INSTRUMENT RATING
THE HARDEST RATING YOU CAN OBTAIN
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C-172 Panel with Garmin 430 GPS/NAV/COM
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Obtaining an instrument rating is one of the greatest challenges in aviation. But the rating also greatly expands the utility of an airplane.
With an instrument rating, a small airplane becomes much more of a utility vehicle. While the light piston single airplanes are not ever going to be able to blast through weather like an airliner, they can handle conditions which would make visual flight impossible.
If you are considering a career in aviation, the instrument rating is just about mandatory as most commercial aviation depends upon being able to fly under all but the worst weather conditions.
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Requirements for the Instrument Rating
Prerequisite: 50 hours cross country pilot in command
Note that some of these hours can be obtained in the process of completing the rating.
Total Instrument Time: 40 hours (minimum)
Minimum Dual(with an instrument instructor): 15 hours
Other time can be with a safety pilot (private pilot or higher rating)
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Instrument Approach Types
Finding an airport in the clouds requires careful navigation procedures. There are four common instrument approach types:
GPS (RNAV): These approaches use the precision of Global Positioning System navigation to guide the pilot to the final approach course. Most newer airplanes are equipped with GPS units.
VOR: These approaches involve flying a specific VOR radial to the airport. While less precise than GPS, these approaches are still widely used.
ADF: These approaches use non-directional beacons and careful attention to heading to locate the airport. While little used today, the ADF approach skill may prove useful in certain areas.
ILS/Localizer: The ILS or precision approach is the most precise approach commonly in use today. A subset of the ILS is the localizer approach which provides the pilot with precise horizontal guidance, but does not include the vertical guidance of the glide slope.
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Our AIRPLANE NAVIGATION SYSTEMS
GARMIN 430
This navigation unit provides the capability to fly GPS, ILS, localizer, VOR and NDB approaches.
KING KX170B
This unit, while an older unit, provides a second glide slope. The presence of two glide slope instruments in the airplane greatly enhances the safety of flight into actual instrument conditions.
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COMMERCIAL RATING
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GETTING PAID TO FLY
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If you are going to fly for pay, you need the commercial rating. Most of the rating can be done on your own.
JNM, inc. uses the Cessna 172 for most of the commercial training. The balance is done in a retractable gear single engine airplane.
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With a commercial rating you can:
Fly passengers locally for pay.
Fly corporate airplanes for pay.
Continue on to higher ratings such as Flight Instructor or Airline Transport Pilot
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Commercial Rating Experience Requirements:
Total Flight Experience: 250 hours minimum
Pilot in Command (PIC) Experience: 100 hours minimum
Airplane (PIC) Flight Experience: 50 hours minimum
Night Flight Solo Experience: 5 hours with 10 landings at a controlled field.
Cross Country Solo Experience: One flight of at least 300 nautical miles.
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Commercial Rating Instruction Required:
Instrument Training: 10 hours or completion of instrument rating.
Complex Airplane Training: 10 hours
Day Cross Country Training: 2 hours
Night Cross Country Training: 2 hours
Check Ride Preparation: 3 hours
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