Clouds - Bkgrd.jpg

Instrument Pilot Rating

Our qualified instrument flight instructors will teach you to become proficient at flying by the aircraft’s instruments. This is an essential skill while flying in clouds or in inclement weather. This rating will make you a safer more confident pilot and will serve as a stepping stone if you decide to pursue a career as a commercial pilot.

Piper PA-38 Tomahawk

This fully IFR-Certified aircraft is equipped with a Garmin 650 and Garmin Transponder. Its a great airplane to get your instrument rating and keep your Instrument Rating current!

Course Description

  • Learning to fly by instruments can be an incredibly valuable skill even if you don’t plan to fly commercially. You will learn to navigate using basic “round dial” instruments as well as more advanced GPS equipment. This expertise will allow you to fly through clouds and on days with less than optimal visibility. Getting your IFR rating is a necessary step if you plan to become a commercial pilot. But, even for recreational pilots, this knowledge and experience is invaluable.

  • Generally this takes between 40 to 50 hours to complete. But it depends on how much of the requirements have been met with previous flight experience.

  • • At least 50 hours of cross-country flight time as pilot in command. At least 10 of these hours must be in airplanes for an instrument-airplane rating.

    • A total of 40 hours of actual or simulated instrument time on the areas of operation listed in 61.65(c).

    • At least 15 hours of instrument flight training from an authorized instructor in the aircraft category for the instrument rating sought.

    • One instrument cross country flight with a distance of at least 250 nm along airways or ATC-directed routing.

    • An instrument approach at each airport.

    • Three different kinds of approaches with the use of navigation systems (Example: ILS, VOR, GPS, etc).