Package 2 · I still need cross-country hours
Instrument Rating syllabus
10 hours in the AATD, 40 hours of instrument cross-country with a CFII, and 10 hours of checkride prep.
Stage 1
AATD Fundamentals · 10 hrs
LessonContentHrs
1.1
Instrument scan, attitude instrument flying, basic maneuvers
2.0
1.2
Partial panel, unusual attitude recovery, timed turns
2.0
1.3
VOR/GPS tracking, intercepts, holding entries
2.0
1.4
Holds, DME arcs, intro to ILS and RNAV approaches
2.0
1.5
Full approach procedures, missed approaches, clearance copying
2.0
Ground school and the knowledge test run alongside this stage. AATD time counts toward instrument time only, not cross-country.
Stage 2
Instrument Cross-Country Training with CFII · 40 hrs
Every flight lands at an airport more than 50 nm in a straight line from home base. The student flies under the hood as sole manipulator of the controls, so each flight logs as XC PIC, simulated instrument, and dual.
Phase A — Airplane transition and en route procedures
LessonContentHrs
2.1
Attitude flying and partial panel in the airplane, en route to destination
2.5
2.2
IFR flight plan, clearance, departure procedure, VOR tracking
2.5
2.3
GPS navigation, en route holding at a fix
2.5
2.4
Unusual attitudes, DME arcs, ATC reroutes
2.5
Phase B — Approaches
LessonContentHrs
2.5
RNAV (GPS) approach at destination, missed approach
2.5
2.6
ILS approach, hold in lieu of procedure turn
2.5
2.7
VOR approach, circling approach
2.5
2.8
LOC approach, procedure turn
2.5
2.9
Approaches at two different airports on one flight
2.5
2.10
Partial panel approach, no-gyro vectors
2.5
Phase C — Emergencies and real-world IFR
LessonContentHrs
2.11
Lost communications procedures
2.5
2.12
Equipment and instrument failures, diversions
2.5
2.13
Actual IMC if available, or full IFR XC under the hood
2.5
2.14
Stage check: complete IFR XC to ACS standards
2.5
2.15
Long IFR XC: 250 nm along airways or ATC routing, an approach at each airport, three different kinds of approaches
5.0
Stage 3
Checkride Prep · 10 hrs
LessonContentHrs
3.1
ACS review: holds, all approach types
2.0
3.2
Partial panel, unusual attitudes, emergencies
2.0
3.3
Weak areas from the stage check
2.0
3.4
Mock checkride with oral
2.0
3.5
Final polish and endorsement
2.0