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61.129(a)(3)(i) Commercial Instrument Training

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Commercial Pilot, FAA Regulations

My question pertains to instrument training while seeking a Commercial certificate. I am Instrument Rated and received the rating by way of a Part 141 curriculum. 

Prior guidance from this site says I should probably plan for an additional 10 hours of instrument training prior to the Commercial check ride. Can 5 hours be in a single engine airplane, and 5 in an AATD? Can the AATD with a white-out screen count as a view-limiting device?

The reg doesn't say "flight training". It says:

20 hours of training ... that includes at least—

(i) Ten hours of instrument training using a view-limiting device including attitude instrument flying, partial panel skills, recovery from unusual flight attitudes, and intercepting and tracking navigational systems. Five hours of the 10 hours required on instrument training must be in a single engine airplane;

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1 Answers



  1. Wes Beard on Nov 22, 2013

    You read it correctly. Need 10 hrs with a minimum 5 hrs in the airplane.

    +1 Votes Thumb up 1 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes


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