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3 Answers

Instrument Rating Requirements (61 and 141)

Asked by: 2906 views , ,
FAA Regulations, Instrument Rating

Greetings CFIs:

I'm a Private Pilot with a total of 115 hours. About 40 of those were instrument training: some in SIM and some in a C172. 

I haven't flown in 13 years, so I'm not current. However, I've decided to pursue my dream and become an airline pilot. 

My question is simple:

What are the requirements for Instrument Rating?

13 years ago, and with as little hours as I had, my CFI scheduled my IR checkride, but I canceled it and never finished. That leads me to believe that I was ready and met the requirements. However, I keep seeing a requirement for 50 hours of cross country as PIC PLUS time with instructor. Is that true? If so, does that count towards the 250 for commercial time-building? 

It'd be extremely helpful and much appreciated if a CFI can post a simple breakdown or screenshot of IR requirements under both parts: 61 and 141 (if there's even a difference). 

Please and thank you very much in advance! 

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3 Answers



  1. Mark Kolber on Nov 23, 2019

    It’s hard to tell without specific numbers. Generally speaking, “plus” doesn’t compute..

    The 50 hours of PIC xc time is 50 hours during which you were entitled to log PIC and was tha pilot flying the entire flight cross country flight from takeoff to landing. That usually includes your student solo cross country flights and all the cross country flights after becoming a private pilot, so long as you flew the whole flight and it was in an aircraft you were rated for. The presence of an instructor is irrelevant.

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  2. WillA on Nov 23, 2019

    61.65 outlines the requirements. You can combine the 50 hours of XC with the 40 hours of instrument time. A CFII only has to be present during 15 of those instrument hours to meet the minimum aeronautical experience. Meet with a CFII to determine your needs. You may already have the hours and simply need to demonstrate proficiency for an endorsement.

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  3. Best Answer


    Max Trescott on Nov 24, 2019

    You’re not required to have 50 hours of XC if you’re doing an instrument rating under Part 141, but you do need it under Part 61. So if you were studying under Part 141 13 years ago, you might have received an endorsement for the checkride without 50 hours of PIC. You’ll of course now need however much training you need to become instrument proficient and a new endorsement for the checkride. If you do the new training under Part 61, you’ll need 50 hours of cross country PIC time to qualify for the checkride.

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