Call TOLL FREE 888.845.2160

Instrument Rating

Have you ever been stuck on the ground, ready to depart but a marine layer kept you firmly stuck on tera firma? Headed back to your home airport and there is cloud cover that keeps you from landing anywhere nearby? An Instrument Rating can help. This rating is the natural progression in your flying career and one that we highly recommend. Not only do we augment the skills you learned in your initial training, we teach you how to be a better pilot. We teach you how to integrate into the National Airspace System in order to allow you the safest and most fulfilling flights you can do as a pilot. Our 7-day accelerated instrument rating course is intense, fun, challenging, and rewarding.

Course Overview

High Flight Aviation offers an accelerated Instrument Rating course with three (3) available schedule scenarios.  We have a 7-day accelerated, 3/2/2 accelerated (3 days, 2 days, 2 days), as well as a standard training footprint 2-3 times per week. Accelerated courses are meant to be fully immersive courses and the student should plan on minimal distractions during any of our accelerated courses. This is a great opportunity for those looking to finish their instrument rating in the shortest time possible in order to move on to the next certificate or rating!

The course utilizes a flight simulator during the initial stages of the training saving both time and money.  Research has shown that an hour of simulator training saves the student an hour in the airplane.  HFA utilizes scenario-based training to ensure your 10 hours of simulator time gives you the realistic systems failures, weather and other IFR scenarios.

All courses, both accelerated and standard, include the Sporty’s Instrument Rating Course. HFA books all accelerated courses a minimum of 30-days out to provide the student a chance to complete this ground course and take and pass the written test. If you have already completed the written test, we will do our best to get you scheduled ASAP. Additionally, all of our courses include a course study binder, HFA Polo Shirt, and our check ride guarantee.

Aeronautical Requirements

FAR 61.65 governs the Instrument Rating requirements. Those requirements can be found here.

Course Prerequisites (Accelerated Courses Only)

  • Have at least 45 hours of Cross-Country PIC time logged
  • Have at least 10 hours of airplane simulated instrument time*
  • Purchase the following texts prior to the start of the course
    • ASA Instrument Rating PTS
    • ASA Instrument Rating Oral Exam Guide
    • Airport Facility/Directory
    • Current FAR/AIM
    • Appropriate Approach and Low-Altitude IFR Charts

Course Schedule

High Flight Aviation has three course formats for you to choose from. The 7-day course format is great for pilots that have the time and effort to dedicate to studying both leading up to, and during, the course. It is an intense format with a full day of training each day.

7-Day Course – The 7-Day course is an intensive and challenging week of ground and flight instruction that will end with an endorsement and schedule for your check-ride.

  • Day 1 | Ground School
    • Ground School (FAR’s & Instrument-Specific Rules)
  • Day 2 | Simulator Training
    • Flight Instruction (Simulator)
    • Daily Debrief
  • Day 3 | Simulator Training
    • Flight Instruction (Simulator)
    • Daily Debrief
  • Day 4 | Airplane Training
    • Flight Instruction (Airplane)
    • Daily Debrief
  • Day 5 | Airplane Training
    • Flight Instruction (Airplane)
    • Daily Debrief
  • Day 6 | Airplane Training
    • Flight Instruction (Airplane)
    • Daily Debrief
  • Day 7 | Check-Ride Training
    • Final Flight/Mock Check-Ride
    • Endorsements, Certificate and Check-ride expectations

Weekend-Only – The weekend course is a 3 weekend, back to back course for those that can only do weekend training.

  • Weekend 1/Friday | Ground School
    • Ground School (FAR’s & Instrument-Specific Rules)
  • Weekend 1/Saturday | Simulator Training
    • Flight Instruction (Simulator)
    • Daily Debrief
  • Weekend 1/Sunday | Simulator Training
    • Flight Instruction (Simulator)
    • Daily Debrief
  • Weekend 2/Saturday | Airplane Training
    • Flight Instruction (Airplane)
    • Daily Debrief
  • Weekend 2/Sunday | Airplane Training
    • Flight Instruction (Airplane)
    • Daily Debrief
  • Weekend 3/Saturday | Airplane Training
    • Flight Instruction (Airplane)
    • Daily Debrief
  • Weekend 3/Sunday | Check-Ride Training
    • Final Flight/Mock Check-Ride
    • Endorsements, Certificate and Check-ride expectations

Standard Format – For those looking for a standard training format and are able to fly 2-3 times per week, this may be your best option.

Course Cost

$7,500

If additional instruction is needed after the 7th day, instruction is provided at a daily rate of $1,000/day or $125/hr if less than a full day is required.  In order to guarantee your reservation a 50% deposit is required within 30 days of the start date with the balance due on the first day of the course.

Aircraft Cost (Approximate)

$2,200

Aircraft are rented through Plus One Flyers which requires membership to join.  Membership is $144 + $37/mo should you decide to remain a member.  You can cancel membership anytime.

Payment Terms and Conditions

A 50% refundable deposit is due when booking the course and the balance on Day 1. HFA accepts all major credit cards, cash, check.

Are you ready to get started? Sign up now for our 7-Day Instrument Accelerated Course and you will be flying through the clouds in no time. As always, we are here to help if you have any questions, drop us a line.