If you want to do the multi-engine rating, you will need to meet the pre-entry requirements to get onto the course.
Many training courses will require you to already have a private pilot’s license or a commercial pilot’s license.
You will also need to have passed the ATPL or other relevant theoretical examination along with having an EASA.
You will need to have acquired at least 50 hours of logged flying time and at least 40 hours of instrument time through PPL or night rating, however, this will depend on the flight school that you are doing the course with.
Most courses will require you to spend half of the course time in a flight simulator learning everything you need to know and the rest of the time in a multi-engine airplane putting your knowledge to use, however, this will differ from flight school to flight school.
Once you have completed the training, you will need to complete a flight test on a multi-engine aircraft with an examiner.
Does multi-engine rating expire?
A multi-engine instrument rating is valid for 12 months after it has been issued, to revalidate your multi-engine instrument rating you are required to complete a proficiency test with an authorized flight examiner and must be completed in an aircraft as a simulator cannot be used.
If your rating has been expired for less than three months, you will not need to do the MEIR flight training again and you can immediately retake the flight exam.
If your rating has been expired for a long time (5-7 years) then you may have to completely revalidate your multi-engine instrument rating by doing the complete training course and flight test again.
How hard is it to get a multi-engine rating?
Typically, someone who is already a commercial or private pilot will apply for the multi-engine rating so will have good knowledge and experience in an aircraft. It is very rare for a student to try to apply for the multi-engine rating for their pilot certificate.
So for an experienced pilot, the multi-engine rating training should not be that challenging as most of the information they will have already learned if not only touched upon in their previous pilot training.
You will carry out all the required training for the multi-engine rating before taking your practical test and flight check and there is no written exam that you’ll need to spend hours revising.
How long does it take to get a multi-engine pilot license?
Most people obtain the multi-engine rating within two weeks.
The length of time it takes you to acquire your multi-engine pilot license will depend on the flight school you decide to do your training, and if you’re going to do it full-time or part-time.
Most pilots who are adding a multi-engine rating to their existing pilot’s license will only need about 7-10 hours of flight training with a multi-engine aircraft to pass the flight check.
You’ll also want to make sure you revise the recommended material and be prepared for each training session in order to acquire the rating in as minimal time as possible to save some money.
However, depending on how often you fly, obtaining the multi-engine add-on for the license could take anywhere from 1 week to a couple of months.
How much does it cost to get a multi-engine rating?
The average cost to have the multi-engine rating on your pilot’s license is around $2,000-$6,000 which covers your flight training costs, instructor hire, and also your check flight exam.
These prices will differ wherever you decide to do your training, but the majority of the cost will go towards the hiring of planes for your training and also hiring the instructor each hour.
You can try to reduce these costs by getting in as much training as possible in an approved simulator so you can be approved to take the check flight exam sooner.
Is a multi-engine rating worth it?
Yes, a multi-engine rating is definitely worth it especially if you are planning on becoming a commercial airline pilot as it will be a standard requirement for a job.
Having a multi-engine rating on your pilot’s license will also make you more desirable to possible employers and may even help you climb the ranks in your pilot career more quickly.
However, even if you don’t desire to become a commercial airline pilot but still want to reap the benefits of a powerful multi-engine aircraft, then a multi-engine rating will still be required.
Multi-engine aircrafts are often a lot bigger inside, so you’ll be able to transport more friends, family, or any passengers on trips along with all their luggage and belongings without it being a tight squeeze on a single-engine aircraft.
As you’ll have the power of an extra engine on your aircraft, you should be able to get to your destinations quicker, proving useful if you’re going to be flying for personal use or as part of your job.
A multi-engine rating will also permit you to fly planes over areas which you would not be able to fly in a single-engine aircraft, therefore, you’ll have more freedom of where you can fly.
The process of getting your multi-engine rating is not that difficult as you’ll have covered the necessary knowledge across your pilot training already so it will not take much time.
The only setback to some people will be the cost to acquire the rating through the training and flight check.
If you plan on becoming a commercial or private pilot then the price you pay for the rating will be redeemed through a good salary but if you don’t plan on actually flying a multi-engine aircraft then getting the rating would be completely pointless.
Is there a written test for multi-engine?
No, there is no formal written test to acquire the multi-engine rating.
You will do a certain number of hours of training and then you’ll be tested through an oral exam and a flight check with an authorized flight examiner.
You should try and revise the recommended material leading up to your oral exam, as the examiner may ask some tricky questions that may not be so much to do with practical training.
You will not have to take another FAA written test like you did when you were getting your pilot’s license.
What is a multi-engine commercial pilot?
A multi-engine commercial pilot is someone who has the correct license and authority to fly a multi-engine aircraft, whether that be for commercial or private use.
However, a multi-engine rating does not enable someone with the licensing to fly commercial airplanes - separate training and licensing will need to be done for that.
What is a multi-engine instrument rating?
The multi-engine instrument rating or known as MEIR is a course that teaches students to fly in more diverse weather conditions and more controlled airspaces.
When the course is complete, students will be able to fly an aircraft with no visual external references and be able to fly in Class A airspaces.
The course is normally one of the final training courses you will take when you’re looking to become a commercial pilot.
How much does a multi-engine instrument rating cost?
The price of completing your training for the multi-engine instrument rating will depend on what flight school you go to and whether you decide to do the course full-time or part-time.
However, on average to get the multi-engine instrument rating it’ll cost between $7,000 to $10,000. This cost will cover flight training hours, examination fees, and also any study materials for the test.
You can reduce these costs by about $1,000 by racking up your training hours in an approved aircraft simulator.
You should anticipate budgeting about 20% more than what you anticipated to pay as prices can vary and change depending on your circumstances.
The biggest cost will be renting an airplane, which sometimes does not include an instructor or the fuel, so you could be looking at paying a hefty amount to have everything included.
If you buy your flight training hours upfront in one payment, you will more than likely receive a discount, however, if you choose to pay for them individually then you might want to accept that you’ll be paying more than you anticipated.
Try hiring out a more affordable plane to do your training, some flight schools may not have a huge selection but just look out for the more affordable options to try to keep your costs down.
