Instrument Rating Checkride Preparation

The instrument rating checkride tests your ability to safely operate in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). The practical test evaluates both your knowledge and your ability to fly precise instrument procedures.

Oral Examination Topics

The oral portion typically lasts 1.5-2.5 hours and focuses heavily on IFR regulations, weather, and approach procedures. DPEs want to see that you can make sound decisions in the IFR environment.

Critical areas to master include:

• Currency requirements – Know the 6 approaches, holding, and intercepting/tracking requirements
• Approach procedures – Understand minimums, segments, and missed approach procedures
• Alternate requirements – When you need one and the 1-2-3 rule
• Lost communications – The AVE-F MEA route and squawk procedures
• Weather – Reading prog charts, AIRMETs, SIGMETs, and TAFs

Flight Test Preparation

Practice your approaches to ACS standards. You'll need to demonstrate precision and non-precision approaches, partial panel work, holds, and unusual attitude recovery. Chair flying and simulator time are invaluable for building the scan patterns you'll need.