Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2026

Instrument Ground School RW (Face-to-Face)

AVTN 2250-01

Course: AVTN 2250-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2026
Department: Aviation Sciences
CRN: 33736

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. There is a FAA Instrument Exam fee. (Fall, Spring, Summer) [Graded Letter] Prerequisite(s): PILT 1140 or PILT 1145 or instructor permission or department permission - Prerequisite Min. Grade: C

Required Texts

REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS


REQUIRED NAVIGATIONAL CHARTS (Paper or digital are appropriate)


Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
• Successfully complete the FAA Instrument Rating Helicopter (IRH) Knowledge Exam. (This exam is scheduled independently from the course.)
• Meet the general FAA requirements outlined in FAR 61.65(b)(1–10).

Course Requirements

This course will consist of 27 lessons and 4 exams. Completion of all lessons and exams is required for a passing grade in the course.

Grading
A 100% to 93.33%
A- 93.32% to 90.0%
B+ 89.99% to 86.68%
B 86.67% to 83.33%
B- 83.32% to 80.0%
C+ 79.99% to 76.68.0%
C 76.67% to 73.33%
C- 73.32% to 70.0%
D+ 69.99% to 66.8%
D  66.79% to 63.33%
D- 63.32% to 60.0%
F 59.99% to 0.0%

Course Outline

Stage 1: During this stage, the student will learn the principles of instrument flight, including the operation, use and limitations of flight instruments and instrument navigation systems. The student will also learn how the air traffic control system functions and the use of instrument flight charts of IFR planning and flight. Emphasis will be placed on advanced human factors and physiological factors directly related to instrument flight. In addition, the student will become familiar with the FARs applicable to instrument flight operations specific for helicopters. The Stage 1 exam completes stage 1 of the class.

Stage 2: During this stage, the student will learn the procedures used to execute various IFR approaches as well as the procedures for IFR departure, enroute, and arrival operations. The Stage 2 exam completes stage 2 of the class.

Stage 3: During this stage, the student will learn to analyze weather information, conditions, and trends while on the round and in flight. In addition, the student will learn about IFR flight planning and emergency procedures and develop a better understanding of aeronautical decision making. The Stage 3 exam completes stage 3 of the class.

GRADES:
Grades will be calculated according to the following:
Attendance: 20% of Final Grade
Stage Exams (3): 40% of Final Grade
Final Exam: 30% of Final Grade
Quizzes/Assignments: 10% of Final Grade

Attendance Quiz: You must take the assignment quiz in order to comply with federal law. This quiz helps us mark your first date of attendance as required by law. This quiz does not affect your grade. However, failing to complete the quiz could cause you to be dropped from the class.

Syllabus Quiz: You must also complete the syllabus quiz in order to show that you understand the requirements for this class. That quiz is your acknowledgement that you agree to the conditions set forth in this syllabus as far as testing and grading are
concerned. The Final Exam and Stage Exams are based solely off of the ASA Instrument Pilot Prepware. The stages will be as follows:

Stage 1 - Lesson 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, & 8 (Flight Instruments, Navigation, Regulations & Procedures)
Stage 2 - Lesson 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 (Departure, En Route, Arrival & Approach)
Stage 3 - Lesson 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 (Weather and Weather Service)Final Exam = Review of all chapters.

Note: If a student chooses to take their FAA Written before the in class final they can submit that score as their Final Exam score. However, that score will only be taken as the Final Exam grade, Stage 1, Stage 2, and Stage 3 must be taken in class.

Disclaimer: The Ground Training Syllabi at SUU require that each student passes each stage exam by 70% or better. If a student gets less than 70% they must retake the exam until they get 70% to pass the class. The original score will reflect their grade, the retake score is required to pass the class.


(i.e., you cannot take the Stage I exam until you have completed all Stage I Lessons.)

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

No late work will be accepted

Making Up a Missed Class: To do this you must meet with a CFI/CFII from SUU and get that lesson made up with them in a ground (Flight students and Academic Only's). IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to track what lessons you missed. Once that is done it is the responsibility of the instructor you made it up with to reach out to me to let me know it is covered. Making up the ground lesson will not change your attendance grade. If you show up to a Stage and are not made up you will have an alternate assignment for that day and take the Stage Exam during the next exam day.
Note: You will not be allowed to progress in the course until the missed class is made up.


Stage Exam Retakes

Retake policies for Stage Exams are as follows:
 • Retakes are administered in the Testing Center.
 • Retake exam format: 60-question FAA IRH-style test covering all subject areas.
 • Students must score 70% or higher to pass and advance to the next Stage.
 • Students are considered absent until the retake exam is successfully completed.
 • Attendance in the next Stage may be affected, and attendance make-up work may be required.


SUU End-of-Course (EOC) Exam
• No retakes are permitted for the SUU EOC Exam.

Attendance Policy

ATTENDANCE will be recorded in the first five minutes of class. Students arriving more than five minutes late will be marked late on the attendance record. You are expected to attend every scheduled class. Any absences will affect this portion of your grade. Per FAA requirements you are required to receive all of the ground lessons in this course. If you are absent from a given ground lesson, you will not receive credit for that lesson until you make up the subject material missed.

Course Fees

Course Costs and Recommended Materials

  • FAA Instrument Rating Helicopter (IRH) Knowledge Test:
    • If not currently enrolled in the Instrument Flight Lab, this cost is an out-of-pocket expense.

Recommended Materials:

  • Paper charts and supplements (expired versions are acceptable), or
  • Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) highly recommended, e.g., ForeFlight or Garmin Pilot 
    • Students may receive a student discount using their student email address.
  • Course textbooks (cost varies by source)

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.