So have you heard about Instrument rating?? Let me give you a brief idea about what it is. An instrument rating is an advanced qualification for pilots that allows them to fly aircraft solely by reference to instruments, without relying on visual cues. It’s essential for flying in adverse weather conditions or situations with low visibility.
Pilots with an instrument rating are trained to navigate and control the aircraft using the cockpit instruments, including altimeters, gyroscopes, and navigation systems. But the next question is, do helicopter pilots need it??. Mostly helicopters fly in VFR or good visibility conditions, it’s still good to get the rating. Most of the companies will have instrument rating as a prerequisite to promote you to a captain or even hire you. Let’s look at the requirements and regulations to get the rating.
Requirements- Instrument rating
The basic requirements for an instrument rating is that you holder of a current Pilot’s Licence (Helicopters) and also hold a current Flight Radio Telephone Operator’s Licence for operation of radio telephone apparatus on board an aircraft issued by the Director-General.
Knowledge: He/She shall pass a written and oral examination in Air Regulations, Air Navigation and Aviation Meteorology as per the syllabus prescribed for the issue of a Commercial Pilot’s Licence (Helicopters) and shall also pass signals (Practical) examination for interpretation of aural and visual signals for the issue of this rating as per the prescribed syllabus.
Experience: He shall produce evidence of having satisfactorily completed as a pilot of a helicopter not less than one hundred fifty hours of flight time which shall include not less than —
(i) one hundred hours of flight time as Pilot-in-Command or fifty hours of flight time as Pilot-in-Command and one hundred hours as Co-Pilot performing the duties and functions of a Pilot-in-Command under the supervision of a Pilot who satisfies the flying experience requirements of a Check Pilot.
(ii) fifty hours of cross-county flight time as Pilot-in-Command of a helicopter or fifteen hours as Pilot-in-Command and seventy hours as Co-Pilot performing the duties and functions of a Pilot-in-Command under the supervision of a Pilot who satisfies the flying experience requirements of a Check Pilot.
(iii) forty hours of Instrument time in helicopters of which not more than twenty hours shall be instrument ground time. A minimum of five hours of instrument time shall have been completed on helicopters within a period of six months immediately preceding the date of application.
Skill
He/She shall have demonstrated competency to fly a helicopter in respect of which Instrument Rating is desired, solely with the aid of instruments by undergoing an instrument flying test to the satisfaction of an Examiner within a period of six months immediately preceding the date of application for the rating.
The flight test shall be carried out in accordance with the syllabus as prescribed by the Director-General. The Director-General may, however, allow such tests or part thereof to be carried out on an approved simulator for the type of aircraft.
Validity
(a) The instrument rating shall be valid for a period of twelve months from the date of the instrument rating flying test.
(b) It shall be renewed for a further period of twelve months at a time from the date of expiry provided that the Instrument Rating Renewal Check has been carried out within two months preceding the date of expiry and all other requirements for renewal are met.
(c) In other cases, the validity of renewal of the rating shall commence from the date of the test.
Renewal
The Instrument Rating may be renewed on receipt of satisfactory evidence of the applicant:
(a) having satisfactorily completed the Instrument Rating Renewal Check on the helicopter with an Examiner or Instructor or on an approved Flight Simulator allowed by the Director-General.
(b) having a current Flight Radio Telephone Operator’s Licence issued by the Director-General for operation of radio telephone apparatus on board an aircraft.
Exceptions
Provided that in the case of a Pilot who holds a current Instrument Rating(Aeroplanes), he shall have not less than fifty hours of flight time as Pilot-in-Command of helicopter including not less than twenty hours of cross-country flight time and not less than twenty hours of instrument flight time of which not more than ten hours may be instrument ground time.
Conclusion
In conclusion I would like to say, though you will have to spend extra money to get the rating, eventually it will be worth it. Thankyou for reading.