What is the instrument rating?

The instrument rating is a valuable addition to your pilot skills. Even if you never fly in the clouds, you will gain skill in controlling the aircraft, dealing with ATC and understanding more about the way aviation in controlled airspace works.

A prerequisite for the instrument rating is that you have a private pilot certificate (or better) and 50 hours of cross country flight time as pilot in command. The cross country experience you acquired during your private pilot training while solo counts towards this requirement.

The minimum training time as specified by the FAA is 40 hours or actual or simulated instrument time. 10 hours of this time can be accomplished in a PCATD (a type of flight simulator) similar to the one we have available at Cactus Aviation. As always, "your mileage may vary" with the minimum flight hours required for you to become proficient. Your flight training will include things like instrument approaches, holding patterns and cross-country adventures. We strive to provide you with a training flight that allows you to experience actual IFR conditions when those weather conditions exist.