Multi-Engine Instrument Rating

You may extend the usefulness of either a Private Pilot or Commercial Pilot license by obtaining a multi-engine rating or an instrument rating. A multi-engine rating allows you to fly an aircraft that has more than one engine, whereas an instrument rating allows you to fly in more inclement weather, and through or over cloud where reference to the ground is lost.
An instrument rating may be held for either single- or multi-engine aircraft. If you hold a multi-engine rating, and take your instrument flight test in a multi-engine aircraft, then the instrument rating will be issued with single- and multi-engine privileges. If, however, you do not hold a multi-engine rating, or take the instrument flight test in a single-engine aircraft, then the instrument rating will be issued for use in single-engine aircraft only. While a single-engine instrument rating is an excellent add-on to either the Private or Commercial license, generally only those who plan to fly professionally obtain the multi-engine and multi-engine/instrument ratings.

Currently, Flight Discovery does not have an aircraft on-line for multi-engine training and so the multi-engine rating cannot be obtained through us. Those pilots who wish to obtain their multi-engine or multi-engine/instrument ratings, however, have a couple of options:

1. Several specialty schools exist that offer only multi-engine and multi-engine/instrument training. Some of these schools are located in the Vancouver area and offer the added benefit of flight in the complex airspace in and around the Vancouver International Airport control zone. Such training is extremely valuable for the career oriented candidate. At these schools, much of the instrument training is initially conducted on simulators. Later, transition training to multi-engine aircraft is conducted in order to obtain the multi-engine rating and for the multi-engine/instrument flight test.
   
   
2. Alternatively, it is possible for you to obtain a single-engine instrument rating through Flight Discovery. After obtaining the instrument rating, you would be able to transfer to another school for the multi-engine rating and multi/instrument flight test. The advantage to this approach is that a single-engine instrument rating is obtained early in the training, and less flight time is conducted in the more costly multi-engine aircraft.

Both approaches have advantages and disadvantages. Should you wish to explore either option, please let us know and we can forward additional information to you regarding programs offered at other training centers.

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