilot Licence training all count towards the required minimum time required, however proficiency is the bottom line in the validity of that training experience. If prior experience is recent and has helped you to reach a higher level of proficiency, than you could expect less time to reach the goal of the Instrument Rating.
At Owen Sound Flight Services, we teach you to be an Instrument Pilot, passing a flight test is incedental to the level of knowledge and skill you have developed in the training program.
See this link for our latest Hours and Cost Estimate for the Group 3 Instrument Rating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Coming Soon
- Check back shortly.