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Instrument Rating Program

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The instrument rating program at WIFA allows pilots with their Private Pilot or Commercial Pilot License to earn additional qualifications to fly under Instrument Flight Rules or IFR. A pilot with an instrument rating can legally fly in all weather conditions -- clouds, rain and fog -- relying solely on reference to instruments. 

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Most commercial airlines and professional aviation businesses require pilots to be instrument-rated, so it's a necessary step for those who might want to become an airline or corporate pilot.

 

The instrument rating requirements, as specified in 14 CFR 61.65, are summarized here:
 

A person who applies for an instrument rating must:

  • Hold at least a current private pilot certificate. 

  • Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language.
     

You must have logged the following:

  • 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.
     

For instrument-airplane rating, instrument training on cross-country flight procedures that includes at least one cross-country flight in an airplane that is performed under instrument flight rules. This flight must consist of:

  • 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).

  • At least three hours of instrument training that is appropriate to the instrument rating sought from an authorized instructor in preparation for the checkride within two calendar months before the examination date.

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