The Instrument Rating opens the door to the world of IMC - Instrument Meteorogical Conditions - or 'flying in the clouds'.   The biggest step to becoming a professional pilot, the Instrument Rating will hone your flying skills to a new level while teaching you advanced navigation techniques that allow you to fly anywhere in the country in many types of weather conditions. Using the exclusive Cessna Computer Based Interactive CD-Rom flight training syllabus, your training is broken down into three easy steps as outlined below.

STAGE I – Aircraft Control and Navigation

This stage will introduce you to basic attitude instrument flying! By utilizing both the airplane and the simulator, you will learn how to control the airplane under all flight conditions and attitudes solely by reference to your instruments. Once proficient at these skills you will then begin working on evolving your VOR, GPS, and NBD intercept and tracking skills using both a "full and partial" aircraft panel. This stage is the foundation for the remainder of your training. A heavy emphasis will be placed on ensuring you have mastered these skills prior to advancing.

STAGE II – Approaches and Holding Patterns

The objective of this stage is to teach you how to arrive at an airport under Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC). Again using both the airplane and the simulator, you will learn how to brief an IFR approach and how to fly non-precision and precision approach procedures to either a full stop landing or to a missed approach. Included in this stage are some basic transition techniques to get you from the enroute environment to the approach segment utilizing holds, procedure turns, and DME arcs. In most aircraft, training will include how to fly enroute and approaches using IFR certified GPS equipment.

STAGE III – Cross Country Procedures and Test Preparation

The beginning of this stage will teach you how to get from point A to point B in IMC conditions. You will learn how to plan an IFR cross country flight, how to obtain an IFR clearance, and how to transition from the enroute environment to the approach environment using the skills learned in Stage II. Most importantly, you will learn how to manage all the new procedures, information, and skills using basic Cockpit Management. Once you have completed your cross country requirements, you will then review your ground lesson knowledge and refine the skills you have previously learned in order to ensure you meet the standards set forth by the FAA. It is Trade Winds' policy to ensure that you not only have the skill set required to successfully pass your exam; but upon completion of your checkride, you will be a safe and proficient Instrument Pilot.

Certification Costs

Trade Winds offers two different options to complete your Instrument Rating. By flying 2-3 times a week and attending the Instrument Ground School course, you will complete your rating in approximately 4 - 6 months. For those of you who want see faster results and can dedicate a couple of weeks solely to your training, we also offer an accelerated 14 day course. Either way our professional staff will tailor your program to meet your individual needs.

This cost breakdown is based on using a Cessna 172P aircraft. However, all of the Trade Winds' aircraft are IFR certificated and available to complete your Instrument Rating. For more information on the price and equipment differences between the aircraft, please visit the aircraft fleet page.

Hours Description Per Hour Totals
30 Cessna 172SP $130.00 $3,900.00
30 Flight Instruction $58.00 $1,740.00
10 ELITE ATD PC Simulator Rental $35.00 $350.00
10 Simulator Instruction $58.00 $580.00
15 Ground Instruction $58.00 $870.00

Cessna CD-ROM Interactive Flight -


Training Kit
$299

IFR Video Library
FREE

Written Test Fee
$80.00

Practical Test Fee
$300.00
3 Cessna 172SP (Practical Test) $130.00 $390.00



$8509.00

*Note: This 40 hours is based on the FAA minimum required flight time. The time required to complete your rating may vary.

FAA Requirements

According to FAA FAR 61.65 a person must satisfy the following requirements to be eligible for a Instrument Raiting Certificate:

General. A person who applies for an instrument rating must:

