Southern Utah University

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Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

FW Instrument Ground School (Face-to-Face)

AVTN 1250-02

Course: AVTN 1250-02
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: AVTN
CRN: 31859

Course Description

This course covers the study of instrument flight fundamentals as required by FAA regulations for students pursuing an Instrument rating. Topics covered include flight instruments, attitude instrument flying, navigation systems, air traffic control procedures, FAA regulations, weather, instrument flight emergencies, and terminal and en-route procedures.

This course is governed by SUU and FAA Standards and policies. 

Required Texts

FAA PART 141 - TRAINING

This course will be conducted under the authority of the FAA and Part 141 regulations. Students will be expected to read, understand, and comply with the following agreement Part 141 Training Student Expectations. These expectations satisfy both FAA and SUU training standards and minimum requirements.

141 Student Expectations.pdf



The following grading standards will be used in this class:

COURSE ASSESSMENTS / COURSE OUTCOMES
Stage 1 - Exam (First Attempt) | 10%
Stage 2 - Exam (First Attempt) | 10%
Stage 3 - Exam (First Attempt) | 10%
Self-Study/Homework              | 20%
End of Course Exam (EOC)     | 50%
Total Graded Weights              | 100%

GRADING RANGE
A   | 100 % to 93.5%
A-  | < 93.5 % to 89.5%
B+ | < 89.5 % to 86.5%
B   | < 86.5 % to 82.5%
B-  | < 82.5 % to 79.5%
C+ | < 79.5 % to 76.5%
C   | < 76.5 % to 70.1%
C-  | < 70.1 % to 69.5%
F   | < 69.5 % to 0.0%

***Bonus: Extra Credit:  5% For Perfect In-Person Attendance.  
  • Must have a passing grade in the course 70.2% or better. 
  • Must have 100% perfect in-class attendance (including any tardies) for the entire semester.  No exceptions.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:
Pass the FAA required Instrument Written Exam - IRA. (scheduled separately from this course). 

Course Requirements

ENROLLMENT PREREQUISITES

  • Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language.
  • Hold a valid FAA First or Second-class medical certificate prior to starting the flight portion.
  • Hold at least a Private Pilot certificate, with an appropriate aircraft category and class rating prior to starting the flight portion

REQUIRED TEXT BOOKS

  • ASA Test Prep Handbook w/ Testing Supplement.
  • Instrument Flying Handbook
  • Instrument Procedures Handbook
  • SUU Maneuvers Manual - Section 2
  • FAR/AIM
  • Jeppesen Instrument / Commercial Manual

Paper charts and/or electronic charts will be used. 
  • Terminal Procedures Publication
  • Low-Enroute Chart
  • Chart Supplement

Course Outline

OBJECTIVES:

This course will cover the 14 CFR Part 61.65 "Aeronautical Knowledge Areas" required for Airmen to qualify to apply for the FAA Pilot Certificate - Instrument Rating Add-on. Outlining key principles, procedures, and industry's practices while operating an aircraft without reference to a visible natural horizon.

Module 1 - Flight and Navigational Instruments 
Module 2 - Standard Instrument Procedures
Module 3 - Aviation Weather and Flight Planning

EXAMS

Module 1 - Stage 1
Module 2 - Stage 2
Module 3 - Stage 3
SUU EOC Exam
FAA IRA Written Exam (optional)

NOTES

All Stage Exams will consist of the following: 
  • 40-Questions, limited to the current Stages outlined in the 141 Ground syllabus.
  • First Attempt grades will be posted to the SUU gradebook. Make-up exams scores will not replace the first attempt. 
  • Per Part 141 requirements, Students must score 70% or above to advance to the next Stage. Otherwise a retake exam is needed to score a 70% or better. 
  • Only one re-take exam will be issued. See set schedule.
    • Typically scheduled the next day.
    • Proctored Exam with Multiple attempts. (Last attempt is recorded)
    • Must score a 70% or better to pass the retake. 

