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4 Answers

Can a PPL holder do some IFR training without an instructor?

Asked by: 3131 views FAA Regulations, General Aviation, Instrument Rating, Private Pilot

I was speaking to a CFI/II today, and he said that I could do the vast majority of my IFR training without a CFI, as long as I had a safety pilot, and did them in VFR conditions.  That way, all I am paying for is the CFI to come with me for the required ~15 hours of dual time (and the dual XC).  Is this true?  Can someone shine some light on this?  Are there any rules/regs I need to be familiar with?  This is news to me, and I was not expecting that at all.  Thanks everyone for your input!

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4 Answers

  1. Best Answer


    Russ Roslewski on Jan 24, 2017

    Yes, it is true. Read 61.65 for the IR requirements. Calling it “training” is not correct however, it is simply simulated instrument time. For the IR (airplane), you are required to have 40 hours of simulated instrument time, of which 15 must be with a CFII (there are a few other requirements, like XC, but not many).

    That’s the rules. However, practically, I usually end up spending about 40 hours with an IR student before they are ready for the checkride. I have yet to see anyone complete it with only 15 hours of training, there is just too much to cover for the typical pilot with the typical background. So it’s a pretty meaningless minimum.

    In addition, if your time with a safety pilot isn’t very carefully structured, you can very easily pick up bad habits that will take longer for the CFII to correct than they would have to learn right in the first place. I tell my IR students that I encourage them to go with a safety pilot to practice, but only do those things that we have practiced together first. Actually, very few end up going with a SP. They would rather pay me to fly with them for practice than to risk picking up bad habits, and that’s certainly okay with me.

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  2. dbflyboy917 on Jan 24, 2017

    Russ Roslewski,

    Makes perfect sense. Thank you. I was starting to wonder what would happen if someone did something that would be normally frowned upon. Seems logical to only use a SP after you get comfortable with what you are learning, and not before.

    As far as my use of the word ‘training,’ good catch. I was using more in the general sense, rather than in the literal sense. But either way, glad you noticed! Thank you for your reply!

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  3. Mark Kolber on Jan 25, 2017

    You are correct it should be done once you have learned the procedures. I like to think of flight with a SO as the instrument student’s version of primary student pilot solo – to practice what has been learned.

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  4. Mark Kolber on Jan 25, 2017

    …sorry. That’s SP, not SO.

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