Instrument Rating Training

An Instrument Rating is an additional certification that pilots can add to their existing pilot certificate, allowing them to fly under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). This rating is essential for pilots who want to fly in a wider range of weather conditions, including those with low visibility, where navigation by visual references alone is not possible. 

Eligibility Requirements

  1. Pilot Certificate: Hold at least a Private Pilot Certificate.

  2. Language: Be able to read, speak, write, and understand English.

Ground School: Complete a ground training on topics such as:

  • Aerodynamics

  • Aircraft systems related to instrument flight

  • Aviation weather and weather services

  • Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) related to instrument flight

  • Navigation and flight planning

  • Instrument approaches and procedures

  • Crew resource management

Flight Training

  • Flight Hours: Accumulate a minimum of 40 hours of actual or simulated instrument time, including:

    • Dual Instruction (with an instructor): At least 15 hours of instrument flight training from an authorized instructor

    • Cross-country flight: One cross-country flight under IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) of at least 250 nautical miles along airways or ATC-directed routing, with an instrument approach at each airport, and three different kinds of approaches using navigation systems

    • Simulated or actual instrument time: Up to 20 hours may be in a flight simulator or flight training device