Instrument Rating Part 61
NOTE 9: Per § 61.65(a)(1), must “Hold at least a current private pilot certificate with an airplane, helicopter, or powered-lift rating appropriate to the instrument rating sought;”
For all instrument ratings.
Total Time: Must have logged the following:
A. At least 50 hours of cross-country flying as a PIC, of which at least 10 hours must be in airplanes for an Instrument Airplane rating; and
B. Total of 40 hours of actual or simulated instrument time on the Instrument areas of operation, that includes at least--
1. Dual: 15 hours of instrument training with an instructor in the aircraft category, that includes at least: (See Note 9)
a. 3 hours of the instrument training were within the preceding two calendar months prior to the practical test; and
b. 1 IFR cross-country flight of more than 250 nm. (more than 100 nm. for helicopters) in the instrument-aircraft rating sought.
or, if for an
C. Additional instrument rating, 15 hours of instrument training with an instructor for the rating sought, that includes at least:
1. 1 IFR cross-country flight of more than 250 nm. (more than 100 nm. for helicopters) in the instrument-aircraft rating sought; and
2. 3 hours of the instrument training were within the preceding two calendar months prior to the practical test.
Instrument Rating Part 141 Appendix C – Instrument Rating Course
NOTE 17: Notice, the “35 hours of instrument training” for the initial instrument rating course does not establish a certain amount of instrument training required from an authorized instructor. This is because Part 141, Appendix C does not dictate the breakdown of dual time and solo time for the initial instrument rating course. However, in accordance with § 61.51(g)(4), an authorized instructor must be present to log instrument time in a flight simulator or an approved flight training device.
NOTE 18: Notice, the “15 hours of instrument training” for the additional instrument rating course does not establish a certain amount of instrument training required from an authorized instructor. This is because Part 141, Appendix C does not dictate the breakdown of dual time and solo time for the additional instrument rating course. However, in accordance with § 61.51(g)(4), an authorized instructor must be present to log instrument time in a flight simulator or an approved flight training device.
Total for initial instrument rating course = 35 hours of instrument training, that includes training with an authorized instructor on the following areas of operation: (See Note 17)
(1. Preflight preparation;
(2. Preflight procedures;
(3. Air traffic control clearances and procedures;
(4. Flight by reference to instruments;
(5. Navigation systems;
(6. Instrument approach procedures;
(7. Emergency operations; and
(8. Postflight procedures.
that includes:
A. Instrument — airplane.
Dual: 1 dual cross-country of at least 250 nm. in the applicable airplane category and class
Total for an additional instrument rating course = 15 hours of instrument training, that includes training with an authorized instructor on the following areas of operation: (See Note 18)
(1. Preflight preparation;
(2. Preflight procedures;
(3. Air traffic control clearances and procedures;
(4. Flight by reference to instruments;
(5. Navigation systems;
(6. Instrument approach procedures;
(7. Emergency operations; and
(8. Postflight procedures.
that includes:
A. Instrument — airplane.
Dual: 1 dual cross-country of at least 250 nm. in the applicable airplane category and class
Simulators, Flight Training Devices, and Combined Use
Initial / Additional
Maximum usage of flight simulators = 17.5 hours / 7.5 hours
Maximum usage of flight training devices = 14.0 hours / 6.0 hours
Max. combined usage of FS & FTD = 17.5 hours / 7.5 hours
Ground Training = 30.0 hours / 20.0 hours