What is the difference between Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) and Visual Flight Rules (VFR)? Which is better than the other? What are the benefits of each? Let’s begin with a definition of each before we differentiate each of them.

Instrument Flight Rules (IFR)

IFR refers to the ‘Rules and regulations established by the FAA to govern flight under conditions in which flight by outside visual reference is not safe’ according to the US Federal Aviation Admin-istration’s Instrument Flying Handbook.

This means that IFR only refers to flight done using aircraft instruments instead of depending solely on the visual of the pilot outside the aircraft. Why are instruments used, you may ask? Well, in-struments are used in low visibility scenarios such as bad weather or night time.

Bad weather includes fogs, thunderstorms, rainy days, etc. IFR is also required when you are flying inside a cloud, although it is highly advised for anyone to avoid flying into clouds, as you will not be able to see anything in the horizon which would require the use of instruments.

IFR gives an aircraft the authority to operate under Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) which means that an aircraft will be allowed to fly in any weather conditions less than the VMC (visual), but is still borderline safe.

All aircrafts entering Class A airspace is required to have IFR and the pilots must be flying under IFR, regardless of the current weather conditions in the airspace. Hence, all pilots flying in this area must have the Instrument Rating certification in their back pocket!

As Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) is so important, this shows that Instrument Rating is undoubtedly highly important. Without Instrument Rating, pilots will not be allowed to operate aircrafts under IFR and cannot advance to the next stage in their journey to becoming an airline pilot. This next stage is obtaining the Commercial Pilot License and most airlines do not accept pilots without Instrument Rating.

Pilots working under IFR must be able to integrate what they have studied during their ground school into their flight routes regarding planning the route according to the current weather condi-tions, creating a detailed flight plan, be able to use instruments and trust the instruments, etc.

Visual Flight Rules (VFR)

Visual Flight Rules requires pilots to follow the rules and regulations of operating an aircraft in weather conditions that are good enough for the pilots to see the horizon and where the aircraft is going. There are certain levels that the weather must not exceed for it to still be deemed as safe. This is called the Visual Meteorological Conditions and the weather must be better than the VFR weather minima.

Below the minima, pilots must operate the aircraft under IFR, hence, without the ability and knowledge of Instrument Rating, this would be a highly dangerous scenario for VFR pilots and may pose as a life threatening situation.

VFR requires pilots to be able to see the horizon in front of them, if it is dark or unclear and the pilot cannot see the horizon, then this requires IFR. The ability of the pilot to see out the aircraft is need-ed in order for the pilot to control the aircraft’s altitude, navigate about the atmosphere, avoid obsta-cles and in coming aircrafts.

There are certain rules in which VFR pilots must follow regarding the distance between the aircraft and a cloud (or clouds) as entering a cloud would completely reduce the pilot’s ability to see out the cockpit. Most of the time, pilots flying under VFR won’t be allowed to fly at night, for obvious rea-sons, but there are some countries that allowed VFR flight to occur and is called Night VFR. Of course, the conditions are more strict and the pilot isn’t allowed to fly too high up, which is rather fair.

The FAR Part 91.155 defines the minimum weather conditions for VFR flights and shows the re-quirements for each type of situations. May it be flying into the different airspaces, flying during the day, or even flying during night time.

Difference between IFR and VFR

We suppose it is rather obvious now what the difference between IFR and VFR is. One thing for sure is that Instrument Rating requires a lot more flight trainings and ground school trainings in comparison to VFR.

VFR can be said to be simpler as it requires less practice than IFR. You will also be allowed to go wherever you want, whenever you want, but with the conditions that the current weather situation is above the VFR weather minima.

The benefits of IFR, however, outweighs the benefits of VFR. You will be able to fly even during low visibility scenarios, you get to further your pilot career, and obtain more licenses!

Instrument Rating Pilot school

If you’d like to obtain your Instrument Rating, but do not want to spend or do not have the time to spend months and months of training and studying, don’t worry! We’ve got the solution right here.

The Accelerated 10 Day Instrument Rating program allows pilots to have the freedom to fly when-ever, including night time and reduced vision scenarios such as mildly bad weather conditions. Pi-lots that only know Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions are unable to fly during such times as they depend solely on their visuals but, without anything in the horizon, VFR pilots won’t know where they are going. With Instrument Rating, pilots can use both their visuals and the instruments of the aircraft.

For the Instrument Rating Check Ride, 14DAYPILOT Flight Academy has also prepared a custom-ized Pass Oral Exam System course that will prepare you for all of the Instrument Rating examina-tions. All POES classes can be done either online or in Indonesia during your ground school train-ings and before your accelerated flight training begins.

This is especially helpful for those who are unable to attend classes or would like to look back at the lectures as all the materials will be online for you. Ground schools are a great way to prepare your-self and adjust yourself to your new environment and your new syllabus before you begin with your accelerated flight trainings in any pilot school as you will be much more prepared when you arrive in our flight school’s campus in Van Nuys, California, to begin your accelerated flight trainings. Join 14DAYPILOT Flight Academy now and earn your Instrument Rating!