JAA Commercial Pilot Instrument Rating

The IR

The instrument rating is quite possibly the hardest hurdle you will need to jump over, known in short as the ‘IR’. It is so feared by new pilots because not only is it quite a challenge (which can be overcome with hard work and good instruction), but also because of the cost involved. This is without doubt the most expensive part of your training you will embark upon (unless you decide to self fund a type rating).

Since almost all commercial flights are flown ‘airways’, that is, on instruments under instrument flight rules (IFR) and within very tightly controlled airspace and procedures, this is the fundamental skill that will be used on a daily basis during your work as a pilot.

Instrument flying is operating an aircraft by sole reference to the instruments (apart from take off and landing) and within seconds from lift off your view of the outside world is stolen by large screens placed around you and just prior to landing as you pass through ‘minimums’, your view is returned for you to make the inevitable firm but safe landing.

The instrument training also provides you with the basic key skills that take you into the international flying environment that is inevitable around Europe and indeed most of the world. The skills and knowledge that are learnt at this stage really are the building blocks for your professional aviation career.

I have heard some discussion in the past surrounding foreign instrument ratings, particularly FAA (American) and Canadian ratings and people returning to Europe to convert them. Read more on that subject from my article named Cheap JAA Instrument Rating.

Entry into the instrument courses depends on your previous experience and is detailed below:

Typically at this point you will already hold your CPL (Commercial Pilots Licence) and therefore have passed either you CPL and IR ground school and exams or your full ATPL (Airline Transport Pilots Licence) exams.

Minimum requirements are:

First IR (ie. Do not hold a foreign Instrument Rating) Cost up to Ł15,000
50 hours cross country flying
Hold a current night rating
Over 18 years old
ATPL or IR exams passed
Class rating training completed
Hold a current class 1 or class 2 medical (class 1 is required for commercial piloting)
Have passed the JAA CPL Skills Test
- Typical training time is up to 8 weeks -

15 Hour IR (Foreign Licence conversion) Cost up to Ł6,000
Class rating training complete,
Hold a valid ICAO IR (for example, American, Australian, Canadian, New Zealand or Canadian)
- Typical training time is up to 4 weeks -

Prior to the Instrument rating course you will need to have completed your Multi-engine class rating. It can be more cost effective to complete this as part of your CPL skills test. As you can see the cost of foreign IR conversion is substantially lower than a full JAA IR, so it is definitely worth shopping around foreign training providers to see what they are able to offer and see if there is a cost saving in training overseas and returning to Europe to convert.

The instrument rating training is completed in flight simulators and also aircraft. Extensive use of the simulators can lower the cost significantly (although, simulators are not cheap to ‘fly’), but you may find your benefit more from actually being in the flying environment.

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