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Fly through the marine layer instead of waiting for it to burn off. ActivePILOT's instrument rating training at Van Nuys Airport takes most students from private pilot to IFR pilot in about 2 to 3 months.
Program investment
$16,078 - $17,350
Typical timeline
2 - 3 months
Flight time
50 hours
Training airport
KVNY
An instrument rating is a rating added to your pilot certificate that lets you fly under instrument flight rules (IFR) and in weather below visual minimums, by reference to the instruments in front of you. In Los Angeles, that means a low ceiling over the Valley no longer decides whether you fly.
Our instrument rating training plans for 50 hours of flight time in a Piper Warrior, 30 hours of classroom ground training, and 15 hours of online video lessons, with free simulator practice for active students. Most of our students finish in about 2 to 3 months flying two or three times a week.
If you want the full picture before you start, read our instrument rating requirements checklist, then come back here to plan your training.
For quick answers on hours, cost, and the checkride, see our instrument rating FAQs.
The rating is earned on a checkride, but the real goal is a pilot who stays calm and organized in the clouds. Here is what serious instrument rating training should build in you, and why it matters for your schedule and budget.
You build a steady instrument scan under a view-limiting device, then recover from unusual attitudes and partial panel failures. Students who rush this stage pay for it later in extra approach practice.
Program DetailsVan Nuys is one of the busiest general aviation airports in the world, so you copy clearances and talk to controllers from day one. That radio confidence is hard to build at a quiet field.
See Our LocationYou learn to brief every approach before you need it, fly holding patterns, and know your missed approach. Rehearsing in our free simulator first cuts the repeats you pay for in the airplane.
Simulator TrainingOur instrument trainers include N40057, with dual GI-275 displays, a Garmin GNX 375, and a GFC 500 autopilot, and N41380 with dual Garmin G5s and a Garmin G650. Both rent for $175 an hour.
Meet N40057Instrument skills fade quickly, so a steady lesson rhythm saves both time and money. Long gaps usually mean review flights before you can move forward.
See the TimelineActivePILOT is run by active airline captains, so the habits you build in instrument training are the same habits professional crews rely on.
About UsThe path from private pilot to instrument pilot comes down to five clear steps. Here is how they fit together.
Make sure you can start, and see which hours you still need.
The classroom builds the rules and reasoning you will use in the airplane.
Flight training covers instrument flying, navigation, holds, approaches, and emergencies at Van Nuys Airport.
Estimated completion time: About 50 hours of flight time over 2 to 3 months
Inside Instrument TrainingAfter a mock checkride and your instructor's endorsement, you take the practical test.
We bill pay as you go, so there is no large deposit required to start. Financing partners include Stratus Financial, AOPA Financing, and Columbia Bank.
Financing OptionsUse these pages to go deeper on cost, timeline, requirements, and what comes next.
Quick answers on hours, cost, the simulator, and the checkride.
Where the program investment goes and how to keep it down.
How the 2 to 3 months usually unfold.
Every FAA requirement in one list.
A day in the airplane, the sim, and the classroom.
Which one to earn next after your private certificate.
Review the full program.
The certificate many pilots earn after the instrument rating.
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Most of our students finish in about 2 to 3 months flying two or three times a week. A slower schedule takes longer.
Our program investment runs $16,078 - $17,350, covering 50 hours of flight time, 30 hours of ground training, and 15 hours of online video lessons.
You need at least a current private pilot certificate with an airplane rating and the ability to read, speak, write, and understand English.
You need 40 hours of actual or simulated instrument time, 15 of them with an instrument instructor, plus 50 hours of cross-country time as pilot in command.
Our X-Plane simulator is for practice only and does not count toward the 40 hours, but it is free for active students and cuts repeats in the airplane.
No. It is a rating added to your pilot certificate, which lets you fly under IFR.
No. We operate on a pay-as-you-go model, and financing is available through Stratus Financial, AOPA Financing, and Columbia Bank.
Training is based at Van Nuys Airport (KVNY) at 7900 Balboa Blvd, Suite 204, Van Nuys, CA 91406.
Tell us where your logbook stands and how often you can fly, and our team will map out your instrument training with a clear budget and schedule.