What is an instrument rating, and do I need one after my private certificate?
An instrument rating lets you fly in clouds and low-visibility conditions using only the aircraft’s instruments. It’s not required to fly as a private pilot, but it’s strongly recommended and required for any professional flying.
With just a private certificate, you fly under visual flight rules, meaning you need to stay clear of clouds and maintain certain visibility.
An instrument rating adds the training and authorization to fly in instrument conditions, which dramatically increases when and where you can fly safely.
Anyone pursuing a career in aviation will earn an instrument rating, and it’s the second step in most professional training paths.
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Thinking About Flying as a Career?
The private pilot certificate is the first step toward the flight deck. But if you’re thinking about a career as a pilot you’ll need more then that. Zero Time to Airline is a structured program that takes you from no experience all the way to airline-qualified, with every certificate and rating along the way.