IFR Rating Elements

Undertaking and IFR Rating as a pilot is a rewarding and useful endeavor that helps pilots to not only broaden their own flight proficiency and skills, but also allows them to fly during many more types of weather conditions. This training includes 4 basic phases that an applicant will progress through and a few specific hour and flight experience requirements. These are as follows.

Training Phases:

Attitude Flight - This will consist of straight and level flight, climbs descents and turns. Climbs and descents with constant airspeed and constant rates will also be introduced in this section. Unusual attitude recognition and recovery along with steep turns are included in this section. Supporting and Primary instruments and partial panel work along with magnetic compass turns are included. This section will finish with tracking and intercepting radials and with holding patterns.

Approaches - All types of applicable approaches will be taught in this section of the training. ILS, NDB, VOR, LOC BC, SDF, LDA, Contact, Visual, and PAR approaches are examples. This training will include how each approach is to be set up and flown. An integral portion of this section of training will focus heavily on the understanding, interpretation, and flight of procedures of approach plates and learning where to find information as needed for each approach procedure.

IFR Cross-Country - This section will include introductions to Standard Instrument Arrival Routes, Standard Instrument Departure routes. It will include IFR trip planning procedures, Victor Airway information and different types of VOR’s. Another portion of this section will include the importance and interpretation of IFR weather (Icing and Thunderstorms), FAR part 91.167 through 91.187 must be adhered to, and some type of navigation log will be introduced.

Review - In this portion of the training we will review what has been learned to date and prepare for the final Practical Test that must adhere to the IFR Practical Test Standards.

Hour Requirements:

Total (FAR Part 61.65)  
Cross Country 50 hours PIC (at least 10 of which is in an airplane for the instrument rating)
Actual/Simulated Instrument 40 hours to include the following:
Instrument Flight Training
 15 hours
Flight test prep
 3 hours (within 60 days of test)


At least one Cross Country flight under IFR to include 250 nautical miles with an instrument approach at each airport using three different kinds of approaches with the use of navigation systems.

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