Instrument Rating
Fly helicopters when the weather closes in: instrument skills for the valley fog, low ceilings and haze that ground VFR-only pilots across the Ozarks.
40 hrs
Instrument time
50 hrs
Cross-country (PIC)
15 hrs
With a CFII
About the Course
This rating teaches you to fly helicopters by reference to instruments alone, under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). In Northwest Arkansas that matters: morning fog settles into Ozark valleys and low ceilings roll through in every season, keeping Visual Flight Rules (VFR) pilots on the ground. Not every day is a perfect sunny day. Stay in the sky and get your head IN the clouds.
With This License You Can
- ✔︎Fly helicopters by reference to instruments alone under IFR
- ✔︎Keep flying through low ceilings, haze and reduced visibility
- ✔︎File and fly IFR flight plans
- ✔︎Meet a common requirement for EMS, utility and charter jobs
Before You Start
- 01Hold at least a private pilot certificate with a helicopter rating
- 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, 10 in helicopters
- 40hrActual or simulated instrument time
- 15hrInstrument training from a helicopter instrument 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. You should have a realistic picture of that investment before your first lesson.
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
Robinson R44
$585 /hr
Flight & ground instruction
$65 /hr
CFI & CFII instruction
Incl.
Our aircraft are dedicated to flight training and aren't available for standalone rental.
Class Name | FAA Minimum Experience |
|---|---|
Private Pilot License | 40 hrs total, incl. 20 hrs with an instructor and 10 hrs solo in a helicopter |
Instrument Rating | 40 hrs instrument time; 50 hrs cross-country as PIC, 10 of them in helicopters |
Commercial Pilot License | 150 hrs total flight time |
Certified Flight Instructor | No minimum hours; commercial helicopter certificate required |
Certified Flight Instructor - Instrument | No minimum hours; helicopter CFI and instrument rating 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 train, how you prepare between lessons, previous experience, weather, and the flight and ground instruction needed to meet FAA standards.
The FAA minimum for a Private Pilot Certificate with a helicopter rating under Part 61 is 40 flight hours, but most students need more — plan for about 50 to 60. 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, we'll 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 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.