Instrument Rating Foreign Pilot

[gwengler]

I need to get my FAA license upgraded. Currently it is ME, VFR, based
on my Canadian ME IFR ATPL. To have it include IFR, I have to write
the FAA Knowledge Test "Instrument Rating - Foreign Pilot (IFP)". I
cannot find/google what exactly is being tested for the IFP: Is it
questions from the whole IFR question catalogue or is it questions
pertaining only to certain areas like "instrument flight rules and
related procedures"?
Any idea anyone?
Gerd

[Mitty]

On 12/13/2006 4:35 PM, gwengler wrote the following:
> "Instrument Rating - Foreign Pilot (IFP)". I
> cannot find/google what exactly is being tested for the IFP: Is it
> questions from the whole IFR question catalogue or is it questions
> pertaining only to certain areas like "instrument flight rules and
> related procedures"?
> Any idea anyone?
> Gerd
>

It looks like about everything is covered. 946 total possible questions
covering all topics you might think of. By comparison, the regular Instrument
written is 930 questions. Both have the same 11 topic areas.

I got this info from the Dauntless Groundschool program that I used for my
written. It's a $30 download from faatest.com and unlocking the Instrument tests
gives you access to all 8 of them including instructor and helicopter tests. I
have no financial interest in the product but I have been very pleased with it.
Got 100% on my Instrument written using an earlier version than what is now
current, so it's probably better now.

[Jim Macklin]

You are limited to private pilot privileges, no commercial
ops, even though you hold a Canadian ATPL. You can fly "for
hire" in the USA if you are in a Canadian aircraft.

You might consider studying for the US ATP and taking the
ride, you will surrender the FP certificate, but you will be
ahead.

You don't need any sign off, you have a choice of a 135 or a
121 based test.



"gwengler" > wrote in message
ups.com...
|I need to get my FAA license upgraded. Currently it is ME,
VFR, based
| on my Canadian ME IFR ATPL. To have it include IFR, I
have to write
| the FAA Knowledge Test "Instrument Rating - Foreign Pilot
(IFP)". I
| cannot find/google what exactly is being tested for the
IFP: Is it
| questions from the whole IFR question catalogue or is it
questions
| pertaining only to certain areas like "instrument flight
rules and
| related procedures"?
| Any idea anyone?
| Gerd
|

[Ron Natalie]

Mitty wrote:

> It looks like about everything is covered. 946 total possible questions
> covering all topics you might think of. By comparison, the regular
> Instrument written is 930 questions. Both have the same 11 topic areas.
>
My guess is the extra questions would be the helicopter, etc.
questions. The normal Instrument Rating test is specific
to category (Airplane, Helicopter, ...). The instructor test
however is not so you might see the category specific questions
from any of the categories.

[Chris]

Just work on the basis of the regular IR knowledge test which you should
manage. I think the foreign pilots test has 50 questions as opposed to the
regular 60 but what the hell it only takes about 40 minutes to do.
"gwengler" > wrote in message
ups.com...
>I need to get my FAA license upgraded. Currently it is ME, VFR, based
> on my Canadian ME IFR ATPL. To have it include IFR, I have to write
> the FAA Knowledge Test "Instrument Rating - Foreign Pilot (IFP)". I
> cannot find/google what exactly is being tested for the IFP: Is it
> questions from the whole IFR question catalogue or is it questions
> pertaining only to certain areas like "instrument flight rules and
> related procedures"?
> Any idea anyone?
> Gerd
>

[tscottme]

"gwengler" > wrote in message
ups.com...
>I need to get my FAA license upgraded. Currently it is ME, VFR, based
> on my Canadian ME IFR ATPL. To have it include IFR, I have to write
> the FAA Knowledge Test "Instrument Rating - Foreign Pilot (IFP)". I
> cannot find/google what exactly is being tested for the IFP: Is it
> questions from the whole IFR question catalogue or is it questions
> pertaining only to certain areas like "instrument flight rules and
> related procedures"?
> Any idea anyone?
> Gerd

I worked for a large flight school that administered written tests. One
thing that came up pretty often was confusion between the Instrument-Foreign
Pilot written test and the more common Instrument Rating Airplane written
test. While the two written tests cover virtually the exact same FAA
questions, they are not the same test. It was pretty common for
flight/ground instructors to sign off a student to take the conventional IR
test when the student should have received the IR-Foreign Pilot sign off.

Make sure your paperwork clearly indicates your test is the test you expect.
If you study for one test you will be prepared to pass either test, but the
sign off and the FAA paperwork does distinguish between the two tests. We
would get students signed off for the IR-Airplane when they needed the IR-FP
test. One authorization doesn't cover both tests. Even had they passed the
incorrect IR written test, it probably would have been caught by the FAA.
Instead of receiving the license in the mail sever weeks later, you could
receive notice of a mistake. It's a pretty small detail, but it's quicker
to prevent than fix after the fact.

--

Scott

[Jim Macklin]

I would check with the FSDO< I don't think that the foreign
pilot needs an instructor endorsement to take the FP IR
test. The ATP does not for any pilot the first time.



