Instrument ???'s

[chop_top]

Hey;

 

Just a few questions about a possible cheaper instrument rating. With question number four are any entry level GOM company offering to hire without an instrument rating?

 

1. Can a pilot receive all of his/her instrument flight time in an airplane?

(all but the 15hrs for category and class for helicopters)

 

2. Does the CF II need to be helicopter rated if instrument instruction is done in an airplane?

 

3. How much will a pilot save if done this way? (if possible)

 

4. Is this a recommended way of receiving instrument hours to snag the first job?

 

5. Will a pilot catch a hard time on your check ride if they see that the pilot has mostly airplane hours?

[rick1128]

Hey;

 

Just a few questions about a possible cheaper instrument rating. With question number four are any entry level GOM company offering to hire without an instrument rating?

 

1. Can a pilot receive all of his/her instrument flight time in an airplane?

(all but the 15hrs for category and class for helicopters)

 

2. Does the CF II need to be helicopter rated if instrument instruction is done in an airplane?

 

3. How much will a pilot save if done this way? (if possible)

 

4. Is this a recommended way of receiving instrument hours to snag the first job?

 

5. Will a pilot catch a hard time on your check ride if they see that the pilot has mostly airplane hours?

 

To answer your questions:

 

1. Yes, you can

 

2. No. the instructor must be rated in the category and class of aircraft the instruction is being given in.

 

3. It depends. It could possibly cost you more.

 

4. It would depend on your total helicopter time. But I would say NO

 

5. As long as you meet the requirements of the FAR's NO.

 

A couple of points. While there are many similarities between airplane and helicopter instrument flying, there are also things that are different. If you are a low time helicopter pilot, you really need all the helicopter time you can get.There is a thing called negative transfer that could actually cause you problems during training and the checkride.

 

You need to look at your situation and decide what will work best for you and best meet your goals and objectives.

[delorean]

Adding to what rick said,

 

If you already have an airplane instrument rating, your checkride in the helicopter may be shorter since less tasks are required by the PTS.

 

Also, you can always take the instrument and CFII ride in the same day/ride in the DPE or inspector allows it. You may need to switch seats half way through, but almost everything in the PTS is repeated, so just kill two birds with one stone. That's what I always used to do for students (do the commercial & CFI the same way).

 

Don't forget that the minimums for an instrument rating are:

 

40 ttl instrument hrs

20 hrs dual hrs

15 in category

 

So you can do up to 20 hrs with a safety pilot (and that person can also log PIC). Get someone trying to build hrs toward their commercial, split the costs and have them hang out as safety pilot while you fly under the goggles. This can be done in the helicopter or airplane to save money.

 

You can also build some of that 20 hrs dual in a simulator. Airplane or helicopter....doesn't matter as long as you meet the three minimums above. [The only thing: Airplane simulator time does NOT count toward the instrument minimums for the ATP/heli--and vice versa--sim time has to be in category for ATP mins.]

 

Do worry about an examiner giving you a "hard time" because of airplane time. That's like the myth about bad grades on the FAA written test. Most of them are pretty cool characters who understand the need to save money and that the FAA written tests are worthless. If they aren't understanding, your instructor shouldn't be utilizing them in the first place.

 

Finally don't forget...EXAMPLE....If you're trying to build helicopter time, don't go fly an airplane to save money. Yeah, you might be saving a $100-150/hr on 25 hrs of instrument time, but now you're still 25 hrs short of 200 hrs and you'll still be spending $250/hr to get that time. You saved money on your instrument rating only, but lost your azz in the long run (unless your trying to build fixed wing time too.)

[chop_top]

Another Question:

 

1. Is it even possible for a 1,000hr CFI to get a GOM job if that pilot is not instrument rated?

 

2. Or is the company's commitment to turbine transition just about as much as a newbie pilot can get?

[Gomer Pylot]

Most GOM companies, if not all, require an instrument rating. Maybe not Jerry's Kids, but certainly the majors. No IR, no job.

[helonorth]

Most GOM companies, if not all, require an instrument rating. Maybe not Jerry's Kids, but certainly the majors. No IR, no job.

 

Rotorcraft Leasing ( Jerry's Kids ) has hired pilots without instrument ratings. They have 90+

helicopters, but I guess that does't qualify as being a "major" operator. RLC doesn't fly any

instruments, even in the S-76s, so no one is required to maintain currency. So yes, you can get

hired without it. It would make yourself much more marketable, though.

If chop top is asking if they will train you in instruments after you get hired...absolutely not.