Instrument Rating

Getting an Instrument Rating is a great way to lower the cost of your aviation insurance.

Get Your Instrument Rating

  • Fly Safely With an Instrument Rating

    An Instrument Rating is an add-on that pilots earn so they can fly when there is low visibility. Getting an instrument rating is one of the safest things you can do as a pilot. It improves your situational awareness, and you will be better prepared for unanticipated weather changes during your flight. Getting your instrument rating also helps to build your knowledge of different weather types.

  • Importance of Getting Your Instrument Rating

    Having an instrument rating allows you to fly during weather conditions that would normally be a limitation for your license. This means that you will have more opportunities to fly without being hindered by weather. You will have fewer canceled flights as well as amazing views. With an instrument rating, you can now fly above 18,000 feet.

    A pilot can experience many different weather conditions from haze to rain or even snow. Weather can be predicted, but it is not always accurate and can change unexpectedly. With an instrument rating, you will study different weather conditions and how to operate an aircraft in these conditions. An instrument rating will also expand your radio communication skills. We will teach you how to understand different IFR radio clearances and how to better communicate with Air Traffic Control (ATC).

  • Remove Limitations With an Instrument Rating

    You must complete training that requires you to solely rely on the instruments in your aircraft to navigate. This training will give you a greater knowledge of your aircraft and the instruments it has. It makes you a much safer pilot, as well. Once you get your instrument rating, you’ll be able to pick up Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) clearances and file IFR flight plans.

    Your personal minimums will change, and you will be able to fly with lower weather minimums. Weather minimums are how far you can see horizontally and vertically. For horizontal, we call this visibility. For vertical, we call this ceiling. Without an instrument rating, you are limited to Visual Flight Rule (VFR) minimums. VFR minimums require significantly more visibility than IFR minimums.

Instrument Requirements and Limitations

These are the Requirements and Limitations provided by the FAA. Visit the FAA website for more information.

Instrument Rating Eligibility Requirements:

  • You must be proficient in English. Example: Be able to read, write, and understand English. This can be verified by having a conversation when I help you get your student pilot certificate.

  • Must hold a current private pilot or be applying for a private pilot certificate, with an airplane, helicopter, or powered-lift rating appropriate to the instrument rating sought.

  • Must have and logged ground training from an authorized flight instructor.

  • A Minimum of 50 hours of cross-country flight training as pilot in command:

    • 10 hours must be in an airplane.

    • 40 hours of actual or simulated instrument time of which 15 hours must have been received from an authorized instructor who holds an instrument-airplane rating.

  • You will also need to have at least a 3rd class medical certificate which you can get from an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME). You can find an AME by googling AME near me. It’s just a fancy way of saying “aviation doctor.”

  • Pass the written Knowledge exam with 70% or better. This is like taking your driver’s license knowledge test but for a plane and flight rules.

  • Pass the Practical check ride with an FAA Examiner. A practical test consists of talking to the Examiner on the ground. If you are well prepared, this can be as short as an hour. After that, you guys get in the airplane, and he will test your skills in the plane.

Training Requirements:

  • A Minimum of 50 hours of cross-country flight training as pilot in command: 

    • 10 hours must be in an airplane. 

    • 40 hours of actual or simulated instrument time of which 15 hours must have been received from an authorized instructor who holds an instrument-airplane rating, and the time must include: 

      • 3 hours of instrument flight training with an authorized instructor 2 calendar months before taking the practical test. 

      • Instrument flight training on cross-country flight procedures in an airplane with an authorized instructor that is performed under instrument flight rules with a flight plan filed with Air traffic control that involves:

        • A flight along 250 nautical miles on airways. 

        • An instrument approach at each airport. 

        • 3 different approaches using navigation systems.