Instrument Flying is a demanding skill to develop .It adds a level of flight safety and cements the key skills of a pilot.
This rating can be of real benefit in the UK, where weather conditions can change very quickly regardless of the planning and preparation conducted before a flight
Sharpen up your flying skills with our IR(R) course from £3,200.
“There is no such thing as a natural-born pilot”
Chuck Yeager
Choose a flight to suit you
Whilst the costs of gaining an IR(R) can depend on a number of factors you should budget around £3,200 which will cover the minimum 15 hours instruction and the minimum number of landings.
An Instrument Rating Restricted, or IR(R), extends the privileges of a PPL(A) holder to allow flight as Pilot-in-Command when out of sight of the surface, when in IMC conditions, and, in class D or E airspace in circumstances which require compliance with Instrument Flight Rules (IFR).
Before an application for the rating can be submitted, the applicant must have twenty five (25) hours experience as a pilot since the date of application for their PPL (A). This shall include ten (10) hours as PIC; of which at least five (5) hours must be on cross-country flights.
In order to be able to exercise the privileges of the IR(R) the minimum requirement is to undertake a course that includes fifteen (15) hours training in instrument flying. A minimum of ten (10) of the hours shall be flown by sole reference to instruments alone.
The course will begin with a briefing session, which will explain what to expect and introduce some of the core concepts. The briefing is followed by a familiarisation flight of about one hour to reintroduce you to the experience of flying an aircraft with sole reference to instruments. Additional flights will involve learning how to fly straight and level, turn, climb and descend as well as performing instrument approaches down to a published minima. The course concludes with a flight test and a multiple choice exam.
Your instructor will assist with any questions regarding the content of the exams however we would suggest self study or structured groundschool is required.
flight avAilability
We fly seven days a week for the majority of the year. Our online booking system lists all available dates and times.
payment options
Our online store allows flights to be purchased using a wide range of debit cards as well as PayPal.
things you should know
Occasionally flights are cancelled due to inclement weather but we will keep you well informed.
gift vouchers
Vouchers are valid for 6 months from date of purchase and must be flown within that time period
Frequently asked questions
There are no additional medical restrictions for the IR(R) over and above those for a qualified pilot (i.e. Class 1 or Class 2 medical). LAPL Medical Certificates will need an endorsement to show your are ‘colour safe’ in order to add this qualification to your licence.
The course can normally be completed in 2 – 3 weeks depending on weather. We would recommend completing the course in as short a period as possible so skills remains fresh.
The course concludes with a flight test the costs of which are normally additional to the standard course fee.
Yes. There is a single multiple choice theory exam that can be take at the end of the course the costs of which are normally additional to the standard course fee.