INSTRUMENT FINAL ORAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100% PASS.
When is an instrument rating required? - ANS - when acting as PIC under IFr or in weather
conditions less than prescribed for VFR
- when carrying passengers for compensation or hire on cross-country flights in excess of 50 NM
or at night
- for flight in Class A airspace
- for special VFR between sunset and sunrise
How does logging instrument time work? - ANS A person may log instrument time only for
that flight time when the person operates the aircraft solely by reference to instruments under
actual or simulated instrument flight conditions.
An authorized instructor may log instrument time
when conducting instrument flight instruction in actual instrument flight conditions
Minimum Aeronautical Experience - ANS ■ 50 hours X-Country PIC time
▷ Of which,10 hours in airplanes
■ 40 hours actual or simulated instrument time
▷ Of which, 15 hours with CFII.
□ Including one X-Country flight of:
□ 250 NM along airways or by directed ATC
routing.
2026 STUDY MATERIAL @COPYRIGHT RESERVED 1
,□ An instrument approach at each airport.
□ 3 different kinds of approaches using
navigation systems.
□ With a filed IFR flight plan.
□ 3 Hours instrument flight training in last 2
Calendar months prior to practical test
■ Use of approved full flight simulator or FTD, if trained
by authorized instructor:
▷ Max. 30 hours if instrument time completed under
Part 142
▷ Max 20 hours if not completed under 142
■ Use of FAA approved Aviation Training Device, if
trained by an authorized instructor:
▷ Max.10 hours of instrument time if Basic ATD
▷ Max. 20 hours of instrument time if Advanced ATD
■ No more than 20 hours of total instrument time can be
credited in a full flight simulator, FTD or ATD, except
the 30 hours exception under Part 142 mentioned
above
Recency of Experience: To act as PIC - ANS A Flight review is required since the beginning of
the 24
calendar months before the month of the flight in an
aircraft for which the pilot is rated. Consists of
minimum 1 hour of flight training and 1 hour ground
training. Conducted by an authorized instructor.
The flight review can be substituted by:
■ A proficiency check or practical pilot test for a pilot
certificate, rating or operating privilege. (conducted
2026 STUDY MATERIAL @COPYRIGHT RESERVED 2
,by an approved examiner, pilot check airman, or US
Armed Force).
■ A practical test, conducted by an examiner, for flight
instructor certificate, additional rating, renewal or
reinstatement.
■ Completion of one or more phases of the FAA-
sponsored pilot proficiency award program
(WINGS).
■ Flight instructor renewal under Part 61.197 exempts
the pilot from the ground portion of the flight review.
A Flight simulator or FTD may be used to meet the
flight review requirements as long as:
■ It is used in an approved course by a training
center under Part 142.
■ Represent an aircraft for which the pilot is rated
What is required to carry passengers as PIC? - ANS ■ 3 takeoffs & landings in category, class
and type(if type rating req.) In the last 90 days.
■ At periods between 1 hour after sunset to 1 hour before sunrise: 3 takeoffs & landings to full
stop within 1 hour after sunset to 1 hour before sunrise.
■ The takeoffs and landings may be accomplished in a FFS or FTD if it is approved for landings
and used ina Part 142 training center.
See exceptions in 61.57(e) for pilots operating under Part 121, 125, 135 and PIC of turbine-
powered airplanes with more than one flight crewmember.
To act as PIC under IFR or in weather conditions less than VFR minimums - ANS Within the 6
calendar months preceding the monthof flight, you performed and logged (in actual or
simulated conditions):
2026 STUDY MATERIAL @COPYRIGHT RESERVED 3
, ■ 6 instrument approaches.
■ Holding procedures & tasks.
■ Intercepting & Tracking courses through the use of navigational electronic systems.
These tasks can be completed in a FFS, ATD, or FTD provided the device represents the category
of aircraft for the instrument rating privileges to be maintained and the pilot performs the tasks
and iterations in simulated instrument conditions. A flight instructor is not needed
Additional 6 months, post 6 HITS period. - ANS A grace period. May regain currency with a
safety pilot.
■ Safety pilot requirements
▷ Holds at least a private pilot certificate with the appropriate category and class and a valid
medical / BasicMed.
▷ Have adequate vision forward and to each side of the aircraft.
▷ Aircraft must have a dual control system.
What do you need to do more than 6months since IFR current? (12 months past) - ANS ■ An
Instrument Proficiency Check (IPC) is required. Administered by a CFII, examiner, or other
approved person. Guidelines are in the ACS.
■ Some IPC tasks, but not all, can be conducted in a FTD or ATD. (See ACS)
To meet recent instrument experience requirements, the following information must be
recorded in the person's logbook:
■ Location & type of each instrument approach accomplished, and
■ The name of the safety pilot, if required.
The IPC must cover these areas of operation:
■ Air traffic control clearances and procedures.
■ Flight by reference to instruments.
■ Navigation systems.
2026 STUDY MATERIAL @COPYRIGHT RESERVED 4
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100% PASS.
