FAA Regulation requires minimum 40 hours of flight time for a Instrument Pilot Rating. (14 CFR 61.65)
This required time includes:
- A total of 40 hours of actual or simulated instrument time, including:
- At least 15 hours of instrument flight training from an authorized instructor in the aircraft category for which the instrument rating is sought;
- 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;
- 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;
- 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;
For the complete requirements see 14 CFR, § 61.65 Instrument rating requirements.
Note: These hours are the minimum amount of training in each area as required for an Instrument Pilot Rating by the FAA.
Based on training times of 40 hours in a Cessna 172 (Piper Archer II), the total estimated cost of training is as follows:
| Description |
Rate/Hour |
Est. Hours |
Cost |
| Aircraft Rental (Cessna 172 180HP) |
$110.00 |
40 |
$4,400.00 |
| Flight Instruction |
$40.00 |
40 |
$1,600.00 |
| Ground Instruction |
$40.00 |
25 |
$1000.00 |
| Check ride (Cessna 172 180HP) |
$110.00 |
2 |
$220.00 |
| Check ride (Examiner's Fee) |
- |
- |
$350.00 |
| Written Test |
- |
- |
$100.00 |
| Medical Certification |
- |
- |
$80.00 |
| *Total Cost: |
- |
- |
$7,750.00 |
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* Does not include Training Supplies.
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Training Programs