An instrument rating qualifies a pilot to fly under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), relying on cockpit instruments rather than visual reference. It requires dedicated instrument flight training, theory exams and a skill test, and must be kept current through recent experience or proficiency checks.
An instrument rating qualifies a pilot to fly under Instrument Flight Rules, navigating and approaching by reference to instruments alone. EASA offers several routes: the full IR, the competency-based CB-IR that credits prior instrument experience with reduced minimum training, and the Basic IR (BIR) for non-commercial flying with modular privileges. The FAA instrument rating runs on its own hour, training and testing requirements.
Instrument training leans heavily on simulators — a substantial share of the required instrument time may be flown in qualified FSTDs, which is where course economics are won: sim hours cost a fraction of aircraft hours and are weather-immune.
Why it matters for flight schools
In European weather, the IR is a capacity multiplier for the school as well as the pilot: instrument lessons fly on days that cancel everything VFR, flattening the seasonal revenue curve. For airline-track students it is non-negotiable — the multi-engine IR is a core component of the frozen-ATPL package.
How FlightLogger handles it
FlightLogger schedules and records simulator and aircraft instrument training in one syllabus — device credits tracked against course requirements, so the sim/aircraft mix stays inside the approved structure.
Frequently asked questions
What is the CB-IR?
The competency-based instrument rating — an EASA route that credits documented prior instrument experience and reduces the minimum ATO training hours. Same privileges as the full IR, leaner path for experienced pilots.
How much of the IR can be flown in a simulator?
A substantial share, depending on the device's qualification level and the course approval — which is precisely why FNPT-equipped schools deliver instrument training cheaper and more reliably than aircraft-only operators.