FAA Instrument Rating (Airplane)
111 questions covering the Areas of Operation on the FAA IRA knowledge test for an Instrument Rating with an airplane category. 60 questions, 42 to pass, two hours.
- Questions in this course
- 111
- The real test
- 60 questions, 42 correct to pass.
- Written from
- Instrument Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-15B), Instrument Procedures Handbook (FAA-H-8083-16B), Instrument Rating -- Airplane Airman Certification Standards (FAA-S-ACS-8C), and 14 CFR parts 61 and 91
An Instrument Rating -- Airplane lets you act as pilot in command of an airplane under instrument flight rules (IFR) in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). You must already hold at least a private pilot certificate with an airplane category rating.
Under 14 CFR 61.65, you need at least 50 hours of cross-country PIC time, 40 hours of actual or simulated instrument time (at least 15 from an authorized instructor), and specific training in instrument approaches, holding procedures, and intercepting/tracking courses. You must pass the IRA knowledge test and the instrument rating practical test.
The IRA knowledge test has 60 questions, you have up to two hours, and 42 correct (70%) passes it.
First, get an FAA Tracking Number (FTN) by creating a free account on IACRA. Your flight instructor endorses your logbook when you are ready for the knowledge test.
Book the IRA exam at a PSI-run testing center through PSI's FAA exam site. Bring government photo ID.
This course drills 111 questions grounded in the FAA's own Instrument Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-15B), Instrument Procedures Handbook (FAA-H-8083-16B), the Instrument Rating -- Airplane Airman Certification Standards (FAA-S-ACS-8C), and 14 CFR parts 61 and 91 fetched fresh from the eCFR -- see each question's citation for exactly which source proves it. A question grounded in the regulation carries a section number (such as "91.185") so you can look the rule up yourself.
Official links
- Become a pilot (FAA) — FAA's overview of the pilot certification path
- IACRA — Get your FTN and apply for the certificate
- PSI exam registration — Book the IRA knowledge test
- Instrument Flying Handbook (PDF) — FAA-H-8083-15B, one of this course’s sources
- Instrument Rating -- Airplane ACS (PDF) — FAA-S-ACS-8C, the syllabus this course follows
Questions
Common questions
How many questions are on the real test, and what is the pass mark?
60 questions, 42 correct to pass.
Where do the questions in this course come from?
Every question is written from Instrument Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-15B), Instrument Procedures Handbook (FAA-H-8083-16B), Instrument Rating -- Airplane Airman Certification Standards (FAA-S-ACS-8C), and 14 CFR parts 61 and 91, and names the passage or section that proves its answer.
Where do I take the FAA knowledge test?
First, get an FAA Tracking Number (FTN) by creating a free account on IACRA. Your flight instructor endorses your logbook when you are ready for the knowledge test.
Is this course free?
Part of every course is free: a slice of every topic and one short practice test a day. Full access is $5 a month for one course, or $20 a month for every course on the site.