Welcome Guest. Sign in or Signup

1 Answers

Confused of when the instrument rating is required

Asked by: 2749 views FAA Regulations, Instrument Rating, Student Pilot

Hello, I've been studying for my exam and got stuck in the middle of this problem.

As far as I've searched for it, need instrument rating when under IMC or flying IFR. (61.3(e))

And what is confusing me is that I thought need the rating when flying in Class A (91.135) or flying SVFR at night (91.157), but the instructors in here say that is not correct.

Also I heard that need the rating when flying at the speed faster than subsonic/transonic. What is correct?

Ace Any FAA Written Test!
Actual FAA Questions / Free Lifetime Updates
The best explanations in the business
Fast, efficient study.
Pass Your Checkride With Confidence!
FAA Practical Test prep that reflects actual checkrides.
Any checkride: Airplane, Helicopter, Glider, etc.
Written and maintained by actual pilot examiners and master CFIs.
The World's Most Trusted eLogbook
Be Organized, Current, Professional, and Safe.
Highly customizable - for student pilots through pros.
Free Transition Service for users of other eLogs.
Our sincere thanks to pilots such as yourself who support AskACFI while helping themselves by using the awesome PC, Mac, iPhone/iPad, and Android aviation apps of our sponsors.

1 Answers



  1. Kris Kortokrax on Oct 18, 2016

    91.135 does contain a provision for deviation authority. However, if you are in an airplane and want to fly in class A airspace you will not likely get a deviation from the requirement to conduct the flight under IFR (which would imply that you have an instrument rating and are current under 61.57 for instrument flight).

    91.157 (b)(4) is clear in that you need the instrument rating for night SVFR, unless you are flying a helicopter.

    There are some other examples of an instrument rating being required that are not related to instrument flight.

    61.55 (a)(2) requires that you have an instrument rating if you want to serve as an SIC in an aircraft that requires more than one pilot.

    61.133(b) contains a limitation stating that if you hold a Commercial Pilot certificate for airplanes or powered lift and no Instrument Rating, you may not carry passengers for hire on flights longer than 50 NM or at night.

    61.183(c)(2) requires that you hold an instrument rating on your pilot certificate, if you are applying for a Flight Instructor certificate with an Airplane, Powered Lift or Instrument rating.

    The instructors who are telling you that you are not correct, are not themselves correct.

    +5 Votes Thumb up 5 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes


The following terms have been auto-detected the question above and any answers or discussion provided. Click on a term to see its definition from the Dauntless Aviation JargonBuster Glossary.

Answer Question

Our sincere thanks to all who contribute constructively to this forum in answering flight training questions. If you are a flight instructor or represent a flight school / FBO offering flight instruction, you are welcome to include links to your site and related contact information as it pertains to offering local flight instruction in a specific geographic area. Additionally, direct links to FAA and related official government sources of information are welcome. However we thank you for your understanding that links to other sites or text that may be construed as explicit or implicit advertising of other business, sites, or goods/services are not permitted even if such links nominally are relevant to the question asked.