Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

This course utilizes the Hillsboro Aero Academy FAA 141-approved Instrument Commercial Training Course Outline (TCO), and covers the ground instruction in stages 1-3, flight instruction in stages 1, 2 and 4.

A specific number of hours of training are required to meet the outcomes for this course, and will be provided by PCC's contracted flight training provider under PCC supervision.  Outcomes will be assessed by written, oral and practical (flight) tests. 

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

• Qualify to take the FAA knowledge and practical tests for the airplane instrument rating.
• Take responsibility as pilot-in-command to competently conduct the planning, preflight action, weather analysis, and other procedures necessary to safely conduct flights under instrument flight rules.
• Exercise the flying skills necessary to conduct safe flights solely by reference to instruments.

Evaluation methods will include written, oral, and practical testing. Evaluation levels will meet or exceed those defined by the FAA Instrument Rating Practical Test Standards. Completion standards for each lesson can be found in the TCO, which will be provided to the student. 

(1) Applicable Federal Aviation Regulations for IFR flight operations;

(2) Appropriate information in the “Aeronautical Information Manual”;

(3) Air traffic control system and procedures for instrument flight operations;

(4) IFR navigation and approaches by use of navigation systems;

(5) Use of IFR en route and instrument approach procedure charts;

(6) Procurement and use of aviation weather reports and forecasts, and the elements of forecasting weather trends on the basis of that information and personal observation of weather conditions;

(7) Safe and efficient operation of aircraft under instrument flight rules and conditions;

(8) Recognition of critical weather situations and windshear avoidance;

(9) Aeronautical decision making and judgment; and

(10) Crew resource management, to include crew communication and coordination. 

(1) Preflight preparation;

(2) Preflight procedures;

(3) Air traffic control clearances and procedures;

(4) Flight by reference to instruments;

(5) Navigation systems;

(6) Instrument approach procedures;

(7) Emergency operations; and

(8) Postflight procedures.