Category: Instrument Rating

VFR Revalidation for SEP rating VFR private pilots normally have to take an hour’s instruction every two years to be allowed to retain their licence privileges. Even airline pilots have to do this separately for smaller aircraft, ensuring their SEP (Single Engine Piston) rating remains current. This isn’t an exam or skill test, although any instructor would be cautious to sign off someone who was thought to be dangerous. In

The Rules European private aviation requires lots of ongoing tests and checks to ensure pilots continue to be fit and capable of the tasks they are licenced for. All IR pilots must undergo an annual revalidation or lose their privileges. If you don’t do this before the year passes (specifically one year after the end of the month of the date you passed your initial IR skill test), then you

Background A full Instrument Rating allows pilots to fly in cloud (Instrument Conditions) anywhere worldwide, fly instrument approaches to minima and fly in Airways with an IFR flight plan. There is also the useful IMC rating (now IR(R)), a unique UK rating which allows flight in IMC but not outside the UK and excludes Class A and airways. Although an IR(R) holder, now that I had access to an aircraft

Yippee! Passed the (laborious) IR Theory Exams Today I received a big white envelope from the CAA with the results of my last set of IR Theory exams. I’ve now passed the lot (all 7) and am qualified through to the next stage, ready to start the IR practical flight training which must be completed within 36 months (or I have to resit them all again). The Instrument Rating is