Fly with confidence in the clouds
The instrument rating lets you fly under instrument flight rules (IFR), through clouds and lower visibility. It makes you a more precise, safer pilot, makes your plane far more useful for real travel, and is a required step toward a commercial career.
What the package includes
Instrument Rating Package: $15,500
• 50 hours of dual instrument flight training with a CFII in the PA-28-161
• 12 hours of ground instruction on IFR procedures, charts, weather, and the ATC system
• The long IFR cross-country with your instructor
• Your endorsements for the knowledge test and the practical test
A $500 nonrefundable deposit starts your program.
How training works
1. Attitude instrument flying
Flying the airplane by reference to instruments only, including partial panel and recovery from unusual attitudes.
2. Navigation and approaches
Holds, GPS, VOR, and ILS approaches, missed approaches, and departure and arrival procedures.
3. IFR cross-country
Filing and flying real IFR flight plans in the ATC system, including the required 250 nm IFR cross-country with an approach at each airport and three different kinds of approaches.
4. Checkride prep
Polishing to the Airman Certification Standards and the 3 hours of instrument training required within the 2 calendar months before your checkride.
Steps to get started
1. Book a $200 discovery flight or an evaluation flight so we can see where you are.
2. Bring your logbook and pilot certificate. We'll review your cross-country PIC and instrument time and build a plan around what you still need.
3. Make sure your medical is current (third-class minimum).
4. Start studying for the knowledge test. Your CFII will endorse you when you're ready.
Prerequisites and requirements (FAA)
General, 14 CFR 61.65(a)
• Hold at least a private pilot certificate (or be applying for one at the same time)
• Read, speak, write, and understand English
• Complete ground training or a home-study course, get the knowledge test endorsement, and pass the FAA Instrument Rating knowledge test
• Pass the practical test
Aeronautical experience, 14 CFR 61.65(d) (instrument-airplane)
• 50 hours of cross-country time as pilot in command, of which 10 hours must be in an airplane
• 40 hours of actual or simulated instrument time, including:
– 15 hours of instrument training from an authorized instructor with an instrument-airplane rating (CFII)
– 3 hours of instrument training in an airplane within the 2 calendar months before the practical test
– One IFR cross-country with an instructor, on a filed IFR flight plan, of 250 nm along airways or ATC-directed routing, with an instrument approach at each airport and three different kinds of approaches
Limits apply to how much simulator or training-device time can be credited (61.65(h) through (j)). We'll go over this with you.
What's not included
• DPE checkride fee ($1,200 to $1,500, paid by the student directly to the examiner)
• FAA knowledge (written) test fee
• FAA medical exam
• Headset, books, charts, foggles or other view-limiting device, and training materials
• Time building toward the 50 hours of PIC cross-country, if you need it
Frequently asked questions
I don't have 50 hours of PIC cross-country yet. Can I still start?
Yes. Many pilots train for the instrument rating while building cross-country time. We'll help you plan flights so both happen efficiently.
FAA references: 14 CFR 61.65, 61.23.