Head in the clouds

Once you have your private pilot certificate, the natural next step for many is to get your instrument rating. In instrument flying, you will learn to fly without outside references by instead using flight deck instruments and following instructions from ATC, who keep IFR traffic away from terrain and other aircraft. When the weather is below ceiling and visibility limits, you must fly IFR—but when the weather is VFR, you can fly IFR as well. Many pilots go right into instrument training without even taking a break, but even so, you might wonder what the real value would be in getting the rating. After spending all that time and money to get your private pilot certificate, it might be hard to stomach the idea of spending even more on instruction, but for many reasons, it is a good idea to earn your instrument rating—whether you want to fly in the clouds regularly or not.

Safety

The first and most compelling reason to get your instrument rating is, of course, safety. During your IFR training, you will spend many hours flying with a view limiting device like a hood or foggles which block the view of the outside, flying solely by reference to instruments. As a result, by the time the checkride rolls around, you will be highly proficient in interpreting and trusting your instruments. This will make you a more skilled pilot, and as long as you stay proficient, you will be less likely to fall prey to spatial disorientation and lose control of the aircraft in both IFR flying and unplanned VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions. An instrument rating will also make you safer during night VFR flight, when conditions often mimic IMC.

You’ll also now have the benefit of speaking to ATC more regularly, which you might not be in the habit of during your VFR flying. ATC can be a great tool to pilots, and with them looking out for and helping you more often, you will have one more resource to rely on to help keep you safe in the air.

It’ll make you a better pilot

Getting your instrument rating will improve almost every aspect of your piloting skills, from precision flying to radio communications, weather understanding, decision making, and beyond. One of the most challenging components of instrument flying is workload management. You will often be behind the aircraft early in your training, and it will almost certainly feel overwhelming. Then one day, it’ll click. You will have much better situational awareness, and even on VFR days, will be more adept at managing the cognitive load of flight. In abnormal or emergency situations, whether IFR or VFR, you’ll have more mental space to cope.

On your flights, now you’ll always be talking to approach, center, tower, and be part of the system all the pros are flying in. Their professionalism will almost certainly improve your own radio skills and make ATC communications easier.

More flying days

Now on to the fun stuff—getting an instrument rating means you’ll have more days to fly! Nearly every part of the country gets some cloudy and hazy weather, but now, those days don’t mean you have to stay on the ground. Most instrument days aren’t hard IFR for hours upon hours—they’re typically flights where you have to pop up above a layer and then fly an approach in, typically spending less than 15 minutes in IMC. Breaking through a layer of clouds to the sunshine above is a magical experience—one of the best feelings in aviation if you’re asking me.

IFR flying simplifies airspace

In many ways, instrument flying essentially makes complex airspace disappear. Once you’re in the system, you’re in, and you don’t have to worry about avoiding airspace, or worrying whether ATC will call you back or not. It simplifies the entire system (even though it is often perceived as a more complex system than the VFR one).

That simplified airspace is especially helpful in cases of special flight rules areas like around Washington, D.C.; when flying in new-to-you areas where you might not know the traditional VFR reporting points (because let’s be real, the local VFR waypoints aren’t always listed on the chart); and when crossing borders. It takes the guesswork and stress about airspace clearances out of the equation.

Insurance

Often, having an instrument rating will lower the cost of your insurance because as a more experienced pilot, insurance companies are willing to trust you more. While getting the rating may cost more up front, over time it may cost you less.

It’ll prepare you for the future

If you aspire to fly professionally, the instrument rating is a necessity (unless you want to fly ag and banners forever). The sooner you develop your instrument flying skills, the better off you’ll be, because it is how you will be flying for the rest of your career.

No matter what rationale resonates with you most, there’s no denying the value in an instrument rating for serious aviators. Instrument training is tough, and the instrument rating is one of the hardest checkrides out there—completing that challenge will be a testament to your abilities, and will lead to a worthwhile accomplishment to be proud of.

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