Instrument Rating: Master the Skies

The Instrument Rating (IR) certifies you to fly under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), giving you the critical skills to navigate safely through clouds, fog, and low-visibility conditions. This rating is essential for career progression and greatly enhances the utility and safety of your personal flying.

FAA Requirements for Instrument Rating (IR)

To apply for an Instrument-Airplane Raing, an applicant must satisfy the eligibility and aeronautical experience requirements outlined in 14 CFR Part 61.65.

Aeronautical Experience Minimums

The following flight time minimums must be logged. Note: Most pilots average 35-50 hours of instrument flight training to achieve proficiency for the practical exam.

Specific Long IFR Cross-Country

Your training must include at least one IFR Cross-Country Flight that consists of:

  • A distance of at lest 250 nautical miles along airways or ATC-directed routing.

  • An instrument approach at each airport visited.

  • Three different kinds of instrument approaches (e.g., GPS, VOR, ILS).

  • The entire flight must be performed under IFR.

Our Training Aircraft & Pricing Structure

Our structured training utilizes reliable aircraft and advanced flight simulation to provide efficient and cost-effective training.

Simulator Credit Towards Your Instrument Rating

Training in a Flight Simulation device is highly efficient for instrument procedures. We use FAA-approved Aviation Training Devices (ATDs) that allow you to credit a significant portion of your instrument time:

  • A maximum of 20 hours of instrument time received in an approved Aviation Training Device (ATD) may be credited toward the 40 hours of total instrument time requirement.

  • All simulator time must be conducted with an authorized instructor (CFII).

Estimated Minimum Training Cost

This estimate assumes you have already met the 50 hours of PIC cross-country time and focuses only on the instrument flight time requirements, maximizing the use of the simulator credit (20 hours or 40 required).

*This estimate is based on the assumption you need exactly 40 hours of instrument time, with maximum simulator use. The actual cost will vary based on your proficiency and specific training needs.*