Instrument Rating Course
Cessna 172 Skyhawk
As you progress and move on to other ratings, being financially ready will ease tension a produce a better learning experience for you. The key is to keep flying regularly to avoid having to repeat lessons. You’re on your way at this point; can you see yourself flying the big iron!
Our IR course will take you from PPL to being instrument rated after about 120 to 150 hours, give or take. By this time you’ve flown a few aircraft and flying the airplane by visual reference has become more or less second nature. It’s time to take away your visual references and rely solely on your *instruments. Now you’re on your way to instrument competency! In this phase, be prepared for the following prerequisites and spending:
Where did the horizon go?
90 hours of additional flight time (or more) in a Cessna 172 Skyhawk and/or Tecnam P-Mentor.
Approximately 50 hours of additional cross-country flight time will be required and now that you have your PPL, much of your time over water will be by yourself so you won’t be paying an instructor, most of the time. Take a friend with you now that you are PIC but remember, you can share the cost of the flight, however, no earning or financial gain; you aren’t a commercial pilot just yet.
You’ll need to spend one-on-one time with your instructor for at least 15 hours. The cost of one-on-one learning with your flight instructor is $65.00 hourly
You’ll need approximately 40 hours of simulated or actual instrument training. Here is when you’ll begin to feel a little stressed because it can sometimes be mind melting. Things will start to get really busy and you’ll need to learn to stay ahead of the airplane and begin to anticipate what’s coming and be ready for it! The good news is 20 hours of the required instrument training you’ll need can be conducted in an approved flight simulator at much less cost. And guess what, we happen to have one of the best AATD’s out there!
It’s likely you’ll need a fair amount of one-on-one ground instruction during this phase. So study hard and save and do a lot of **chair flying. The cost of one-on-one learning with your flight instructor is $40.00 hourly.
Your Medical will likely still be valid so you won’t need to spend any money there
You will once again be required to take a proctored exam for the IR rating. The cost of an exam will still very likely be $175.00. BPFS is an FAA Approved Testing Ceter.
By this time you’ll want your own audio headset and the cost can be several hundreds of dollars to upwards of one-thousand dollars for advanced noise cancellation. You’ll also need to purchase a small amount of additional study materials.
*Credit Card Processing: Barbers Point Flight School charges a 3% non-cash transaction fee for all credit card purchases
*The number one cause of light aircraft crashes has always been and still is VFR pilots in IFR conditions. Becoming proficient at instrument flying will make you a much more skilled and capable aviator.
**Chair flying means sitting in the airplane on the ground or tacking a cockpit poster to the wall and mentally processing, for example, how you’ll set up for the different in-flight maneuvers that you’ll need to demonstrate on your practical exam with a Designated Pilot Examiner. Consider aircraft limitations and speed limitations; familiarize with all switchology.