Instrument Rating Flight Training

By Kyle Garrett

The instrument rating is something that will eventually come along if you've been flying very long. Typically, it comes up when looking at buying an aircraft or seeking a commercial pilot career, but otherwise some pilots may take quite a while to get their instrument rating. Though many pilots do eventually get an instrument rating, chances are learning to fly IFR now could greatly benefit your flying. An instrument rating will make you a better pilot, is required to get a commercial pilot certificate, and will generally lower your insurance rates.

Flying on instruments will make you a better pilot

When it comes to flying on instruments, precision is the keyword. There are many different things to learn for your instrument rating, but none are more difficult and rewarding as learning to fly with precision. Once you complete your instrument rating, you will be able to not only hit a specific altitude or descent rate, but hold it. You will be more in control of your aircraft than you ever thought possible and this will surely effect your flying in general.

Most commercial pilots will need an instrument rating to get a job

Perhaps you're not thinking about it right this moment, but at some point in the future, you may decide to get a commercial pilot certificate. That doesn't mean you have to run off to the airlines. There are many commercial pilots that never really get paid to fly, but it is nice to have the option. Maybe your company has a nice aircraft that you'd like to spend some time in or you'd occasionally like to take on a paying passenger--whatever the case, although it's not required, you're going to want an instrument rating to go along with your commercial pilot certificate. If you wait until then to get instrument rated, you're going to have a lot of training to do. Instead, reap the benefits of learning precise flying early and you can sail through commercial pilot training when you need it.

Insurance rates are generally cheaper for instrument-rated pilots

Perhaps the poorest-kept secret of the aviation insurance industry is that instrument-rated pilots enjoy rates that are generally cheaper. The increased training instrument-rated pilots take on and their increased skill pay off in lower insurance premiums. Depending on the type of aircraft you fly, this can be a very significant amount of money.

So, if you'd like to be a better pilot with lower insurance rates and you might get a commercial pilot certificate, you should definitely consider an instrument rating. Sure it may be difficult, but the sense of accomplishment and precision flying skill are more than worth it in the long run.