"Bristow Academy add the R44 to their Part 141 Instrument Program. Choose now from R44, R22, or the S300 CBi."

For the pilot, instrument training represents a wise investment, both for career and safety reasons; it opens up a number of positions for which a non-instrument pilot would otherwise be unqualified. Bristow Academy offers instrument training in the Robinson R-22 Beta Instrument Trainer and Schweizer 300CB instrument trainer supplemented by procedures training in the Fly-It Helicopter Flight Simulator. Courses available include Basic Instrument, Instrument Add-On, and Instrument Instructor.

Phase I - Ground School and Simulator
The objective of the first phase of the instrument program is to obtain knowledge of instrument flying procedures, charts and publications, weather etc. This is accomplished through an extensive three week ground school class. During the second and third week you will also start practicing instrument flying on the Fly-It flight simulator.

Phase II - Basic Instrument Flying
The second phase of the instrument program consists mainly of flight training. You will be introduced to the procedures of instrument flying, the challenges of flying various instrument approaches, navigating in the IFR system, and communicating with ATC.

The first few flights you will most likely be struggling to keep altitude, airspeed, and heading constant. Later on you will progressively build your confidence, and by the end of this phase you will be able to fly long cross country flights, from one airport to another, without looking outside the windows once.

Phase III - IFR Emergencies and Checkride Preparation
During the last stage of the instrument program you will learn how to deal with radio failure and other emergencies in the IFR world, and refine your instrument skills in preparation for the checkride. This phase ends when you have passed the FAA checkride and earned your instrument rating.

Why get an instrument rating?
For a newly-qualified Commercial pilot an Instrument Instructor rating enhances employment options. CFII (R/H)'s are a rare commodity and are in demand by flight schools. The real value of the instrument rating comes later in a pilots career when he/she is trying to make the step-up from small to medium size helicopters. The more challenging and financially-rewarding jobs, such as off-shore, Emergency Medical Service (EMS), and corporate flying, almost invariably require an instrument rating.

In the past it was common to find highly successful helicopter pilots who did not have an instrument rating. In the last ten years, for a number of reasons, the instrument rating has become vastly more important. This is partly due to the increased sophistication of the newer helicopters. Another factor is the influence of the insurance companies who have demanded higher standards in all aspects of aircraft operation.

Very few EMS helicopter programs now hire pilots who are not instrument rated. Even those EMS operators who do not fly in actual instrument conditions are demanding the rating. In December '95 one major Gulf of Mexico helicopter company hired forty-five pilots and the only minimum qualifications they specified for applicants were 1000 hours and an instrument rating.