Advanced Training
Continue your flight training by adding an Instrument Rating or even Commercial Pilot privileges. These are required steps of flying professionally. However, I recommend to many students who do not want to fly for a living that expanding your skills and experience is a great way to stay safe, give yourself options, and even lower insurance premiums on your airplane.
What if I don't want to fly professionally or on an instrument flight plan?
There is a well-known saying that "a good pilot is always learning." I find that among the best ways for new pilots to continue growing and learning as pilots is to challenge themselves to pursue training towards advanced ratings like Instrument Ratings and Commercial Certificates. With added situational awareness, smoother aircraft control, and added experience, additional training gives pilots a bigger tool bag of resources to utilize no matter what situation they are in. Learn more about basic training requirements below, and visit the resources page for more in-depth discussions of my training philosophies.
What Is Required For an Instrument Rating?
Required Flight Time
Instrument Rating applicants must hold Private Pilot certificates or higher. 40 hours of simulated or actual instrument time is required, of which 15 must be with an authorized instructor.
Required Flight Training Items
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Preflight Preparation & Pre/Post-Flight Procedures
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ATC Clearances & Procedures
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Flight by Reference to Instruments
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Navigation Systems
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Instrument Approach Procedures
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Emergency Procedures
Required Aeronautical Experience
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50 hours of cross-country PIC time
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One 250-mile IFR cross-country flight with an authorized instructor onboard
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3 hours of instruction preparing for the FAA practical test
What Is Required For a Commercial Pilot Certificate?
Required Flight Time
Commercial​ Pilots must log at least 250 hours of total flight time. Applicants must have 100 hours in powered aircraft, including 50 in airplanes, and 100hours of pilot-in-command time, of which 50 must be in airplanes.
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Note that lists here are specifically for initial issuance in powered aircraft (more specifically airplanes). Adding commercial privileges in further powered aircraft lowers these requirements for each additional powered category/class.
Required Flight Training Items
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Preflight Preparation & Pre/Post-Flight Procedures
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Airport Operations
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Takeoffs, Landings, & Go-Arounds
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Performance & Ground Reference Maneuvers
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Navigation
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Slow Flight & Stalls
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Emergency Procedures
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High-Altitude Operations
Required Aeronautical Experience
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10 hours of instrument training with a view limiting device
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10 hours in a complex, turbine-powered, or technically-advanced airplane
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A 2-hour, 100 mile cross country during the day as well as at night
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10 hours of solo flight time, including a 300-mile cross country flight and 5 hours VFR at night (+10 night landings)
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3 hours in preparation for the FAA practical test
Get Into The Weeds
Listed above are the basic flight training requirements to pursue IFR and Commercial Pilot certificates. However, there is more to the story. Visit my Advanced Training Resources page for a discussion on the nuances of flight training I have learned from teaching IFR and Commercial Pilot applicants.