An instrument rating is an authorization required for a pilot to fly under instrument flight rules (IFR). In the United States, the rating is issued by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Instrument rating standards

To be eligible to pursue an Instrument Rating, the applicant must:

Ground training

Flight experience and training

Operations requiring an instrument rating

A pilot must have an instrument rating in order to act as Pilot in Command of a flight below VFR weather minimums in controlled airspace (Class A,B,C,D, and E) and/or under IFR. The rating is also required:

IFR currency requirement

Under FAR 61.57, to be eligible to fly in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) an IFR-rated pilot must accomplish and log at least the following IFR procedures under actual or simulated IMC every 6 months: An Instrument Proficiency Check administered by a CFII, DPE or ASI within the last 6 months is another way of complying with the IFR currency requirement. If a pilot is not current looking back 6 months, they may complete the listed requirements in a flight simulator aviation training device or in an aircraft under simulated instrument conditions with a qualified safety pilot onboard. If they are not current looking back 12 months, an instrument proficiency check is required.