Adding an Instrument Rating to your private certificate is challenging and no small accomplishment … but the benefits are tremendous. From a practical standpoint, if you are using an airplane for point to point transportation, it allows you to fly on days when the weather is less than perfect (i.e. into IMC or instrument meteorological conditions, or allowing you to get through that marine layer that is so common here in SoCal). On its own, an instrument rating does not necessarily make you a better pilot; however, it will make you a safer pilot and teach you to fly with more precision. It also provides extensive exposure to the ATC air traffic control system and is a required step if a Commercial or CFI rating is in your future.
Minimum Requirements For IFR Rating
Under FAR 61.65, the minimum requirements for an IFR rating are as follows:
40 hours of actual or simulated instrument time which includes:
a minimum of 15 hours of instrument flight training from a Certified Flight Instructor (CFII)
up to 20 hours of the instrument training may be accomplished in an approved flight simulator or flight training device if the training was provided by a CFII.
At least one cross-country flight performed under IFR of at least 250 NM along airways or ATC-directed routing
an instrument approach at each airport
three different kinds of instrument approaches
At least 50 hours of cross-country flight time as pilot in command, which can include solo cross-country time as a student pilot. Each cross-country must have a landing at an airport that is at least a straight-line distance of more than 50 NM from the original departure point.
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