Instrument Rating
The next common step to pilot training after the private pilot certificate is to obtain an Instrument Rating. An instrument rating allows a pilot to fly safely and legally in inclement weather by following Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). In other words, an instrument pilot can fly in the clouds or in low visibilities. An instrument rating can expand the flight territory a pilot can safely fly as well as help a pilot become more precisely skilled.
During instrument training you will accumulate a minimum of another 40 flight hours in simulated or actual instrument conditions. Of that 40, you must have at least 15 hours with an instructor. Flyaway tries to pair students with one another to safety pilot for each other. This helps reduce the costs of flight training and allows students to work together to grow as better pilots. A safety pilot for an instrument student must at least be a private pilot. Also required is 50 pilot-in-command cross country flight hours. Some of these will be acquired through dual instruction and others will be flown solo or with passengers as the pilot chooses.
The goal of instrument flight training is to prepare the student for flights in inclement weather and in the clouds. This includes the following:
Training for an instrument rating can make a pilot much more precise and skilled. This knowledge is obtained through ground school either 1-on-1 with an instructor, through approved online courses, or a combination of both. Aeronautical knowledge areas include:
To achieve an Instrument Rating, you must:
To acquire the 40 hours instrument time most pilots need 55-60 hours of flight training. At Flyaway Flight Training, our average student receives an Instrument Rating in 47 total hours.
During instrument training you will accumulate a minimum of another 40 flight hours in simulated or actual instrument conditions. Of that 40, you must have at least 15 hours with an instructor. Flyaway tries to pair students with one another to safety pilot for each other. This helps reduce the costs of flight training and allows students to work together to grow as better pilots. A safety pilot for an instrument student must at least be a private pilot. Also required is 50 pilot-in-command cross country flight hours. Some of these will be acquired through dual instruction and others will be flown solo or with passengers as the pilot chooses.
The goal of instrument flight training is to prepare the student for flights in inclement weather and in the clouds. This includes the following:
- Flight by reference to the instruments
- Tracking and Intercepting navigational courses
- VOR, ILS/Loc, and RNAV approaches
- Filing and opening flight plans
- Advanced ATC communications
Training for an instrument rating can make a pilot much more precise and skilled. This knowledge is obtained through ground school either 1-on-1 with an instructor, through approved online courses, or a combination of both. Aeronautical knowledge areas include:
- Federal Aviation Regulations that apply to IFR
- IFR flight planning and IFR charts
- Weather observation and forecast interpretation
- Emergency procedures specific to instrument conditions
- Disorientation prevention and unusual attitude recovery
- Aeronautical decision making
- Single-pilot resource management
To achieve an Instrument Rating, you must:
- Hold at least a current private pilot certificate
- Hold at least a third class medical
- Pass 60 question written knowledge test
- Obtain a minimum of 40 hours total instrument flight time
- Accumulate 50 hours PIC cross-country
- Receive an endorsement from your instructor for the practical test
- Pass an oral and flight exam with a Designated Pilot Examiner
To acquire the 40 hours instrument time most pilots need 55-60 hours of flight training. At Flyaway Flight Training, our average student receives an Instrument Rating in 47 total hours.
