✓️ Get your Instrument Rating at E-Flight Academy
✓️ 35 hours in a Cirrus simulator, 15 hours flying, in a Cirrus SR20
✓️ CO2 is offset in cooperation with Justdiggit
Do you have a pilot's license and enjoy flying, but want to further develop your skills to become an even better pilot, able to fly in even more conditions? Then the Instrument Rating Course is ideal for you!
Weather or no weather
E-Flight Academy's Instrument Rating Course uses advanced simulators, allowing pilots to learn the art of flying according to Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) in a sustainable way. This course has two major advantages: because there is a lot of training in the simulator, you are usually not dependent on the weather for these lessons, and by having fewer flight hours in real aircraft, you get intensive training in a realistic, safe virtual environment. This makes the course perfect for pilots who want to improve their skills while minimizing the environmental impact of their training. Best of both worlds, in other words!
An Instrument Rating allows you to fly according to IFR (Instrument Flight Rules). This means that you can, for example, fly through clouds or fog, also called blind flying. This skill increases your flying possibilities considerably. Just think of all the days when you could not fly because of bad weather - with your IR in your pocket, that belongs to the past!
Contents of this Course
The full flight training course consists of a minimum of 50 hours of IR flight time with dual flight instruction divided into two modules (Basic Instrument Flight Module (BIFM) and the Procedural Instrument Flight Module (PIFM)). If you have already completed the BIFM elsewhere, you can also take only the PIFM with us.
Basic Instrument Flight Module
This includes 10 hours of instrument flight time with instructor. Of this, 5 hours are flown on a simulator and 5 hours on a new Cirrus SR20 (or SR22T). The last lesson involves a progress test. Upon completion of the Basic Instrument Flight Module the candidate will receive a certificate of course completion.
Procedural Instrument Flight Module.
This covers the remainder of the training program for the IR(A), 40 hours of instrument flight time with instruction. Of this, 30 hours will be flown on a simulator and 10 hours in a Cirrus SR20 (or SR22T). This module includes two progress tests.
This training includes:
- 15 VFR landings at Teuge
- 83 hours of instruction
- All electricity and fuel needed
- CO2 compensation via JustDiggit (we will arrange it)
This training does not include:
- All fees for landings and ATC we make at other fields
- Theory training and theory exam.
- Flight exam (aircraft rental, landings, examiner rental and Kiwa fees).
The criteria to start the Instrument Rating Course
- Basic Qualification: Possess at least a PPL (A) (Private Pilot License for aircraft).
- Night flying license (if you want to be able to fly IFR in the dark as well): Have night flying privileges in accordance with FCL.810, if IR privileges will be used at night; or hold an ATPL (Airline Transport Pilot License) in another category of aircraft; or a CPL (Commercial Pilot License) in the relevant aircraft category.
- Flying experience: At least 50 hours of flight time as PIC on cross-country flights in airplanes, TMGs (Touring Motor Gliders), helicopters or airships, of which at least 10 hours or, in the case of airships, 20 hours must be in the relevant aircraft category.
- Certificate of Theoretical Knowledge: A valid certificate of theoretical knowledge.
- A valid Class 1 or 2 Medical Certificate (Class 2 requires an additional audiogram to be taken at the AME for the IR(A)).
- How long does the IR(A) course take?
Together with the student, E-Flight Academy will strive to complete the flight training for an IR(A) in approximately 8 to 10 weeks. However, in most cases, the duration of the course will be determined by student availability and weather, so it may take longer. IR students are required to complete the theory state exams before starting the IR course.
The theoretical part of the IR course must be completed no later than 18 months and the practical part in any case within the validity period of the theoretical state exams (36 months after successful completion of the last state exam). The BIFM and/or PIFM phases of flight instruction are followed in a continuous training program organized by E-Flight Academy.
The flight training in the overview shows the minimum required training. Each training flight has a completion standard that must be achieved before moving on to the next training flight. In the event that the required standard is not achieved within the minimum allotted time, it will be necessary to repeat all or part of the training flight, which will likely result in an extension of the course beyond the minimum hours. Mandatory exercises not flown within a syllabus flight are automatically added to the next instructional flight by the IT system.
What does the theoretical knowledge training involve?
The theoretical knowledge training includes at least 350 hours of training, although both the training and the exam are outside the scope of the E-Flight Academy IR(A) course and will be conducted by a theoretical knowledge ATO. If you want to become a professional pilot (also check our Zero-to-Hero information) we recommend taking the ATPL(A) theory (+/- 750 hours) which already includes the IR theory.
- How is the student's progress assessed?
There are 3 theoretical progress tests (PTs) embedded in the E-Flight IR(A) syllabus. Each progress test has a minimum pass rate of 75%. The practical part includes flight progress checks (PCs) where each exercise must achieve a minimum performance level as specified in the syllabus. - Can I have previous experience count toward the IR(A) course?Yes, holders of a CPL(A), BIR, or course completion certificate for the BIFM can reduce the total amount of required training by 10 hours and start in the PIFM phase. Holders of an IR(H) can reduce the total amount of required training to 10 hours.
- Where will the IR(A) training be conducted? The training will be given at E-Flight Academy in Teuge. The IFR approaches will be performed at airfields such as Lelystad and Groningen. For more information, please contact us at hello@eflight.nl or call +31 55 203 2230.