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Congratulations – you have earned your Private Pilot License, and have become proficient at flying VFR. The next logical step in your pilot training is an instrument rating. Not only does this refine your airplane handling skills far beyond those of a regular VFR pilot, gives you new skills and a new challenge, but it is also an incredibly useful addition to your license when flying for added flexibility – mornings are regularly socked in before 11am in the Bay Area, however an Instrument Rating will allow you to punch through the thin marine layer and be on your way. From a safety perspective, an Instrument Rating is invaluable and gives you the ability to either continue your journey or make a safe landing when conditions fall below VFR minimums. IFR does not mean bad-weather flying, it means safe flying.
Entitlements
With an instrument rating, you are able to:
Fly in instrument meteorological conditions
Fly in airspace above 18,000 MSL (Class A airspace)
Operate in under SVFR at night.
Requirements
In order to obtain an instrument rating, you will need:
Hold at least a Private Pilot License
50 Hours of logged Pilot in Command cross country
At least one cross country flight performed under IFR of at least 250NM, incorporating 3 kinds of instrument approaches
Minimum 40 hours of actual or simulated instrument time (of which, 10 hours may be simulated)
Minimum 15 hours of instruction from a certified instrument flight instructor (CFII) – of which 3 hours much have been in the prior 2 months in an appropriate airplane
Successful completion of written knowledge test
Successful completion of oral examination and checkride