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The instrument rating is included in Rookie — Level I ($92,901 standard), right after the PPL. Alpha does not sell it as a separate program.
The instrument rating in numbers
Instrument Rating (IR) in Miami
The Instrument Rating lets you fly under instrument flight rules (IFR), in clouds and low visibility. The FAA requires a private certificate, 40 hours of instrument time — 15 with an instrument instructor — and 50 hours of cross-country as pilot in command (14 CFR 61.65). At Alpha, it is part of Rookie — Level I.
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40 h instrument Actual or simulated instrument time, 15 h of it with a CFII (61.65(d)). -
50 h cross-country As pilot in command, at least 10 h in airplanes. -
250 nm IFR flight One instrument cross-country with three kinds of approaches.
Instrument rating requirements
14 CFR 61.65(a) requires you to:
- Hold at least a private pilot certificate, or apply for it at the same time.
- Read, speak, write and understand English.
- Receive ground training and an instructor endorsement for the knowledge test.
- Pass the instrument knowledge test and the practical test (checkride).
Part of the instrument time can be logged in an FAA-approved flight simulator or training device, within the limits of 61.65(i).
FAA minimums for the instrument rating (airplane)
14 CFR 61.65(d) requires:
| Requirement | FAA minimum |
|---|---|
| Cross-country time as pilot in command | 50 h, at least 10 h in airplanes |
| Instrument time (actual or simulated) | 40 h |
| Instrument training with an instrument instructor (CFII) | 15 h of the 40 |
| Checkride preparation | 3 h within the 2 calendar months before the test |
| IFR cross-country with an instructor | 250 nm along airways or ATC routing, an approach at each airport, 3 kinds of approaches |
Solo cross-country time logged during PPL training counts as pilot-in-command time toward the 50 hours.
How the instrument rating fits the Airline Career Pathway
Airline flying is instrument flying. A commercial pilot without an instrument rating cannot carry passengers for hire on cross-country flights over 50 nm or at night (14 CFR 61.133).
What comes next
- Commercial Pilot License: 250-hour minimum
- Multi-engine rating
- Instrument flight instructor (CFII), which requires the IR
Licensed in another country?
EASA or ICAO commercial pilots enter at Level II ($60,914 standard), which includes the FAA instrument rating. With another license, your entry level depends on what you hold. Admissions reviews your license and logbook and confirms your level and price — see the cost guide.
Instrument rating: frequently asked questions
What does an instrument rating let me do?
Fly under instrument flight rules (IFR), including in clouds and low visibility, using the aircraft’s instruments and air traffic control (14 CFR 61.3(e)). Without it you can only fly in visual conditions.
Do I need a PPL first?
Yes. You must hold at least a private pilot certificate, or be applying for it at the same time (14 CFR 61.65(a)). In Rookie — Level I, the instrument rating comes after the PPL.
How many hours does the instrument rating require?
The FAA minimums are 50 hours of cross-country as pilot in command and 40 hours of actual or simulated instrument time, 15 of them with an instrument instructor (14 CFR 61.65(d)). These are minimums, not a forecast.
Can I log instrument time in a simulator?
Partly. The FAA lets you credit some instrument time in approved flight simulators and training devices, within the limits of 14 CFR 61.65(i). The rest is flown in an airplane, including the 250-nm IFR cross-country.
I have a private license from my country. Can I start with the IR?
Possibly. The FAA can issue a U.S. private certificate on the basis of a foreign license (14 CFR 61.75), and your entry level depends on what you already hold. Admissions reviews your documents and explains the level and price that apply.
Other programs in the Airline Career Pathway
- Rookie — Level I: FAA training from zero — the full Level I path, from no license to CFII
- Private Pilot License (PPL) — 40-hour FAA minimum, the first certificate
- Commercial Pilot License (CPL) — 250-hour FAA minimum, flying for pay
- Multi-Engine Rating (MEL) — the class rating airlines fly
- Flight Instructor (CFI and CFII) — teaching to build flight time
Related guides
- All programs and how the pathway works
- FAA pilot training cost in Miami by level
- FAA Part 61 training in Miami for Latin American students
- Aviation English course
Questions about your case? Contact admissions in English or Spanish.