We recently had a thought-provoking exchange of e-mails with Henry, a reader who asked a multipart question: What equipment does he need in his airplane for an instrument checkride? Afterward, what equipment does he reasonably need to fly it daily in the system?
What you really need
Key Takeaways:
- The minimum equipment for an IFR checkride, while technically achievable with limited avionics (e.g., one COM, one ILS-capable NAV), is impractical and risky for both the test and real-world instrument flying.
- Modern practical IFR operations demand more robust equipment, typically including dual NAV/COMs, IFR-certified GPS (often assumed by ATC), and frequently an autopilot, with ADS-B Out becoming mandatory for IFR service.
- Henry's current aircraft, equipped with only a non-precision GPS/COM, does not meet the requirements for an IFR checkride due to the lack of VOR/LOC/glideslope capability; adding an integrated NAV/COM is recommended to make it suitable for both training and safe IFR flight.
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