To be eligible for the instrument rating, a person must:
1. Hold at least a private pilot certificate
2. Be able to read, write, and understand the English language
3. Hold a current FAA medical certificate
4. Receive and log ground training from an authorized instructor or complete a home-study course
5. Pass the FAA instrument written exam with a score of 70% or better
6. Pass an oral and practical flight test on instrument procedures and maneuvers selected by an FAA examiner
Required Aeronautical Experience
50 hours of cross-country flight time as pilot in command, of which at least 10 hours must be in airplanes.
A total of forty (40) hours of actual or simulated instrument time in the areas of operation listed below:
- 15 hr. of instrument flight training from a CFII
Cross-country flight procedures that include at least one cross-country that is performed under IFR and consists 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
- If the instrument training is provided by a CFII, a maximum of 20 hours may be accomplished in an approved flight simulator or flight training device