Instrument Rating
Train out of our Springdale, Arkansas base to fly safely through clouds, haze, and the low-visibility days that ground VFR-only pilots.
40 hrs
Instrument time
50 hrs
Cross-country (PIC)
15 hrs
With a CFII
About the Course
Train out of our Springdale, Arkansas base to fly safely through clouds, haze, and the low-visibility days that ground VFR-only pilots.
With This License You Can
- ✔︎Fly by reference to instruments alone under IFR
- ✔︎Keep flying through Ozark valley fog, haze and low ceilings
- ✔︎File and fly IFR flight plans across Northwest Arkansas
- ✔︎Take the next step toward your Commercial Pilot License
Before You Start
- 01Hold at least a current private pilot certificate
- 02Hold a current medical certificate
- 03Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language
Flight Time You'll Log
- 50hrCross-country flight time as pilot in command
- 40hrActual or simulated instrument time
- 15hrInstrument flight training from an authorized instructor
Pass the FAA written exam and practical test (checkride)
PLAN YOUR INVESTMENT
Know the Real Cost Before You Start
Flight training is an investment in your future. Before your first lesson in Springdale, you should have a realistic picture of what it will take.
The FAA sets minimum experience requirements for every certificate and rating, but proficiency, not the minimum hours, decides when you're ready for the next step. The rates below help you plan for a realistic total, not a best-case number that may not match your training.
Current Training Rates
Cessna 172
$170 /hr
Cessna 182
$220 /hr
Flight & ground instruction
$70 /hr
CFI & CFII instruction
$85 /hr
Our aircraft are dedicated to flight training and aren't available for standalone rental.
Class Name | Minimum Experience |
|---|---|
Private Pilot License | 40 hrs total flight time |
Instrument Rating | 40 hrs instrument time, 50 hrs cross-country as pilot in command |
Commercial Pilot License | 250 hrs total flight time |
Certified Flight Instructor | No minimum hours; commercial certificate required |
Certified Flight Instructor - Instrument | No minimum hours; CFI certificate required |
Why Do Training Costs Vary?
No two students learn the same way or at the same pace. Your total can shift with how often you fly, how you prepare between lessons, previous experience, Ozark weather like morning valley fog, and the flight and ground instruction needed to meet FAA standards.
The FAA minimum for a Private Pilot Certificate under Part 61 is 40 flight hours, but the FAA reports the U.S. average is approximately 75. Plan for the reality of learning to fly, not just the regulatory minimum.
Build a Plan Around Your Goals
Starting from zero, transferring previous flight time, or adding to a certificate you already hold, our Northwest Arkansas instructors will help you understand where you're starting, where you want to go, and what it will realistically take to get there.
Our goal isn't to sell you flight hours. It's to make every hour count.
From your first lesson over the Ozarks through CFII, each stage of training should build the knowledge, skill, judgment and professionalism you'll need for the next one.
Training costs are not guaranteed or fixed-price programs. Actual costs vary with student proficiency, training frequency, previous experience, aircraft used, weather and other factors. Costs may not include FAA knowledge tests, examiner fees, medical certification, training materials or other third-party expenses. Aircraft and instruction rates are subject to change.
Private Through CFII
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START FLYING
IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
Questions about the course? Send us a note and an AIRO instructor will get back to you.