Don’t let the fog or clouds stop you from flying! Learn to fly the airplane, and find your destination runway, with no visibility outside. We offer instrument flight training and can train you in our Cessna 172 & 172RG, Piper Arrow & Twin Comanche airplanes, as well as a full-size AATD or computer-based PCATD simulators, or we can train you in your own airplane.
We can train you in the latest GPS techniques too – we have airplanes equipped with the Garmin 430/530 and GNS650 GPS navigators. In Monterey, coming online in February 2016, we will have a new Cirrus SR-20 equipped with the Garmin Perspective (similar to the G1000), plus we have a G1000 Redbird simulator.
The San Francisco and Monterey Bay areas are very well suited to instrument flight training. We frequently have low-lying cloud and fog layers nearby to train in, yet nearby airports are VFR almost all the time.
Summary Requirements for Instrument Rating
At least 17 years of age
Valid US Driver’s License
Private Pilot Pilot Certificate
FAA Instrument Rating Knowledge Test (passing grade is 70%)
FAA practical test
Flight Hour Requirements for Instrument Rating
Time: 40 hrs instrument time, including one 250 nautical mile dual cross-country trip. Additional requirements as per FAR 61.65 include 50 hours of PIC cross-country flight time.
Instrument Ground School
We recommend our Instrument Rating Ground School to prepare you for the knowledge test.
Estimated Cost
Total hours for Instrument rating: 50 hours of cross country time and 40 hours of simulated or instrument time. 15 hours of dual required with a CFII.
Total cost based Instrument requirements (includes airplane rental and dual instruction) – approximately $6000 – $8000.
Rates: Please selec your location for Aircraft and Instructor Rates
Cost of ground school (optional) – $250 tuition for the complete course or $25 per session for twelve sessions. Tuition does not include cost of books and materials (approximately $100-150).
Books and materials – a supply of recommended study materials, references, study kits, plotters, computers, charts, approach plates, etc. is available at AeroDynamic Aviation. We have our own syllabus or can use one of your choosing.
Accelerated Instrument Rating
AeroDynamic and its subsidiary company, Instrument Flight Solutions, offer an immersion instrument course based on our own syllabus. We recommend using a Cessna with VORs and DME if you’d like to complete the course in 10 days. For GPS-equipped or G1000 airplanes, this may take 11 to 14 days. You will need to complete the written prior and must have 45 hours PIC cross-country time prior. Please see –Instrument Flight Solutions– website for full details or contact AeroDynamic by phone or email. based on simulator location, you can choose to train out of Monterey or Reid-Hillview. See the simulators below for location and details.
Simulators
Precision Flight Controls full-size AATD, including twin-engine
Can be used for 20 hours toward instrument rating
Analog gauges with VOR/DME
based at Monterey location
Redbird G1000
Can be used for 10 hours toward instrument rating
Glass cockpit with G1000 buttons and autopilot
based at Monterey location
Elite Sim PCATD for many aircraft, including twin-engine
Can be used for 10 hours toward instrument rating
Analog gauges with VOR/DME or Garmin 430 WAAS
based at Reid-Hillview location
Instrument Proficiency Check (IPC)
Out of currency? We can complete your Instrument Proficiency Check at any of our locations. If you’re a little more rusty, we also offer a 3-day refresher course for the IPC. Please see –Instrument Flight Solutions– webpage for full details.
