Whether you've completed your private pilots training or not, getting your instrument rating is something you may be thinking about doing. Of course, if you haven't obtained your private pilots license, this is something you're going to need to do first. Head over to one of the local flight schools and find out what it's going to take. You may even want to sign up for a "discovery flight" and spend some time in the air with a certified flight instructor or CFI.

If you're planning on making a career out of your love for flying, the instrument rating is one of the most important steps along the way. As a matter of fact, when you've completed ATP flight school, your ATP checkride is going to be very similar to your instrument checkride, but the tolerances will be MUCH tighter.

What's required before you get your instrument rating?

Before you head to one of the aircraft schools to begin your instrument flight training, you're going to want to do a few things that will greatly enhance your experience. Of course, I'm assuming, if you have your private pilots license, you can read, write, speak and understand English and you already have at least a third class medical certificate.

The next step in the process is to get enrolled in some sort of course or ground school. Whether this is in a physical classroom, online or one of the many quality video courses, you're going to need to know quite a bit before you start with practical training in an airplane.

Another thing you can do, during or even before you start studying, is making sure you have your 50 hours of cross-country flight as pilot-in-command. This is required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and something you can do at anytime before or during your instrument flight training.

Written Exam

Once you've completed your ground training or course work, you should be ready for the written exam. Many debates go on about when to do this, before you start the air work or during it. It's probably best to follow what your instructor suggests since they know what's required of you.

Just like your first private pilot written exam, you're going to need to spend a good amount of time studying for the test before you sit down and take it. There are several study guides available as well as the knowledge of other instrument rated pilots you may know. This is also 80 questions, like the private pilot exam. Don't stress of this. Just get prepared, study, use your practice exams and do your best.

Instrument Flight Training

This is the fun part of the training when you get to shoot your approaches, learn all the new communications requirments and maybe even spend a good amount of time in actual instrument meteorogical conditions (clouds). Ther's nothing like setting up for an approach, dropping out of the low cloud cover and seeing yourself lined up with the runway.

Remember, just like when you got your private pilots license, there may be some skills you struggle with learning. That's normal and it's to be expected. Don't fret over it. Listen to your instructor, study the printed for video materials you have and maybe talk to some other pilots. Then do the best you can over and over until you get it.

Instrument flight training is another great opportunity to do some "chair flying" at home. Sitting down in your favorite chair, going over in your mind every step in the process and rehearsing what needs to happen. That's chair flying and it will go a lot further than you think in helping you learn what you need to know to get through your instrument checkride.

Instrument Check Ride

The checkrides for all of your ratings are going to be reletively the same each time, with different material to know. You'll have to sit and do an oral portion of the exam where you're going to be peppered with questions and have to give logical answers that indicate you have a solid working knowledge of the principles of instrument flight. The same rules apply, don't try to fool the examiner if you don't know an answer. Admit you don't know it and let them help you figure it out. This doesn't always mean you're going to fail.

Once you've completed the oral portion you'll step out to the aircraft and take off as pilot-in-command, just like you did as a private pilot student. Don't treat your examiner as an eximiner or even as an instructor. They're your passenger and you need to be in control. This will go a LONG way in helping you get through your checkride.

You're an Instrument Rated Private Pilot

As an instrument rated pilot you've given yourself a whole new set of options when it comes to flying. Most notably, you'll no longer be grounded when the whether gets marginal on you. You'll also be a much safer pilot with a better understanding of your airplane and the tools available to you in the air and on the ground.

The most important thing you can do is STAY CURRENT. Statistics show that less than 20% of instrument rated pilots actually are current right now. Don't let your training slide away and definately don't fly in instrument conditions if you're not current. Grab a CFII and get in the air again. Stay current and fly safe.