Instrument Rating Syllabus

Based on the Sporty's IFR Training Course Outline.

Some ground lesson will use the Backseat Pilot (BP) Commerical Lesson Plans.

Stage I

Lesson #	Type	Ground (Hrs)	Flight (Hrs)	Lessons	Elements
1	Ground	1.2	0	BP II.A.1, 3: Flight Instruments/EFIS	Flight Instruments
2	Ground	1.2	0	BP VI.A-E: Attitude Instrument Flight	Basic attitude instrument flying
3	Flight	0.4	1.2	S&L, level std turns, constant A/S climbs/descents	BAIF
4	Flight	0.4	1.2	Const. rate climbs/descents, steep turns, turns	BAIF, Steep turns
5	Flight	0.4	1.2	Instrument flight patterns	Pattern A/B
6	Ground	1.2	0	BP II.A.1.k: Magnetic Compass BP VI.H: Unusual Attitudes BP II.B: Aeromedical Factors	Magnetic compass, turns, unusual attitudes, aeromedical
7	Flight/sim	0.4	1.5	Magnetic compass, timed. turns, unusual attitudes	Cmps Turns, Timed Turns, Unus Att, Unus Att PP
8	Flight	0.4	1.2	Magnetic compass, partial panel, instrument patterns	Cmps Turns, Unus Att, Unus Att PP
9	Flight	0.4	1.2	Unusual attitudes, partial panel	Unus Att, Unus Att PP
10	Ground	1.2	0	BP VII.A: Intercepting/Tracking Nav Systems	VOR fundamentals
11	Flight/sim	0.4	1.5	VOR usage	VOR Use
12	Flight	0.4	1.2	VOR usage	VOR Use
13	Ground	1.2	0	TODO: Needs GPS lesson plans	GPS fundamentals
14	Flight/sim	0.4	1.5	GPS operations	GPS Use
15	Ground	1.2	0	BP II.A.4: Autopilot Mode and Usage Autopilot Use under IFR	Autopilot fundamentals
16	Flight	0.4	1.8	GPS and Autopilot use	GPS Use, AP Use
17	Ground	1.2	0	BP II.C: Regulations & Publications	Regulations, CFR/FAR/AIM
18	Flight	0.4	1.8	Stage 1 Review	Steep turns, Pattern A/B, Unus Att, Unus Att PP, VOR Use, GPS Use, AP Use
Check	Stage Check	1	1.4	Stage 1 Check	Steep turns, Unus Att, Unus Att PP, VOR Use, GPS Use, AP Use

Stage I Check

• Oral
  • Instrument Flight Deck Check
  • Aircraft Systems
  • Aircraft Flight Instruments
  • IFR Required Equipment
  • Inspection Requirements for IFR Flight
  • Control & Performance Instruments
  • Primary & Supporting Instruments
  • Magnetic Compass Errors
• Flight
  • Instrument Takeoff
  • Steep Turns
  • Recovery from Unusual Flight Attitudes
  • VOR Procedures
  • GPS Procedures
  • Autopilot Procedures
  • Partial Panel Instrument Flight

Stage II

Lesson #	Type	Ground (Hrs)	Flight (Hrs)	Lessons	Elements
20	Ground	1.2	0	Holding Procedures ATC Clearances	Holds and IFR clearances
21	Flight/sim	0.4	1.5	Holds	IFR clearances, holds (VOR/GPS)
22	Ground	1.2	0	BP V.B: Departure, Enroute, Arrival Procedures Instrument Approach Types Instrument Approach Charts	Terminal procedures: SID/STAR/Approaches
23	Ground	1.2	0	BP VIII.A: Non-precision approaches	Nonprecision approaches, visual/contact, minimums
24	Flight/sim	0.4	1.5	SID, STAR, VOR approach, GPS approach	SID, STAR, VOR Appr, GPS Appr
25	Ground	1.2	0	BP V.X: ATC System	ATC system, Clearance Delivery, Airways
26	Flight	0.4	1.8	SID, STAR, VOR approach, GPS approach	SID, STAR, VOR Appr, GPS Appr
27	Ground	1.2	0	BP V.A: ATC Clearances, Pilot/Controller Responsibilities	Pilot/controller responsibilities, lost comms
28	Ground	1.2	0	BP VIII.B: Precision Approaches	ILS, precision approaches, backcourses, LPV
29	Flight/sim	0.4	1.5	ILS (full & vectored, BC approach)	ILS Appr, BC Appr
30	Flight	0.4	2	ILS, BC approach, LPV	ILS Appr, BC Appr, Precision part. panel
31	Ground	1.2	0	TODO: Needs lesson plan for approaches with the Autopilot TODO: Need lesson plan for partial panel approaches?	AP nonprec. approach, AP LPV, AP ILS, AP holds, DME
32	Flight/sim	0.4	1.5	Nonprec. and precision approach partial panel, DME arcs	Nonprecision part. panel, Precision part. panel, DME Arc, Circling
33	Flight	0.4	2	Nonprec. and precision approach partial panel, DME arcs	Nonprecision part. panel, Precision part. panel, DME Arc, Circling
34	Ground	1.2	0	BP III.A: Weather Information	Icing, PIREPs, FIKI
35	Ground	1.2	0	BP III.A: Weather Theory	Thunderstorms
36	Flight	0.4	2	AP approaches, partial panel approaches	AP Use, Holds, VOR Appr, GPS Appr, ILS Appr, BC Appr, Nonprecision part. panel, Precision part. panel, Circling
37	Ground	1.2	0	BP III.A: Weather Theory	Forecasts and Reports
38	Flight	0.4	2	Stage 2 Review	Holds, VOR Appr, GPS Appr, ILS Appr, BC Appr, Nonprecision part. panel, Precision part. panel, Circling
Check	Stage Check	1	2	Stage 2 Check	Holds, VOR Appr, GPS Appr, ILS Appr, BC Appr, Nonprecision part. panel, Precision part. panel, Circling

