Fly in IMC conditions

An instrument rating qualifies a pilot to fly in the clouds, and when the weather is not favorable IMC conditions

Eligibility requirements: General.

• The instrument rating requirements, as specified in 14 CFR 61.65, are summarized here:

  A person who applies for an instrument rating must:

  • Hold at least a current private pilot certificate or be concurrently applying for a private pilot certificate with an airplane, helicopter, or powered-lift rating appropriate to the instrument rating sought.

  • Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language.

  You must have logged the following:

  • At least 50 hours of cross-country flight time as pilot in command. At least 10 of these hours must be in airplanes for an instrument-airplane rating.

  • A total of 40 hours of actual or simulated instrument time on the areas of operation listed in 61.65(c).

  • At least 15 hours of instrument flight training from an authorized instructor in the aircraft category for the instrument rating sought.

  For instrument-airplane rating, instrument training on cross-country flight procedures that includes at least one cross-country flight in an airplane that is performed under instrument flight rules. This flight must consist of:

  • A distance of at least 250 nm along airways or ATC-directed routing.

  • An instrument approach at each airport.

  • Three different kinds of approaches with the use of navigation systems (Example: ILS, VOR, GPS, etc).

  • At least 3 hours of instrument training that is appropriate to the instrument rating sought from an authorized instructor in preparation for the checkride within two calendar months before the examination date.