Getting My Instrument Rating From Start to Finish

An instrument rating is one of the hardest training you'll go through in your pilot career. It does make flying a lot safer for you and your passengers. Earlier this year, I went through the gauntlet of getting my instrument ratings. Here is how my process went.

According to AOPA, a person who applies for an instrument rating must:

1. Hold at least a current private pilot certificate or be concurrently applying for a private pilot certificate with an airplane, helicopter, or powered-lift rating appropriate to the instrument rating sought.
2. Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language.

You must have logged the following:

3. At least 50 hours of cross-country flight time as pilot in command. At least 10 of these hours must be in airplanes for an instrument-airplane rating.
4. A total of 40 hours of actual or simulated instrument time on the areas of operation listed in 61.65(c).
5. At least 15 hours of instrument flight training from an authorized instructor in the aircraft category for the instrument rating sought.

For instrument-airplane rating, instrument training on cross-country flight procedures that includes at least one cross-country flight in an airplane that is performed under instrument flight rules. This flight must consist 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 (Example: ILS, VOR, GPS, etc).
At least 3 hours of instrument training that is appropriate to the instrument rating sought from an authorized instructor in preparation for the checkride within two calendar months before the examination date.

[turboproptrash]

Congratulations Mike! The instrument rating is the best rating to get as far as making you a better, safer pilot. Your hard work will pay dividends for years to come as you continue to gain experience.

[Travelingchefmark]

So great to see how you’ve progressed, I’m busy with this now and great video bud, thanks for sharing !

[pvillepat]

I’ve got my discovery flight this afternoon. Can’t wait to start this journey. I really enjoyed your style of vid communication style. You earned a sub. 👍

[TheMrdhyde]

You are living my dream. Way to go with the IFR rating. Smart pilots think safe all the time.

[WolfPilot]

Thanks for sharing your experiences Mike! I am about to embark on this very journey!

[aviatortrucker]

Welcome to the world of instrument flying. If you’re an area of a country like me, it is almost impossible to keep current unless you use a simulator. Out here in the Midwest to either deal with thunderstorms in the summer or ice in the winter. An instrument rating is great for coastal states that have fog and low visibility, but other parts of the country one becomes a pilot who starts chasing bad weather instead of good weather. My next step after all these years to try to become a CFI. I think that’s gonna be the toughest rating to get since there’s so many knowledge based areas, including fundamentals of instruction. Learning to fly up to the commercial maneuvers in the right seat is going to be challenging enough. I’ve been flying off and on for 40 years now.

[tTenKay]

I’m about half way through instruments and I know the work that goes into it. Congrats

[RealRickCox]

Congratulations on the new rating!! That's going to be an invaluable tool for you when you accidentally encounter IMC.

[souleymanesavane]

Thanks my man Mike, I am about to start instrument rating now, it is going to be some work 👌 but I appreciate the insight. You are doing great bro.

[danhensley]

I just passed my instrument checkride on Saturday. I followed much the same procedure except the accelerated training, as I couldn't dedicate that much time. I definitely agree to do the ground school first. I went through the material once or twice, then went through it again as I was doing my flight training. That way I could ask questions as we went. Then about halfway through the flight training I did the written. Once I scheduled my checkride (the earliest I could get was 2 months out), I accelerated my flight training as I then had a hard date to finish my training.

[timhoke]

Good job, Mike. It would also be VERY helpful if you would make a video going over the oral part of the check ride.

[baomao]

Nice overview. I reached some of the same conclusions during my own VFR training - accelerated training was better for me given massive work/family distractions and need to be oriented toward “knocking it out” since sharpness of skills is perishable. With IFR on the brain i‘ve been binge watching Sporty’s IFR training video program REPEATEDLY (to make sure it sticks and i pick up all the secondary points). And then, just maybe…
…2023 can be the year for my IFR !

[jamesfrost]

So proud of ya Mike. You're living the dream. Im so glad you have your instrument ticket! Congratulations!

[conservativeokie]

Congratulations Mike! Also, I wish you and your entire family an extremely blessed and merry Christmas and a very happy New Year!

[jdrbell]

Congratulations Mike!! So much more safe to have all your ratings and the satisfaction that you won’t be limited to just VFR! God bless you👍👍😎

[libertycowboy]

About to start my IFR adventure. Great video!

[ronaldcuieii]

Hey buddy!! Very very nice. Please keep coming out with more vlogs!!

[jq]

Thanks Mike! I’m about to start my instrument rating. Very helpful. 🙏

[almarasco]

Congrats Mike very very cool that you got it very rewarding .

[rogerclarke]

HI mike from the UK. I'm thinking of maybe doing my instrument rating next year. Your video is very helpful and encouraging. I'm going to get a sim too. Thanks for posting.