Instrument Rating checkride prep with charts in the conversation
check-ride.ai is a browser-based, voice-native mock oral platform. For the Instrument Rating, it builds a session from the applicable FAA Airman Certification Standards, the candidate's category and aircraft class, selected aircraft, airport context, first-time or retake status, and requested ACS-code coverage.
Supported Instrument Rating category and class combinations
The production configuration currently supports the following combinations for the IR rating code:
- Airplane: Single Engine Land, Single Engine Sea, Multi Engine Land, and Multi Engine Sea
- Rotorcraft: Helicopter and Gyroplane
- Powered Lift
How a mock oral is built
- Configure the candidate context. Choose the category, class, rating, aircraft, airport context, first-time or retake status, examiner style, and optional instructions.
- Set required coverage. Add ACS codes you want directly evaluated, including codes from a knowledge-test report when applicable.
- Run the oral by voice. The examiner asks follow-ups, records outcomes against exact ACS elements, and moves through the selected plan of action.
- Review the saved result. The session retains the transcript, ACS outcomes, summary, and generated study pointers.
The platform uses the ACS's own task-selection instructions where they exist. It does not claim that a realistic checkride should ask every possible task in every session.
Topics to rehearse for the Instrument Rating oral
- Pilot qualifications, IFR currency, regulations, and aircraft airworthiness
- Weather information, IFR flight planning, alternates, and risk decisions
- ATC clearances, holding, navigation systems, and lost communications
- Instrument approaches, emergencies, and postflight procedures
Visual questions can use the same reference on both sides of the conversation
When a chart or figure is relevant, the examiner can open a supported FAA reference in the shared workspace, wait for the interface to confirm it is visible, and then ask a question grounded in that displayed artifact.
- Brief an FAA approach plate and identify minima, notes, and the missed-approach procedure.
- Read an IFR low- or high-enroute chart and explain routing or airspace decisions.
- Use an airport diagram, SID, or STAR while answering a specific scenario question.
Use the debrief as a study map
A completed or intentionally ended session keeps the conversation transcript and recorded ACS outcomes. Satisfactory, marginal, and unsatisfactory results stay attached to the exact evaluated items, while incomplete items remain distinguishable from graded ones. This makes the debrief useful for deciding what to review with an instructor or in the FAA source material.
Common questions
Does check-ride.ai replace a CFI or an FAA practical test?
No. check-ride.ai is a practice and study tool. It cannot provide an instructor endorsement, conduct an official practical test, or issue a certificate or rating.
Does the Instrument Rating session cover every ACS item?
The session is built from the applicable ACS and configured candidate context. It follows task-selection requirements where the ACS prescribes them rather than mechanically asking every possible item. Candidate-selected ACS codes are added as required coverage.
Can a session be paused and resumed?
Yes. A paid session can be saved and exited, then resumed later without consuming another credit for that same session. The transcript and ACS progress persist with the session.