When is an instrument rating required? - ANS - when acting as PIC under IFr or in weather
conditions less than prescribed for VFR
- when carrying passengers for compensation or hire on cross-country flights in excess of 50 NM
or at night
- for flight in Class A airspace
- for special VFR between sunset and sunrise
How does logging instrument time work? - ANS A person may log instrument time only for
that flight time when the person operates the aircraft solely by reference to instruments under
actual or simulated instrument flight conditions.
An authorized instructor may log instrument time
when conducting instrument flight instruction in actual instrument flight conditions
Minimum Aeronautical Experience - ANS ■ 50 hours X-Country PIC time
▷ Of which,10 hours in airplanes
■ 40 hours actual or simulated instrument time
▷ Of which, 15 hours with CFII.
□ Including one X-Country flight of:
□ 250 NM along airways or by directed ATC
routing.
2026 STUDY MATERIAL @COPYRIGHT RESERVED 1
,□ An instrument approach at each airport.
□ 3 different kinds of approaches using
navigation systems.
□ With a filed IFR flight plan.
□ 3 Hours instrument flight training in last 2
Calendar months prior to practical test
■ Use of approved full flight simulator or FTD, if trained
by authorized instructor:
▷ Max. 30 hours if instrument time completed under
Part 142
▷ Max 20 hours if not completed under 142
■ Use of FAA approved Aviation Training Device, if
trained by an authorized instructor:
▷ Max.10 hours of instrument time if Basic ATD
▷ Max. 20 hours of instrument time if Advanced ATD
■ No more than 20 hours of total instrument time can be
credited in a full flight simulator, FTD or ATD, except
the 30 hours exception under Part 142 mentioned
above
Recency of Experience: To act as PIC - ANS A Flight review is required since the beginning of
the 24
calendar months before the month of the flight in an
aircraft for which the pilot is rated. Consists of
minimum 1 hour of flight training and 1 hour ground
training. Conducted by an authorized instructor.
The flight review can be substituted by:
■ A proficiency check or practical pilot test for a pilot
certificate, rating or operating privilege. (conducted
2026 STUDY MATERIAL @COPYRIGHT RESERVED 2
,by an approved examiner, pilot check airman, or US
Armed Force).
■ A practical test, conducted by an examiner, for flight
instructor certificate, additional rating, renewal or
reinstatement.
■ Completion of one or more phases of the FAA-
sponsored pilot proficiency award program
(WINGS).
■ Flight instructor renewal under Part 61.197 exempts
the pilot from the ground portion of the flight review.
A Flight simulator or FTD may be used to meet the
flight review requirements as long as:
■ It is used in an approved course by a training
center under Part 142.
■ Represent an aircraft for which the pilot is rated
What is required to carry passengers as PIC? - ANS ■ 3 takeoffs & landings in category, class
and type(if type rating req.) In the last 90 days.
■ At periods between 1 hour after sunset to 1 hour before sunrise: 3 takeoffs & landings to full
stop within 1 hour after sunset to 1 hour before sunrise.
■ The takeoffs and landings may be accomplished in a FFS or FTD if it is approved for landings
and used ina Part 142 training center.
See exceptions in 61.57(e) for pilots operating under Part 121, 125, 135 and PIC of turbine-
powered airplanes with more than one flight crewmember.
To act as PIC under IFR or in weather conditions less than VFR minimums - ANS Within the 6
calendar months preceding the monthof flight, you performed and logged (in actual or
simulated conditions):
2026 STUDY MATERIAL @COPYRIGHT RESERVED 3
, ■ 6 instrument approaches.
■ Holding procedures & tasks.
■ Intercepting & Tracking courses through the use of navigational electronic systems.
These tasks can be completed in a FFS, ATD, or FTD provided the device represents the category
of aircraft for the instrument rating privileges to be maintained and the pilot performs the tasks
and iterations in simulated instrument conditions. A flight instructor is not needed
Additional 6 months, post 6 HITS period. - ANS A grace period. May regain currency with a
safety pilot.
■ Safety pilot requirements
▷ Holds at least a private pilot certificate with the appropriate category and class and a valid
medical / BasicMed.
▷ Have adequate vision forward and to each side of the aircraft.
▷ Aircraft must have a dual control system.
What do you need to do more than 6months since IFR current? (12 months past) - ANS ■ An
Instrument Proficiency Check (IPC) is required. Administered by a CFII, examiner, or other
approved person. Guidelines are in the ACS.
■ Some IPC tasks, but not all, can be conducted in a FTD or ATD. (See ACS)
To meet recent instrument experience requirements, the following information must be
recorded in the person's logbook:
■ Location & type of each instrument approach accomplished, and
■ The name of the safety pilot, if required.
The IPC must cover these areas of operation:
■ Air traffic control clearances and procedures.
■ Flight by reference to instruments.
■ Navigation systems.
2026 STUDY MATERIAL @COPYRIGHT RESERVED 4
