Helicopter IF Rating

The Instruments (IF) Rating teaches pilots how to operate instruments in the aircraft or helicopter.  This can be done as part of your commercial licence or done separately.

The benefits include being capable to navigate, establish weather decisions or applying instruments for knowing your flying capabilities.

The minimum requirement for the IF rating is to have a Private Pilot’s Licence (PPL).  However, the conventional PPL issued in South Africa, only permits you to fly Visual Flight Rules (VFR) in Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC).  Generally, this means in clear conditions.

The IF rating could be described as a “safety net” should you find yourself in unexpected adverse - generally weather - conditions.  More often than not, pilots opt to fly under cloud cover instead of over.  Naturally this can cause consequences, specially if you are flying in Mountainous Terrain.  South Africa is not very forgiving as far as consistency of land level is concerned.

The IF rating can likewise be known as the : Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) Rating.

The IF Rating requires approximately 40 hours of instruction.