Train for Instrument Rating

Earn Your Instrument Rating

Take the next step in your aviation journey by mastering flight solely by reference to instruments. At Arise Aviation, we don’t just train you to pass a checkride; we mentor you to operate with absolute precision in the complex IFR environment.

Why You Need It

Safety

Even if you don’t plan to use it, an instrument rating is your best defense against unexpected weather. It provides the disciplined framework needed to manage high-stress situations safely.

Greater Opportunity to Fly

Gain a professional-level understanding of meteorology and the capability to fly through cloud layers in IFR (Instrument Flight Rules)—the system of flight that relies on cockpit instruments and Air Traffic Control. While VFR (Visual Flight Rules) pilots are grounded by limited visibility and must remain clear of clouds, an instrument rating keeps you moving safely toward your destination.

Career Advancement

This rating is a mandatory milestone for almost every professional flying position, including Certified Flight Instructors (CFIs).

Training and Eligibility

Certification

Hold at least a Private Pilot Certificate.

Ground Training

Receive and log ground training from an authorized instructor (i.e. ground school course) or complete a home-study course using an instrument textbook and/or videos

Health

Hold a current FAA Medical Certificate.

Language

English: reading, writing, and conversing fluently

Flight Experience Requirements

Before your Instrument Practical Test, you must accumulate the following experience per FAR 61.65

Cross Country Flight Time

Log at least 50 hours of cross-country flight time as pilot in command, which can include solo cross-country time as a student pilot. Each cross-country must have a landing at an airport that is at least a straight-line distance of more than 50 NM from the original departure point.

Flight Simulator: Up to 20 hrs

Up to 20 hours of instrument training may be accomplished in an approved flight simulator or flight training device if the training was provided by an authorized instructor (CFI/I).

Practical Test

Successfully complete the instrument rating practical test (an oral and flight test), as specified in Practical Test Standards (PTS) for the instrument rating, which will be conducted by an FAA-designated examiner.

Cross Country: 250 NM Flight

Make at least one cross-country flight that is performed under IFR and transits a distance of at least 250 NM along airways or ATC-directed routing and includes an instrument approach at each airport so that a total of three different kinds of instrument approaches are performed.

Flight Currency

In the 2 calendar months prior to the practical test, log 3 hours of instrument training in an airplane that is appropriate to the instrument-airplane rating from a CFI/I in preparation for the test.

Instrument Time: 40 hrs

Log a total of 40 hours of actual or simulated instrument time, including a minimum of 15 hours of instrument flight training from a Flight Instructor certified to teach the instrument rating (CFI/I).