Instrument rating refers to the qualifications that a pilot must have in order to fly under instrument flight rules (IFR). It requires specific training and instruction beyond what is required for a private pilot certificate or commercial pilot certificate, including rules and procedures specific to instrument flying, additional instruction in meteorology, and more intensive training in flight solely by reference to instruments

Requirements for Instrument Rating

• Applicant must have a Private Pilot License or higher
• Applicant must have a valid Category 3 medical or higher
• 50 hours cross-country flying Pilot In Command
• 40 hours of instrument flying
• Maximum of 20 hours can be done on a flight simulator
• Applicant undergoes IFR cross-country along with a flight Instructor where shoots 3 different instrument approaches at 3 different Airports
• Applicants must pass a written exam with a grade of at least 70%
• Applicants must successfully pass a flight test