Preparing for the oral exam portion of an Instrument Rating check-ride can be a daunting endeavor. There are not many products on the market designed to facilitate an instrument pilot to feel thoroughly prepared and confident to successfully execute the practical test oral exam.

There are many software products in the marketplace that help prepare pilots for the FAA written exam. However, most pilot applicants for an Instrument Rating find that preparation for the oral part of the practical test is far more daunting. Preparing for an oral exam requires a different approach than preparing for a multiple-choice test. Rather than learning one correct answer out of several choices, the oral exam requires the pilot to possess a broader base of knowledge. The pilot must be able articulate a thoughtful answer that will demonstrate both knowledge and practical understanding.

In response to this need First Solo Software has developed both the software and subject content to assist with thorough preparation for the oral part of the Instrument Rating check-ride. Our software will assist the instrument pilot applicant in formulating assured and decisive answers, as well as feeling relaxed and confident on the day of their FAA practical test.

Instrument Rating Prep contains a database of 455 oral exam questions, many with relevant graphics, which compose a complete set of typical questions asked in the oral part of the Instrument Rating Practical Test. The questions are divided into eleven topics: Federal Aviation Regulations, Airspace, IFR Charts & Approach Plates, IFR Procedures, Aircraft Engine & Systems, Flight Instruments, Avionics & Navigation, Airport Operations, Weather, Emergencies, and Human Factors.

When the program opens, a list of the topics and the number of questions contained in each topic are displayed. If a topic or topics have previously been worked on, the number of questions previously answered correctly is shown. One or more topics can be selected for a new study session.

All of the questions that have not been answered correctly are shuffled into random order. The program then presents each previously missed question. After the user has formulated an answer and clicked on the "Show Answer" button, a suggested response to the question is displayed.

The user is prompted to score their answer as correct or incorrect. If the question is scored incorrect, the program will eventually present the question again until it is scored as correct. As the study session progresses, the program displays the percentage of questions scored correct.

When a study session is ended, the program saves an update of the score status of each question. This allows the program to remember the questions answered correctly for future study sessions.

Customer Reviews:

"It's like having the interviewer throwing out un-expected questions at you...and you have to know the answer...or mark it incorrect for future drills! Great enhancement to overall knowledge, not just in preparation for the PTS Oral Exam!"

"I have no idea how you would make it through the test without something like this. Great for seeing just how prepared you are and where you need to spend time studying."

"This product helped me gain the confidence to take check ride and pass the oral portion with "flying colors."

"I found it an excellent resource. It's self-paced and self-scoring, and can be repeated any number of times. Plus it makes you actually verbalize the answers to questions, just like in an actual oral. I would definitely recommend it."

"Easy to use and helps you zero in on those areas where help is needed."