Training for the instrument rating is organized into three stages, with each stage building upon the previous stage. In the first stage, you will build a strong foundation in attitude instrument flying and instrument navigation. In the second stage you will learn instrument procedures including holding patterns and approach procedures. In the third and final stage you will learn IFR cross-country procedures and prepare for the Instrument Rating Practical Exam.
Stage 1 – Principles of Instrument Flight
| Lesson | Description |
|---|---|
| Ground Lesson 1 | The Instrument Rating / Human Factors |
| Ground Lesson 2 | Flight Instruments |
| Ground Lesson 3 | Attitude Instrument Flying |
| Flight Lesson 1 | Preflight Procedures and Full Panel Instrument Flying |
| Flight Lesson 2 | Full Panel Instrument Flying and IFR Aircraft Systems |
| Ground Lesson 3 | Instrument Navigation |
| Flight Lesson 3 | Review – Full Panel Instrument Flying |
| Flight Lesson 4 | Introduction to Partial Panel Instrument Flying |
| Ground Lesson 5 | Instrument Federal Aviation Regulations |
| Ground Lesson 6 | Airports, Airspace and Flight Information Publications |
| Flight Lesson 5 | System and Equipment Malfunctions |
| Flight Lesson 6 | Full and Partial Panel Instrument Flying |
| Ground Lesson 7 | The Air Traffic Control System |
| Flight Lesson 7 | Review – Full and Partial Panel Instrument Flying |
| Ground Lesson 8 | Air Traffic Control Clearances |
| Flight Lesson 8 | VOR Navigation |
| Knowledge Assessment | Stage 1 Exam |
| Flight Lesson 9 | Intercepting and Tracking DME Arcs |
| Flight Lesson 10 | GPS Navigation |
| Flight Lesson 11 | Localizer Tracking |
| Flight Lesson 12 | Partial Panel Navigation |
| Flight Lesson 13 | Stage 1 Check |
Stage 2 – Instrument Procedures
| Lesson | Description |
|---|---|
| Ground Lesson 9 | Departure Charts and Procedures |
| Ground Lesson 10 | Enroute Charts and Procedures |
| Ground Lesson 11 | Holding Procedures |
| Flight Lesson 14 | VOR and GPS Holding |
| Flight Lesson 15 | Localizer Holding |
| Flight Lesson 16 | DME and Intersection Holding |
| Ground Lesson 12 | Arrival Charts and Procedures |
| Ground Lesson 13 | Approach Charts |
| Ground Lesson 14 | Approach Procedures |
| Ground Lesson 15 | VOR Approaches |
| Knowledge Assessment | Instrument Approaches |
| Flight Lesson 17 | VOR Approaches |
| Ground Lesson 17 | ILS Approaches |
| Ground Lesson 18 | RNAV Approaches |
| Flight Lesson 18 | RNAV Approaches – Part 1 |
| Flight Lesson 19 | RNAV Approaches – Part 2 |
| Flight Lesson 20 | ILS Approaches |
| Flight Lesson 21 | Partial Panel Approaches |
| Flight Lesson 22 | Review – Holding Procedures and Approaches |
| Knowledge Assessment | Stage 2 Exam |
| Flight Lesson 23 | Stage 2 Check |
Stage 3 – Cross-Country Instrument Flight
| Lesson | Description |
|---|---|
| Ground Lesson 19 | Weather Factors and Hazards |
| Ground Lesson 20 | Textual Weather Reports and Forecasts |
| Knowledge Assessment | IFR Cross-Country Flight |
| Flight Lesson 24 | IFR Cross-Country Procedures |
| Ground Lesson 21 | Graphical Weather Products |
| Flight Lesson 25 | IFR Cross-Country Flight |
| Ground Lesson 22 | Sources of Weather Information |
| Ground Lesson 23 | IFR Emergencies |
| Ground Lesson 24 | IFR SRM / IFR Flight Planning |
| Flight Lesson 26 | Long IFR Cross-Country Flight |
| Knowledge Assessment | Instrument Rating Practical Test |
| Flight Lesson 27 | IFR Cross-Country Review |
| Knowledge Assessment | Stage III Exam |
| Flight Lesson 28 | Stage III Check |
| Knowledge Assessment | Instrument Rating End-of-Course Exam |
| Flight Lesson 29 | End-of-Course Flight Check |
Note: If you have already completed and Instrument Rating ground school, or passed the instrument rating knowledge exam, the ground lessons will consist of abbreviated assessments.
Max Aero 