EOC Exam
  • NO re-takes are allowed.
    • Please plan ahead and make prior arrangements, when necessary. 
  • Students have the option to substitute their official results from their FAA Instrument Written Test (IRA) for the EOC SUU exam grade. 
    • Substitutions will be granted on or before the final test date that the SUU EOC is administered. 
    • IRA test results must be uploaded to Canvas.
    • Any students retaking the Lab will not be allowed to make a substitution.

FAA WRITTEN TEST ENDORSEMENT
  • Have a passing grade in the course above an 80% overall average, and,
  • Score 90% or better on the three practice exams.


Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

NO LATE WORK OR EXAMS ARE ACCEPTED. 

  • All assignments will be submitted via Canvas. No emails are accepted. 
  • All assignments will be due the day before the Stage Exams.
  • All assignments and course work must be scanned, uploaded, and submitted via Canvas. No other form of submissions will be accepted. 
    • One file - PDF format.
    • Review PDF scans to ensure accuracy prior to uploading and submission.
    • Good Penmanship, organization, and professional presentation is required.

ATTENDANCE MAKE-UP WORK

If you miss or leave early for the daily rollcall, you will be considered/marked absent for the day:
All the following must be completed for each absent/missed day:

  1. Write a 3-page hand written paper covering the course work missed. Refer the Lesson found in 141 Instrument Ground Syllabus.pdf and the course schedule. 
  2. Each make up day requires a comprehensive make-up IFR written test exam.
  • 60-question mock FAA Written Test.
  • All knowledge areas will be included.
  • Must score 70% or better to pass the make-up exam

STUDENTS MUST MAINTAIN 70% OR BETTER INCLASS ATTENDANCE PER STAGE. (LIMIT OF THREE ABSENCES PER STAGE)

STAGE EXAMS RE-TAKES

  • Stage Retake exams outline: 
    • Taken in the Testing Center
    • 60-question FAA IRA Written Test.
    • All subject knowledge areas are included.
    • Must score 70% or better to pass the retake exam and move on to the next stage
  • Students are considered absent until the re-take exam is successfully completed. Attendance in the next stage is in jeopardy and will require attendance make-up work.   

SUU EOC EXAMS

  • NO re-takes are allowed.


Attendance Policy

ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS: 

100% attendance is mandatory. Every lesson in the syllabus must be conducted by a 141-approved ground instructor. If a lesson is unavoidably missed, it must be made up with a 141-approved ground instructor before the student may proceed to the next stage of training.

STAGE COMPLETION AND EXAMS

Each stage will conclude with a written exam. A minimum passing score of 70% is required. Students who do not achieve this score will not be permitted to advance to the next stage until they obtain a satisfactory result. They will be marked as absent until they are able to pass the previous stage. 

  • All absences and incomplete lessons must be made-up prior to each Stages exam.
  • A minimum of 70% IN-PERSON attendance is required per stage -- To attempt the Stages Exam and/or SUU EOC
    • If in-person attendance falls below 70% of the Stages, the student will fail the entire course of AVNT 1250-02. 
  • Students must successfully complete all lessons prior to Stages exam.
  • Students must successfully complete each Stages Exam prior to starting the next Stage.
    • Failure to complete any of the three required Stages and Stages Exams will result in course failure. 
  • Per FAA regulations, Students will be considered absent, until the prior Stages is successfully passed with the required 70% or better stage grade.
  • Any students retaking the lab must meet 141 standards of attendance and scores over 70% during the current semester. 


Course Fees

  • FAA Written Test (IRA). EST $170
    • If you are not currently enrolled in the INST FLIGHT LAB, this will be an out-of-pocket expense. 
  • Recommended paper charts and supplements. (Expired versions are permissible)
  • Electronic Flight bag.  i.e. Foreflight or Garmin Pilot is recommended.  
    • 33% student discount will be available using your student email address.
  • Cost of any Textbooks

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.