Commercial Rating Confusion: The 5-Hour Instrument Time Requirement

Oct 04, 2025

One of the most common mistakes we see in Final Approach Course check-rides has nothing to do with flying the helicopter — it has to do with the logbook.

When pilots go for their Commercial Helicopter rating, the FAA requires at least 5 hours of instrument training. Simple enough, right? But the way you log that time can make or break your check-ride.


 

The Requirement

Here’s the reality: during those 5 hours of instrument training, you’ll be under the hood (or foggles) for most of the flight, but not all of it. You have to:

  • Start the helicopter

  • Hover, taxi, and take off

  • Put on foggles to simulate instrument conditions

  • Remove foggles, return to base, and land

That means the total flight time and the actual instrument time are not the same.

Example:

  • Flight = 1.0 hour

  • Actual Instrument = 0.7 hour


The Mistake That Fails Pilots

Too often, pilots simply log 1.0 hour flight time = 1.0 hour instrument time.

Examiners see this immediately. It’s sloppy, unrealistic, and a red flag that you don’t understand how to properly document your training. And that one mistake can fail your check-ride before you even start the engine.


Why It Happens

The problem comes from confusion between:

  • Total Flight Time (engine start to engine stop)

  • Actual Instrument Time (time under the hood with foggles)

If you don’t separate the two, your logbook won’t add up. And when your logbook doesn’t add up, examiners won’t be impressed.



FAC Spotlight

We’ve had multiple Final Approach Course students arrive with this exact issue in their logbooks. It’s not because they weren’t good pilots — it’s because no one took the time to explain the difference.

That’s why we review every logbook entry line by line before we send a student to a check-ride. We’d rather catch the mistake here than have the examiner catch it later.


How to Avoid the Trap

  1. Log flight time and instrument time separately.

  2. Don’t inflate your instrument time. If you weren’t under the hood, it doesn’t count.

  3. Know the ACS requirements. 5 hours means 5 hours of actual instrument training — not just total flight.

  4. Keep it consistent. Sloppy logging makes examiners doubt everything else in your book.


Final Approach Course Advantage

At H.O.G.S., our Final Approach Course was built to help pilots avoid mistakes like this. We’ve seen 30 check-rides in 30 months, and every one revealed lessons worth sharing.

That’s why we keep spots limited — one or two students at a time, with instructors dedicated to getting you finished up the right way.

👉 If you’re stuck waiting on a check-ride, or you’re not sure if your logbook is ready, call Heather at (574) 767-1797 or visit FinalApproachCourse.com. October openings are available now.


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Takeaway

5 hours of instrument training is required for your Commercial rating — but logging it wrong could fail you before the blades even turn.

Keep your logbook clean, consistent, and examiner-ready. That’s what separates the pilots who finish strong from the ones who walk away frustrated.