The Truth about Why you Should get an IFR Rating
TLDR
This article discusses what an IFR rating is, what weather conditions they are allowed to fly in, when an IFR rating is required and whether or not you should get an IFR rating. To summarize, IFR allows pilots to fly in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) or non-VFR weather with less visibility and lower ceilings. If you are someone who wants to fly as a career or to up your pilot skills to the maximum, you will want to get an IFR rating.
So you are on your way or you already have your Private Pilot certificate and you keep hearing people say that you should get your IFR Rating. But do you really need one?
In this lesson, I will talk about what an IFR rating is, who it is for and whether or not its a good idea for you to get one.
What is an IFR Rating?
IFR stands for Instrument Flight Rules and an IFR rating allows a pilot to legally fly in weather conditions where visibility is reduced, and reliance on instruments is required to navigate safely. Unlike Visual Flight Rules or VFR, where a pilot must maintain visual contact with the ground and other aircraft, Instrument Flight Rules or IFR describes the regulations where a pilot can fly in clouds, fog, rain, or any situation where the horizon or ground is not visible.
Pilots with an IFR rating are also able to use air traffic control systems to navigate through controlled airspace and execute instrument approaches to airports. IFR for airmen is a rating add-on and not a certificate like private or commercial certificates. However, to earn an IFR rating, a pilot still must pass a knowledge exam, complete at least 40 hours of actual or simulated instrument flight training, and pass a practical checkride. In order to receive an IFR rating, a pilot must first hold a Private Pilot certificate.
What is IMC?
IMC stands for Instrument Meteorological Conditions and refers to the weather conditions where a pilot cannot maintain adequate visual reference to the ground, horizon, or other landmarks. IFR is the set of regulations that dictate how pilots fly in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC). IMC typically includes flying in clouds, heavy rain, fog, or low visibility below the minimums required for Visual Flight Rules (VFR). Under these conditions, pilots must rely solely on their aircraft’s instruments to maintain control and navigate safely. IMC can occur in both controlled and uncontrolled airspace, and flying in such conditions without an IFR rating is both dangerous and illegal.
When is an IFR Rating Required?
An instrument rating is required for the following situations:
- Flying in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC)
- Flying an IFR flight plan, regardless of weather conditions
- Flying under special VFR at night
- Flying for the airlines under Part 135
- Flying above 18,000 feet MSL
- Landing at airports using precision approaches
Should you get an IFR Rating?
If you plan to fly in any of the situations listed above then you will be required to get an IFR rating. If you want to make flying a career, an IFR rating is almost always required. It is possible to get your Commercial certificate straight after your Private Pilot certificate but you wont be able to fly in IMC, above 18,000 feet, on an IFR procedure or for the Airlines. That means the jobs will be limited and therefore it’s highly recommended to get your IFR rating.
What if you don’t plan to fly for a career? Even if you don’t plan to fly as a career but want to fly as a hobby, it is still recommended you get your IFR rating. This is because becoming IFR rated makes you a better and safer pilot. Even when a pilot plans to only fly VFR this may not always be the case and having an IFR rating will come in handy when visibility is low. It also teaches you to trust and rely on your instruments which can make you much less susceptible to the many illusions that can beset a pilot while up in the air. Finally, IFR training teaches you an even deeper knowledge of aircraft instruments, weather, ATC communications, procedures, human factors and more.
So the answer is most often YES, you should get your IFR rating.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions about the topic of Pilot Instrument ratings:
What Percentage of pilots have an IFR rating?
According to 2024 testing numbers from the FAA, 46,132 people took the Private Pilot Airplane Knowledge Exam and 25,647 took the IFR Airplane Knowledge Exam. If we assume these percentages remain relatively the same for the number of eventual certificated pilots, we would have 35.7% of pilots getting their IFR rating (Airman Knowledge Test Statistics | Federal Aviation Administration, 2025).
Do pilots prefer VFR or IFR?
Pilots prefer VFR whether because the sky is more clear, less ceilings, more visibility and less hazardous weather. However, when pilots are IFR rated they often prefer to still fly under Instrument Flight Rules and under an IFR flight plan. This is because it allows them to stay current and get practice on IFR arrivals, approaches and departures, and it is often considered safer due to the higher level of radar and ATC involvement.
What is the 6-6-6 rule for IFR pilots?
The “6-6-6 rule” for IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) pilots is a commonly used mnemonic to remember the FAA’s recency requirements to act as pilot in command (PIC) under IFR or in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC).
Essentially, to remain instrument current, a pilot must have performed and logged, within the preceding 6 calendar months:
- 6 instrument approaches (actual or simulated instrument conditions)
- 6 holding procedures and tasks
- 6 intercepting and tracking courses through the use of navigational electronic systems.
If a pilot hasn’t met these “6 HITS” (6 Holdings, Intercepting, Tracking, Six approaches) requirements within the last 6 calendar months, they enter a “grace period” of another 6 calendar months. During this grace period, they cannot fly IFR legally as PIC, but they can regain currency by completing the “6 HITS” with a safety pilot in simulated instrument conditions or an authorized instructor. If they let more than 12 calendar months pass without meeting the requirements, they must complete an Instrument Proficiency Check (IPC) with a CFII (Certified Flight Instructor – Instrument) (14 CFR § 61.57 – Recent Flight Experience: Pilot in Command., 2025).
How much does getting an IFR certificate cost?
Getting an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) rating generally costs between $8,000 and $12,000 on average, though it can go higher depending on various factors. The bulk of this expense comes from aircraft rental and instructor fees for the required instrument flight time, often around 40-50 hours, which can be partially completed in a simulator to reduce costs. Additional expenses include ground school materials, the FAA knowledge test fee (typically around $160), and the Designated Pilot Examiner’s (DPE) fee for the final practical exam, which usually ranges from $600 to $900.
Which type of aircraft do IFR pilots use?
IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) pilots can use a wide variety of aircraft, but the key isn’t the specific make or model (like a Cessna 172 or a Cirrus SR22, or even larger turboprops and jets for commercial pilots), but rather that the aircraft must be properly equipped and certified for instrument flight.
This means the aircraft must have a specific set of operational and redundant instruments beyond what’s required for VFR flight. These include a sensitive altimeter, a clock with a sweep-second pointer (or digital equivalent), gyroscopic instruments (like an attitude indicator, heading indicator, and turn coordinator/slip-skid indicator), and appropriate navigation and two-way radio communication equipment for the route to be flown. Essentially, any aircraft that has these required instruments, is properly maintained, and has been inspected and approved for IFR operations can be flown by an IFR-rated pilot in instrument conditions.
