Instrument Rating package
- 20 hours of flight time
- 10 hours in our simulator
- Ground instruction
$7,999
We confirm in writing what your package includes and any separate costs before you start.
Instrument Rating · IFR training
Instrument rating training in Philadelphia
Learn to fly in clouds and low visibility by reference to your instruments. You train one-on-one with a CFII, in the airplane and in our simulator, at Northeast Philadelphia Airport.
- Training with a CFII
- 20 hours of flight + 10 hours in the simulator
- Towered airport beneath Class B
What the rating lets you do
Fly when the clouds roll in
An instrument rating lets you fly under instrument flight rules (IFR). You can fly through clouds and low visibility, guided by your instruments and air traffic control.
- File and fly IFR flight plans
- Fly through clouds and reduced visibility
- Fly instrument approaches down to published minimums
- Keep more trips on schedule when low clouds would ground a VFR pilot
- Build precise, disciplined habits that make you safer in any weather
You need an instrument rating to act as pilot in command under IFR, or in weather below VFR minimums (14 CFR 61.3(e)).
Career path
Why it comes before commercial
A commercial pilot without an instrument rating cannot carry passengers for hire at night, or on cross-country flights beyond 50 nautical miles (14 CFR 61.133).
That is why our training path puts the instrument rating before the commercial certificate.
Commercial pilot training
Every pilot
Why it helps even if you fly for fun
Instrument training sharpens everything. You learn precise control, careful planning and clear radio work with ATC.
Who it's for
Private pilots ready for more
This rating is for private pilots who want a more useful certificate, and for anyone on the path to a flying career.
You can start instrument training after your private pilot certificate. You do not need every required hour in your logbook on day one. You need them before your instrument checkride.
What you need to begin
- A private pilot certificate with an airplane rating
- Your logbook, so your CFII can see which hours you already have
- A plan to complete 50 hours of cross-country time as pilot in command
- Study time for the FAA instrument knowledge test
Syllabus
What you'll learn
Instrument training builds in four blocks, and each one adds to the last. The simulator lets you practice many of these tasks before you fly them in the airplane.
Instrument scan
Attitude instrument flying, partial-panel flying and recovery from unusual attitudes.
Navigation and holds
VOR and GPS navigation, IFR clearances, departure and arrival procedures, and holding patterns.
Approaches
Precision and non-precision approaches, including ILS and GPS, plus missed approaches.
IFR cross-country
IFR flight planning, weather decisions, the long cross-country and checkride preparation.
In the air
- Copying and reading back IFR clearances
- Working with air traffic control in busy airspace
- Flying approaches to minimums and going missed
- Handling instrument and system failures
- Flying by instruments alone, with a view-limiting device
On the ground
- Enroute charts and instrument approach charts
- IFR regulations and flight planning
- Aviation weather for IFR go/no-go decisions
- Flight instruments and navigation systems
- Spatial disorientation and personal minimums
- Instrument knowledge test preparation
From our classroom
Holding patterns, explained
Watch an instrument class on holds, part of the navigation block above. More classes are free on our ground school page.
All ground school videos
An instrument class on flying holds.
Simulator and airplane
Practice on the ground, then fly it for real
Your package includes 10 hours in our simulator, an aviation training device. It works alongside 20 hours of flight time in the airplane.
In the simulator you can pause a lesson, reset an approach and fly it again. You can learn a new procedure without spending airplane time or waiting on the weather.
Then you fly that procedure in the airplane with your CFII. There you add real air traffic control, real wind and real workload.
FAA rules let a limited amount of time in an approved training device count toward the instrument time requirement (14 CFR 61.65). We show you how your simulator time is logged.
Pause and repeat
Freeze a scenario, talk it through with your CFII, then fly it again.
Practice failures safely
Rehearse instrument and system failures on the ground before you face them in the air.
Carry it into the airplane
Each skill moves into your 20 hours of flight time, where the workload is real.
How training works at GQ
One-on-one with a CFII
We train under FAA Part 61. Your plan is built around the hours you already have, your schedule and your goals.
Instrument flying rewards preparation. That is why every flight lesson starts with a briefing on the procedure you are about to fly. It ends with a debrief on what to study next.
