Instrument Rating Pilot Qualifications Lesson Plan
The Instrument Rating Pilot Qualifications Lesson Plan covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with airman and medical certificates including privileges, limitations, currency, and operating as pilot-in-command under instrument flight rules.
Instrument Rating Pilot Qualifications Lesson Plan Introduction
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Attention Getter:
- Discuss motivation to become an instrument rated pilot.
- Relate similar personal experiences to the student to establish rapport.
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Motivator:
- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates general aviation operations in the United States.
- According to the Federal Aviation Administration, more than 50,000 people are issued one or more certificates, ranging from student to airline transport, by the age of 24.
- Pilot and instructor certificates each have unique privileges and limitations.
- Pilot certificates include student, sport, recreational, private, commercial, airline transport, and remote pilot certificates.
- Instructor certificates include flight and ground instructors.
- Certificates may have additional ratings added to them.
Instrument Rating Pilot Qualifications Lesson Plan Materials
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Required Materials:
- Writing instrument (pen, marker, etc.).
- Writing surface (paper, whiteboard, etc.).
- Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) or an internet-enabled device to access FARs.
- Airman Certification Standards.
- Student jacket.
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Optional Materials:
- Instructor endorsement log.
- Pilot Logbook.
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Reference Materials:
- Aircraft Categories and Classes Supplement.
- Pilot Certificates and Ratings Supplement.
- Pilot Logbooks Supplement.
- Medical Certificate Supplement.
- Currency Supplement.
- Fitness for Flight Supplement.
- Aeronautical Decision-Making Supplement.
- Federal Aviation Regulations Part 61.
- Advisory Circular 68-1.
- Risk Management Handbook.
- Airplane Flying Handbook.
- Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge.
- Airman Certification Standards:
- Hard copies of the ACS and Oral Exam Guides are available on Amazon.
- Digital copies of the ACS are available on the FAA's website.
Instrument Rating Pilot Qualifications Lesson Plan Instructor Actions
- Before the lesson, review reference materials.
- Part 1, Lesson Introduction:
- If not previously discussed, provide expectations on time to train, ground instruction vs. flight instruction, and instructor/student availability.
- Review the lesson plan, including the attention-getter and motivator.
- Review the airman certification standards.
- Part 2: Instrument Pilot Foundations:
- Baseline the discussion by covering aircraft categories and classes.
- Introduce instrument pilot eligibility requirements and start an eligibility checklist.
- Introduce instrument pilot aeronautical knowledge requirements and start an aeronautical knowledge checklist.
- Introduce Instrument pilot aeronautical experience requirements and start an aeronautical experience checklist.
- Introduce instrument pilot flight proficiency requirements and start an aeronautical proficiency requirements checklist.
- Discuss the WINGS program and have students register if they haven't already.
- Part 3, Legalities:
- Introduce pilot logbook/recordkeeping requirements.
- Introduce instrument pilot privileges and limitations.
- Introduce documents required to exercise instrument pilot privileges.
- Introduce medical certificate requirements, including BasicMed.
- Part 4, Self-Assessments:
- Introduce currency vs. proficiency and how that plays into performing self-assessments.
- Introduce considerations when operating unfamiliar aircraft or avionics.
- Part 5, Pilot Qualifications Guided Scenario:
- Lead a guided scenario.
- Part 6, Lesson Conclusion:
- Present the remotivation, conclude, and provide guidance for follow-on lessons.
- Review student actions required ahead of the next lesson.
- Update instructor endorsement records and the student's jacket, as required.
Instrument Rating Pilot Qualifications Lesson Plan Guided Scenario(s)
Instrument Rating Pilot Qualifications Lesson Plan Student Actions
- Complete the assigned readings (see content above).
- Register for the WINGS program, if not done so already.
- Complete initial BasicMed requirements.
- Complete a student pilot certificate application through the Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application (IACRA) website or by paper using FAA form 8710-1.
- Complete an electronic application for an FAA Medical Clearance, Medical Certificate, through the FAA's MedXPress system.
- Complete or review AOPA's Online Learning Course - Transitioning to Other Airplanes.
- Perform self-assessment, including fitness for flight and personal minimums, as appropriate.
- Ask pertinent questions.
- Make a go/no-go decision, as appropriate.
Instrument Rating Pilot Qualifications Airman Certification Standards
- Objective: To determine whether the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with requirements to act as pilot-in-command under instrument flight rules.
- References: 14 CFR part 61; AC 68-1; FAA-H-8083-2 (Risk Management Handbook), FAA-H-8083-3 (Airplane Flying Handbook), FAA-H-8083-15, FAA-H-8083-25 (Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge).
Instrument Rating - Pilot Qualifications Knowledge:
The applicant demonstrates an understanding of:.-
IR.I.A.K1:
Certification requirements [eligibility, aeronautical knowledge], recency of experience [aeronautical experience, flight proficiency], and recordkeeping. -
IR.I.A.K2:
Privileges and limitations. -
IR.I.A.K3:
Part 68 BasicMed Privileges and Limitations.
Instrument Rating - Pilot Qualifications Risk Management:
The applicant is able to identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with:.-
IR.I.A.R1:
Proficiency versus currency. -
IR.I.A.R2:
Personal minimums. -
IR.I.A.R3:
Fitness for flight and physiological factors that might affect the pilot's ability to fly under instrument conditions. -
IR.I.A.R4:
Flying unfamiliar aircraft or operating with unfamiliar flight display systems and avionics.
Instrument Rating - Pilot Qualifications Skills:
The applicant exhibits the skills to:.-
IR.I.A.S1:
Apply requirements to act as pilot-in-command (PIC) under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) in a scenario given by the evaluator.
Instrument Rating Pilot Qualifications Lesson Plan Conclusion
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Re-Motivation:
- With a foundation on the requirements to meet certification standards, students can envision a path to certification completion.
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Closure:
- Inform students that this lesson will serve as a starting point for the next lesson.
- Advise the student to register for the WINGS program if they have not already done so.
- Advise the student to complete BasicMed if they have not already done so.
- Assign study materials for the next lesson.
- The FAA provides test-taking guidance and test guides on its website.
- To learn more about earning the practical test, visit the checkride page.