Instrument Flight Rules

Introduction

It is difficult keeping up with CASA regulations because they keep re-writing them, they even have a web-link about how they are changing the rules and seem proud that they are doing so, and paint it in the light that it as good for the industry. Meanwhile they also state that they are also the enforcers. It seems they are there perpetuating employment for the legislation drafters and inflicting the impost of change on the aviation industry. Terming this as a self-licking ice-cream would be harsh but that is the observation it engenders. They claim it is a consultative process proudly as well.

Why Australia has to re-write its own legislation that is incompatible and non-transferable to other Aviation States is the reason that Australia is considered the back-water of Aviation. Our maintenance engineering qualifications and State of Design certificates are not recognized by the FAA nor ESA. It is the story of Australian Aviation, me make our own rules instead of recognizing and adopting the world's best FAA system, so as a result our Aviation Industry is suffering e.g. the FAA has pilot self-declared certification that CASA has so far said they need more time to understand and thus for over 6 years are refusing to provide - yet RAAUS has had self-declared medical certification since inception.

This wiki-page is a collection of my notes used to refresh myself, and hopefully others of the requirements for safe flight under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), and forms part of my self-training material. There are several sources containing information on the web for the proficient IFR pilot. I can recommend the Cheat Sheet].

Instrument Flight Rules

Instrument Flight Rules are proscribed in Part 61 MOS Volume 1 Appendix M and the ratings are proscribed in Part 61 MOS Volume 1 Appendix N and in Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 Division 61.770

requirements

To get obtain an instrument rating, you need to:

• hold at least a private pilot licence (PPL)
• study the aeronautical knowledge syllabus
• pass the instrument rating exam.
• and conduct instrument flight training with an authorised Part 141 flight training operator to obtain:
  • an aircraft/helicopter instrument endorsement
  • at least a 2D IAP endorsement.

To be eligible for the flight test, you must have the following minimum aeronautical experience:

• 50 hours cross-country flight time as pilot-in-command
• 40 hours of instrument time including:
  • at least 10 hours of dual instrument time
  • 20 hours of instrument flight time (or 10 hours of instrument flight time if training in a flight simulator).

Regulations on instrument ratings

The rules for instrument ratings are in the following sections of CASR Part 61 Volume 2 Flight crew licensing:

• regulation 61.010 – definitions for Part 61
• regulations 61.105 and 61.110 – definitions of instrument flight and instrument ground time
• regulation 61.375 – general limitations on exercise of privileges of pilot licences – ratings
• regulation 61.790 – limitations on exercise of privileges of pilot type rating - IFR operation
• regulation 61.855 – privileges of instrument ratings
• regulation 61.860 – limitations on exercise of privileges of instrument rating – general.

endorsements

There are the following categories :

• Private Instrument Ratings - Part 61 MOS 2014 Volume 1 Appendix N page 45.
  • SE aeroplane private instrument endorsement
  • ME aeople private instrument endorsement
  • SE helicopter private instrument endorsement
  • ME helicopter private instrument endorsement
  • NDB private instrument endorsement
  • VOR/LLZ private instrument endorsement
  • GNSS private instrument endorsement
  • Departure SE private instrument endorsement
  • Departure ME private instrument endorsement
  • Standard instrument departure SE aircraft private instrument endorsement
  • STAR private instrument endorsement
  • Approach NDB private instrument endorsement
  • Approach VOR/LLX private instrument endorsement
  • Approach DME/GNSS private instrument endorsement
  • Approach RNP APPCH 2D private instrument endorsement
  • Approach RNP APPCH 2D private instrument endorsement
  • Approach ILS private instrument endorsement
  • Night private instrument endorsement