Instrument Proficiency Checks Under The Revised Instrument Practical Test Standards

>check-ride. Under the prior PTS, a student and
In April, 2004, the FAA updated and revised theinstructor could discuss and determine the appropriate
Practical Test Standards (“PTS”) for theand/or necessary tasks to ensure that the pilot could
Instrument Rating. The new standards went into effectdemonstrate the necessary competency to pass an
October 1, 2004. Of particular interest to instrumentIPC. This allowed a pilot to use the IPC as a learning
flight instructors (“CFII’s”) and pilots holdingtool by agreeing with the instructor to review or
instrument ratings is a substantial change in thepractice specific tasks on which the pilot may have felt
requirements for administering an Instrumenthe or she needed additional practice.
Proficiency Check (“IPC”).Under the revised PTS, all of the designated tasks
Prior to October 1, 2004, a CFII had discretion regardingmust now be satisfactorily completed. Although a pilot
what PTS tasks he or she could require for anand instructor can still tailor the IPC to focus on tasks
instrument rated pilot to demonstrate instrumentneeding additional work, the remainder of the
proficiency. That discretion allowed a CFII to be flexibledesignated tasks will still need to be completed. This
in order to accommodate/address a pilot's strengthswill increase the time required for an IPC and may
weaknesses, as well as the pilot’s aircraft,deter pilots from spending the time and money for
instrumentation and intended missions. That is, the CFIIadditional practice of specific tasks.
was allowed to decide what tasks the pilot needed toAnother concern is the requirement that an IPC
accomplish in order to show the CFII that the pilot couldcandidate must now perform a circling approach.
competently operate an aircraft solely with referenceUnfortunately, this eliminates the opportunity for an IPC
to the instruments.candidate to fully complete an IPC using a
Although this discretion presented the opportunity for acomputer-based trainer such as an Advanced AD.
CFII to conduct an IPC with minimal demonstration ofAlthough an Advanced AD will still qualify for
ability by the pilot, most CFII’s required pilots tocompletion of a majority of the IPC requirements, if it
demonstrate sufficient skills and competence to showdoes not have a wide, wrap-around display, a circling
that they could safely fly in instrument meteorologicalapproach will be impossible and this portion of the IPC
conditions (“IMC”). After all, no responsible CFIIwill need to either be demonstrated in an aircraft or in
wanted to be the last IPC sign-off in a pilot’sa simulator that is equipped for such an approach.
logbook if the pilot was later in an accident or incident:This new requirement also has the potential to
Too many questions to answer and potential liability forincrease the cost of an IPC for a pilot. If the pilot does
the CFII.not have access to an appropriate computer based
However, the revised PTS no longer give the CFIItrainer, he or she will need to perform a circling
discretion in how an IPC is to be conducted or theapproach in an aircraft.
tasks to be performed. The current PTS now requireThe revised PTS are here and are the standards for
completion of specific tasks including holds, unusualconducting an IPC. Pilots should keep in mind that an
attitudes, intercepting nav-aids and dme-arcs, precision,IPC sign-off received after October 1, 2004 that does
non-precision and circling approaches, partial- panel andnot comply with the revised PTS will not be valid and
review of instruments and aircraft equipment.may leave the pilot operating without instrument
Unfortunately, the removal of the CFII’scurrency. Both pilots and their instructors should review
discretion seems to convert what used to be athe revised PTS to fully understand what tasks are
learning experience tailored to a pilot and his or herrequired for an IPC.
needs into what is more closely akin to an actualAs always, fly safe and fly smart.