INRAT EXAM HELP!!

[etihadCC]

hey guys. how long on average does it take to write the INRAT exam? i need to get it done in three weeks. is this realistic ?? any suggestions on schools for the Multi IFR course in Ontario would also be greatly appreciated !!

[JAHinYYC]

Read the AIM cover to cover, know the material inside out.
Read the Instrument Procedures manual. Know this inside out.
Do some initial work in the sim with the appropreate ground briefings on holds and approaches so the above info make sense.

Take the Aero Course (if possible).

Write two days later.

Poof. You are done.

[iflyforpie]

I believe TC only gives you an hour or two.

The best thing I did for any of my tests was to book it and then study. If I studied and waited to book it, I could never get motivated enough to do it quickly. Three weeks should be not a problem.

Reading the AIM cover to cover is insane, but do read the RAC from beginning to end, and the relevant sections in COM and MET as well.
Read the IPM cover to cover (except the helicopter section).
Memorize the CAP GEN paying specific attention to Alternate Minima (count on a question that requires a 'sliding scale' answer that won't be immediately obvious), Cold Weather Corrections, and Aerodrome Lighting.
Get a CAP Whatever and brief yourself as many different approaches as you can.


If AeroCourse has practice tests, take them. If not, it might be worth it to grab a Kulhaynes practice test book because although it is nothing more than a shameless ripoff of TC tests, it gets you into TC's way of thinking (remembering that winds might change usable approach minimums, remembering cold weather corrections or remote altimeter settings, coffin corner stuff, etc) when the answer when forgetting those considerations is present in one of your four choices.

[tommywcom]

The Aero course definitely helped. I didn't take the class but just bought their workbook for about $70. Basically you work through 70 questions in each of the six sections and compare against their answers.

It's my opinion that you can read the AIM / From the ground up (weather, etc) cover to cover, and can still easily fail unless you work through lots of old exams *and* having the correct answers in the back of the book so you know where you went wrong. It also got the point across to me early on that I knew very little even after I had read all the material becaus I was getting every other question wrong initially. I think everyone here would agree that some questions are very tricky and are meant to weed out the unsuspecting victims.

I took about 4 weeks to study while working full time and I have 2 young kids. I passed it on the first try just a couple of weeks ago with a score of 88%. While 88% doesn't sound that high, I think more in terms of the fact I got only 6 questions wrong, *and* the fact that I could have gotten another 9 questions wrong and still squeaked by. So that's actually a pretty big margin - which was a pleasant surprise. Thanks, Aero course! (No, I am not affiliated with them in any way although I do take donations if the right people are reading this).

Good luck!

[goleafsgo]

have a read through this: http://www.tc.gc.ca/Publications/en/TP6 ... TP691E.pdf

[tractor driver]

Agree with all, get all the publications, plus read your navcanada information daily until you know your weather scenerios very well.
The Aero course, if available in your 3 week requirement, will be money well spent. last 1 I took was taught by an aircanada airbus training captain. Excellent value.
As far as the multi IFR program, if you have access to Winnipeg, Peremiter runs a solid ship, as has HarvAir. Just suggestions...
g

[Norwich]

Don't sweat it, INRAT is a breeze. Aerocourse workbook is all you need imo. Easiest TC exam I've taken, I finished in 45 minutes and got 100%. (Haven't written the As)

[PieInTheSky]

I just wrote it a few months ago. I wouldn’t quite call it a breeze, but then again written exams are admittedly not my strong point. I’d recommend the aerocourse book, it’s extremely helpful and a number of the questions in the book were almost identical to the ones on my exam. Read the COM section in the AIM, there are questions on VOR tolerances, localizer coverage and especially the GPS section – my exam had at least 5 questions based on GPS (alert limits, RAIM etc). The RAC is helpful also, as is the MET section and the Cap Gen. – know all the rules in there, although they will at least give you the chart for Alternate Wx Requirements in the appendix (which is at least one less thing to worry about memorizing), icing in different clouds, all illusions (rain on windshield, overshoot etc.), comm. Failure procedures, types of wind shear/recovery, cold temperature corrections, departure procedures, fuel emergencies, when to set altimeters, when a SID is cancelled etc.

If you do some solid studying for a few days, focus on the right subjects and use the aerocourse book, I think you’ll be fine. Good luck!

[Colonel Sanders]

I have written the INRAT 3 times (and passed each time)
over the decades. I keep letting my instrument rating lapse
for more than 2 years ...

First time was with that horrid text FA. A page of inscrutable
gibberish that you used to draw the double fronts on a piece
of acetate that you had better bring with you, and slide back
and forth in the direction of the isobars in the warm sector.

Last time was with the fancy graphical FA. Slam dunk, thought
I, considering that I even use it on almost a daily basis on the
NavCan website. Well, I think I got pretty well every GFA question
wrong - must have tripped up on the trick questions. Sigh.

Lots of GPS. Be sure to read AIM COM 3.16 and understand
the IFR use of GPS, include substitution, overlay and alternate:

http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviation/p ... 6.htm#3-16

Be sure you understand departure spec vis, min climb gradient.

What wx do you need to commence an approach? Before and
after the FAF? What wx do you need to land?

Practice cold wx corrections (CAP GEN).

Practice alternate calculations (CAP GEN) for different
kinds of approaches at different airports, keeping in mind
that you probably won't land out of an ILS with a 30 knot
tailwind (hint hint). Can you use an airport with no TAF
and no instrument approaches as an alternate?

Helps to memorize the approach speed categories (A/B/C/D/E)

Read the LO chart legend (really)

Read the approach plates very slowly and carefully. Generally
the most important information on an approach plate is in
the smallest font (life is a TC written exam) so read it first.

Be sure you have the right approach plate! For the right
approach, for the right airport.

Understand the difference between non-precision and precision
approaches. What is the FAF for both? What is the procedure
at MDA vs DH? Hint: you can't go below MDA, but you will go
below DH.

What is a void time? Procedure for IFR flight in uncontrolled
airspace?

I'm sure I've forgotten lots ...

[cdnpilot77]

Don't sweat it, INRAT is a breeze. Aerocourse workbook is all you need imo. Easiest TC exam I've taken, I finished in 45 minutes and got 100%. (Haven't written the As)

Are you sure you are not mistaking this with the IATRA? INRAT is by no means a breeze and any suggestion that a quick run through the aerocourse work book is all you need is very bad advice and setting the op up for failure. Colonel Sanders has some especially good insight.

[Norwich]

Are you sure you are not mistaking this with the IATRA? INRAT is by no means a breeze and any suggestion that a quick run through the aerocourse work book is all you need is very bad advice and setting the op up for failure. Colonel Sanders has some especially good insight.

I actually found the INRAT easier than the IATRA and I studied exclusively with the workbook (didn't actually do the whole workbook). Maybe I just got easy versions of the exam when I did them but it's pretty much a whole bunch of memorisation. But I do agree with you that I have no idea how far the OP is in his IFR training (I already started before I wrote the INRAT first time) so it was a slightly irresponsible comment on my part to say the workbook would suffice.

[Colonel Sanders]

FWIW: when I first wrote the INRAT, about 20 years ago,
I found it much harder than the SAMRA/SARON exams for
the ATPL that I wrote shortly afterwards. I never wrote the
IATRA.