"tscottme" > wrote in message
. ..
| "gwengler" > wrote in message
|
ups.com...
| >I need to get my FAA license upgraded. Currently it is
ME, VFR, based
| > on my Canadian ME IFR ATPL. To have it include IFR, I
have to write
| > the FAA Knowledge Test "Instrument Rating - Foreign
Pilot (IFP)". I
| > cannot find/google what exactly is being tested for the
IFP: Is it
| > questions from the whole IFR question catalogue or is it
questions
| > pertaining only to certain areas like "instrument flight
rules and
| > related procedures"?
| > Any idea anyone?
| > Gerd
|
| I worked for a large flight school that administered
written tests. One
| thing that came up pretty often was confusion between the
Instrument-Foreign
| Pilot written test and the more common Instrument Rating
Airplane written
| test. While the two written tests cover virtually the
exact same FAA
| questions, they are not the same test. It was pretty
common for
| flight/ground instructors to sign off a student to take
the conventional IR
| test when the student should have received the IR-Foreign
Pilot sign off.
|
| Make sure your paperwork clearly indicates your test is
the test you expect.
| If you study for one test you will be prepared to pass
either test, but the
| sign off and the FAA paperwork does distinguish between
the two tests. We
| would get students signed off for the IR-Airplane when
they needed the IR-FP
| test. One authorization doesn't cover both tests. Even
had they passed the
| incorrect IR written test, it probably would have been
caught by the FAA.
| Instead of receiving the license in the mail sever weeks
later, you could
| receive notice of a mistake. It's a pretty small detail,
but it's quicker
| to prevent than fix after the fact.
|
| --
|
| Scott
|
|

[tscottme]

"Jim Macklin" > wrote in message
...
>I would check with the FSDO< I don't think that the foreign
> pilot needs an instructor endorsement to take the FP IR
> test. The ATP does not for any pilot the first time.
>

I don't mean to indicate a foreign ATP needs an instructor endorsement. My
emphasis was on making sure everyone, applicant, tester, etc. not confuse
the IR Airplane written test for the IR-Foreign Pilot written test. My
experience showed that people that should know better would often confuse
the common IR test for the less common IR test. Just because the written
tests are almost nearly identical, one will not substitute for the other
test.

--

Scott

[Jim Macklin]

That is very true. Paperwork is the most important thing to
the FAA.



"tscottme" > wrote in message
. ..
| "Jim Macklin" > wrote
in message
| ...
| >I would check with the FSDO< I don't think that the
foreign
| > pilot needs an instructor endorsement to take the FP IR
| > test. The ATP does not for any pilot the first time.
| >
|
| I don't mean to indicate a foreign ATP needs an instructor
endorsement. My
| emphasis was on making sure everyone, applicant, tester,
etc. not confuse
| the IR Airplane written test for the IR-Foreign Pilot
written test. My
| experience showed that people that should know better
would often confuse
| the common IR test for the less common IR test. Just
because the written
| tests are almost nearly identical, one will not substitute
for the other
| test.
|
| --
|
| Scott
|
|

[Andrew Sarangan]

You will run into a lot of red tape, and interpretations that will vary
from one inspector to the next. Once upon a time I tried to do the same
- add an instrument rating to the Restricted Private pilot certificate
issued on the basis of my Canadian license. It was way more trouble
than it was worth. So I just retook the private pilot checkride, and
then the IR checkride.



gwengler wrote:
> I need to get my FAA license upgraded. Currently it is ME, VFR, based
> on my Canadian ME IFR ATPL. To have it include IFR, I have to write
> the FAA Knowledge Test "Instrument Rating - Foreign Pilot (IFP)". I
> cannot find/google what exactly is being tested for the IFP: Is it
> questions from the whole IFR question catalogue or is it questions
> pertaining only to certain areas like "instrument flight rules and
> related procedures"?
> Any idea anyone?
> Gerd

[Jim Macklin]

Since he holds a Canadian ATP, he can take the USA knowledge
and practical tests and get the USA ATP.


"Andrew Sarangan" > wrote in message
ups.com...
| You will run into a lot of red tape, and interpretations
that will vary
| from one inspector to the next. Once upon a time I tried
to do the same
| - add an instrument rating to the Restricted Private pilot
certificate
| issued on the basis of my Canadian license. It was way
more trouble
| than it was worth. So I just retook the private pilot
checkride, and
| then the IR checkride.
|
|
|
| gwengler wrote:
| > I need to get my FAA license upgraded. Currently it is
ME, VFR, based
| > on my Canadian ME IFR ATPL. To have it include IFR, I
have to write
| > the FAA Knowledge Test "Instrument Rating - Foreign
Pilot (IFP)". I
| > cannot find/google what exactly is being tested for the
IFP: Is it
| > questions from the whole IFR question catalogue or is it
questions
| > pertaining only to certain areas like "instrument flight
rules and
| > related procedures"?
| > Any idea anyone?
| > Gerd
|