Stage II Check

• Oral
  • Weather Information
  • Holding Procedures
  • Terminal Procedures Publication
  • Approach Procedures
  • Published Departure Procedures
  • Standard Terminal Arrival Procedures
  • Instrument Approaches with Loss of Primary Flight Instrument Indicators (Partial Panel)
• Flight
  • ATC Clearances
  • Clearance Compliance
  • Holding Procedures
  • Nonprecision Approach
  • APV Approach
  • Precision Approach
  • Missed Approach Procedures
  • Nonprecision Approach with Loss of Primary Flight Instrument Indicators
  • APV Approach with Loss of Primary Flight Instrument Indicators
  • Precision Approach with Loss of Primary Flight Instrument Indicators
  • Nonprecision Approach with Autopilot
  • Missed Approach Procedures with an Autopilot
  • Circling Approach
  • Landing from Straight-In / Circling Approach

Stage III

Lesson #	Type	Ground (Hrs)	Flight (Hrs)	Lessons	Elements
40	Ground	1.2	0	BP III.B: Cross-country Flight Planning	Enroute charts, airways, intersections, position reports
41	Ground	1.2	0	BP III.B: Cross-country Flight Planning	IFR XC planning, takeoff minimums
42	Flight/sim	0.4	2	IFR XC with approaches	VOR Appr, GPS Appr, ILS Appr
43	Flight	0.4	3	IFR XC with approaches	VOR Appr, GPS Appr, ILS Appr
44	Flight/sim	0.4	2	IFR XC with approaches	ILS Appr, Nonprecision part. panel, Precision part. panel, Circling
45	Flight	0.4	4	250nm IFR XC with 3 approaches	Holds, VOR Appr, GPS Appr, Nonprecision part. panel, Precision part. panel, Circling
46	Ground	1.2	0	Stage 3 Ground Review, written test
47	Flight	0.4	2	Stage 3 Review	VOR Use, GPS Use, AP Use, Holds, VOR Appr, GPS Appr, ILS Appr, BC Appr, Nonprecision part. panel, Precision part. panel, Circling
Check	Stage Check	1	2	Stage 3 Check	VOR Use, GPS Use, AP Use, Holds, VOR Appr, GPS Appr, ILS Appr, BC Appr, Nonprecision part. panel, Precision part. panel, Circling

Stage III Check

• Oral
  • Weather Information
  • Cross-Country Flight Planning
  • Aircraft Systems Related to IFR Flight
  • Aircraft Flight / Navigation Equipment
  • Instrument Flight Deck Check
  • FARs Related to IFR Flight & Pilot Qualifications
• Flight
  • Instrument Flight Deck Check
  • Compliance with ATC Clearances
  • Holding Procedures
  • Instrument Flight
  • Partial Panel Instrument Flight
  • Recovery from Unusual Flight Attitudes
  • Intercepting / Tracking Navigation Systems
  • Departure, En route, and Arrival Operations
  • Nonprecision Approach - Full Approach
  • Nonprecision Approach - Vectored
  • Nonprecision Approach with an Autopilot
  • Nonprecision Approach with Loss of Primary Flight Instrument Indicators
  • APV Approach
  • Precision Approach
  • Missed Approach Procedures
  • Missed Approach Procedures with an Autopilot
  • Circling Approach
  • Landing from Straight-In / Circling Approaches
  • Loss of Communications
  • Checking Instruments and Equipment

Lesson Sequence

Ground Lessons

1. BP II.A.1, 3: Flight Instruments/EFIS
2. BP VI.A-E: Attitude Instrument Flight
3. BP II.A.1.k: Magnetic Compass
4. BP VI.H: Unusual Attitudes
5. BP II.B: Aeromedical Factors
6. BP VII.A: Intercepting/Tracking Nav Systems
7. GPS Usage
8. Autopilot Use under IFR
9. BP II.C: Regulations & Publications
10. Holding Procedures
11. ATC Clearances
12. BP V.B: Departure, Enroute, Arrival Procedures
13. Instrument Approach Types
14. Instrument Approach Charts
15. BP VIII.A: Non-precision approaches
16. BP V.X: ATC System
17. BP V.A: ATC Clearances, Pilot/Controller Responsibilities
18. BP VIII.B: Precision Approaches
19. Autopilot approaches
20. Partial panel approaches
21. BP III.A: Weather Information
22. BP III.A: Weather Theory
23. BP III.B: Cross-country Flight Planning