Instructor credentials on our staff include ATP, CFI, CFII, MEI and AGI, and our checkride sign-offs are led by an FAA Gold Seal flight instructor. Your instrument flight training is with a CFII. The FAA requires at least 15 hours of your instrument training to be with one (14 CFR 61.65).
Every instrument student gets
- One-on-one instruction with a CFII
- A written training plan that maps your path to each 61.65 requirement
- A briefing before and a debrief after every lesson
- Ground instruction matched to the procedures you fly next
- Guidance and endorsement for the instrument knowledge test
- A practice checkride, then sign-off led by our FAA Gold Seal flight instructor
Where you train
IFR practice from a towered airport
You train from Northeast Philadelphia Airport (KPNE), a towered Class D airport beneath Philadelphia's Class B airspace.
Talking with air traffic control is part of every flight here. That steady practice builds the radio skills at the heart of IFR flying.
Aircraft
What you fly
Your package includes 20 hours of flight time in one of our airplanes. Ask us which airplane fits your plan.
Simulator sessions are in our aviation training device. Your package includes 10 hours in it.
See the fleetGQ training package
Your instrument package
Your package bundles flight time, simulator time and ground instruction for one published price.
How your hours add up
The FAA asks for 40 hours of actual or simulated instrument time in total (14 CFR 61.65). Instrument time you have already logged, such as during private pilot training, can count toward it.
Bring your logbook when you talk with us, and we will show you how your hours fit. Before you start, we confirm in writing what your package includes and any separate costs, such as FAA test and examiner fees. Packages can't be refunded once training has started.
Timeline
How long does an instrument rating take?
It depends on where your logbook stands and how often you fly.
If you already have your 50 hours of cross-country time, you can focus on instrument skills. If you still need some, your CFII helps you plan how to build them alongside your instrument work.
Weather plays a part too. Simulator sessions do not depend on the weather, which helps keep your training moving.
Ways to keep moving
- Pass the instrument knowledge test early
- Study each approach chart before the lesson
- Fly on a steady schedule so your scan stays sharp
- Take your checkride within 24 calendar months of passing the knowledge test (14 CFR 61.39)
What comes next
After your instrument rating
Our training path runs Private, then Instrument, then Commercial, then Multi-Engine. The instrument rating sets you up for the professional steps.
Next step
Commercial pilot
With an instrument rating, your commercial certificate avoids the 61.133 limitation. That limit bars carrying passengers for hire at night or on cross-country flights beyond 50 nm.
Explore commercial pilot training
Later on
Multi-engine rating
Take your instrument skills into a twin. We train multi-engine pilots in our Piper Seneca.
Multi-engine rating
Not a pilot yet?
Private pilot
Instrument training builds on your private pilot certificate. Begin there if you are new to flying.
Private pilot trainingInstrument rating FAQ
Questions about flying IFR
Have a question we didn't cover? Call (215) 839-8507 or read our main FAQ.
Do I need 50 hours of cross-country time before I start?
No. You need it before your instrument checkride, not before your first lesson. Your CFII will help you plan how to meet the 50-hour requirement in 14 CFR 61.65.
How does the simulator time count?
Your package includes 10 hours in our simulator. FAA rules allow a limited amount of time in an approved training device to count toward the instrument requirements (14 CFR 61.65). We show you exactly how your simulator hours are logged.
When should I take the instrument knowledge test?
You can take it once your instructor endorses you, at any point before your checkride. Taking it early lets the knowledge support your flying. The checkride must come within 24 calendar months of passing it (14 CFR 61.39).
Should I get my instrument rating before my commercial certificate?
For a flying career, we recommend it. Without an instrument rating, a commercial pilot cannot carry passengers for hire at night or on cross-country flights beyond 50 nm (14 CFR 61.133). Our path runs Private, Instrument, Commercial, then Multi-Engine.
How do I stay instrument current after my checkride?
To fly IFR as pilot in command, you need recent instrument experience (14 CFR 61.57(c)). Within the preceding 6 calendar months, you must log six instrument approaches, holding procedures, and intercepting and tracking courses. Ask us about staying sharp after your rating.
What is not included in the package?
Before you start, we confirm in writing what your package includes and any separate costs, such as FAA test and examiner fees. Packages can't be refunded once training has started.
Ready to fly IFR?
Tell us where your logbook stands, and we'll map out your instrument training.