Executive Flight Institute offers an instrument rating course. The instrument rating is traditionally the next level of training after earning a private pilot certificate. Instrument pilots learn to control the aircraft solely by reference to the aircraft’s instruments. With an instrument rating you will be able to fly in more marginal weather conditions.

Ground Training

Your ground training is typically accomplished by a course of study based upon the Instrument Flying Handbook. EFI has developed a comprehensive curriculum that will move you through the various stages of instrument training. You’ll learn about aircraft control methods, how the flight instruments work, airport operations, filing IFR flight plans, obtaining IFR clearances, flying instrument approaches, and much more. These are content rich programs that are not only challenging but very rewarding.

Flight Training

Flight training is completed in Cessna 172 aircraft. Some aircraft have traditional “round dial” gauges and others are equipped with state-of-the-art G1000 glass cockpits. All of our aircraft are equipped with the latest radios and avionics (including GPS receivers). You’ll practice controlling the aircraft by reference to its instruments, navigating en route by navigation aids, and fly practice instrument approaches to airports from Brown Field, San Diego (KSDM) to Santa Barbara (KSBA) and many airports in between.

Prerequisites

Though there have been some recent changes to 14 CFR Part 61 regulations, we would expect a person seeking an instrument rating to hold at least a Private Pilot certificate and 3rd Class medical.