  • Hold at least a current 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. If the applicant is unable to meet any of these requirements due to a medical condition, the Administrator may place such operating limitations on the applicant's pilot certificate as are necessary for the safe operation of the aircraft;
  • Receive and log ground training from an authorized instructor or accomplish a home-study course of training on the aeronautical knowledge areas of paragraph (b) of this section that apply to the instrument rating sought;
  • Receive a logbook or training record endorsement from an authorized instructor certifying that the person is prepared to take the required knowledge test;
  • Receive and log training on the areas of operation of paragraph (c) of this section from an authorized instructor in an aircraft, flight simulator, or flight training device that represents an airplane, helicopter, or powered-lift appropriate to the instrument rating sought;
  • Receive a logbook or training record endorsement from an authorized instructor certifying that the person is prepared to take the required practical test;
  • Pass the required knowledge test on the aeronautical knowledge areas of paragraph (b) of this section; however, an applicant is not required to take another knowledge test when that person already holds an instrument rating; and
  • Pass the required practical test on the areas of operation in paragraph (c) of this section in--
  1. An airplane, helicopter, or powered-lift, appropriate to the rating sought; or
  2. A flight simulator or a flight training device appropriate to the rating sought and approved for the specific maneuver or procedure performed. If a flight training device is used for the practical test, the instrument approach procedures conducted in that flight training device are limited to one precision and one nonprecision approach, provided the flight training device is approved for the procedure performed.

Aeronautical knowledge. A person who applies for an instrument rating must have received and logged ground training from an authorized instructor or accomplished a home-study course on the following aeronautical knowledge areas that apply to the instrument rating sought:

  • Federal Aviation Regulations of this chapter that apply to flight operations under IFR;
  • Appropriate information that applies to flight operations under IFR in the "Aeronautical Information Manual;"
  • Air traffic control system and procedures for instrument flight operations;
  • IFR navigation and approaches by use of navigation systems;
  • Use of IFR en route and instrument approach procedure charts;
  • Procurement and use of aviation weather reports and forecasts and the elements of forecasting weather trends based on that information and personal observation of weather conditions;
  • Safe and efficient operation of aircraft under instrument flight rules and conditions;
  • Recognition of critical weather situations and windshear avoidance;
  • Aeronautical decision making and judgment; and
  • Crew resource management, including crew communication and coordination.

Flight proficiency. A person who applies for an instrument rating must receive and log training from an authorized instructor in an aircraft, or in a flight simulator or flight training device, in accordance with paragraph (e) of this section, that includes the following areas of operation:

  • Preflight preparation;
  • Preflight procedures;
  • Air traffic control clearances and procedures;
  • Flight by reference to instruments;
  • Navigation systems;
  • Instrument approach procedures;
  • Emergency operations; and
  • Postflight procedures.

Aeronautical experience. A person who applies for an instrument rating must have logged the following:

  • At least 50 hours of cross-country flight time as pilot in command, of which at least 10 hours must be in airplanes for an instrument -- airplane rating; and
  • A total of 40 hours of actual or simulated instrument time on the areas of operation of this section, to include--
  1. At least 15 hours of instrument flight training from an authorized instructor in the aircraft category for which the instrument rating is sought;
  2. At least 3 hours of instrument training that is appropriate to the instrument rating sought from an authorized instructor in preparation for the practical test within the 60 days preceding the date of the test;
  3. For an instrument -- airplane rating, instrument training on cross-country flight procedures specific to airplanes that includes at least one cross-country flight in an airplane that is performed under IFR, and consists of--
    • A distance of at least 250 nautical miles along airways or ATC-directed routing;
    • An instrument approach at each airport; and
    • Three different kinds of approaches with the use of navigation systems;
  4. For an instrument -- helicopter rating, instrument training specific to helicopters on cross-country flight procedures that includes at least one cross-country flight in a helicopter that is performed under IFR, and consists of--
    • A distance of at least 100 nautical miles along airways or ATC-directed routing;
    • An instrument approach at each airport; and
    • Three different kinds of approaches with the use of navigation systems; and
  5. For an instrument--powered-lift rating, instrument training specific to a powered-lift on cross-country flight procedures that includes at least one cross-country flight in a powered-lift that is performed under IFR and consists of--
    • A distance of at least 250 nautical miles along airways or ATC-directed routing;
    • An instrument approach at each airport; and
    • Three different kinds of approaches with the use of navigation systems.

Use of flight simulators or flight training devices. If the instrument training was provided by an authorized instructor in a flight simulator or flight training device--

  • A maximum of 30 hours may be performed in that flight simulator or flight training device if the training was accomplished in accordance with part 142 of this chapter; or
  • A maximum of 20 hours may be performed in that flight simulator or flight training device if the training was not accomplished in accordance with part 142 of this chapter.

*Note: This list is intended for informational purposes only goto FAA.gov for more information.