Mark Norman flying

Mark Norman

CFI | CFII | AGI | A&P | IA

Instrument Rating

Open up a whole new world in your flying experience! This rating will open the door to fly on less than desirable weather days that will keep the non-instrument pilots on the ground. You will become a more competent pilot. The instrument rating requirements, as specified in 14 CFR 61.65, are summarized here:

  • Hold at least a current private pilot certificate or be concurrently applying for a 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 3 hours of instrument training that is appropriate to the instrument rating sought from an authorized instructor in preparation for the check-ride within two calendar months before the examination date.

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