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Diamond DA40 with Garmin G1000 avionics

Instrument Rating

The rating that makes you a real all-weather pilot — and a required step toward a professional career. Add your Instrument Rating in the Diamond DA40 with full Garmin G1000, training the way the airlines fly from day one: approaches, holds, partial panel, IFR cross-country, and ATC communications. Full program runs about two months; if you already have the PIC and instrument time logged, it can go as fast as 20 days.

Duration

~2 Months

Aircraft

Diamond DA40

Prerequisites

Private Pilot Certificate

Location

KFFZ — Mesa, AZ

Program Overview

The Instrument Rating teaches you to fly solely by reference to instruments and to operate safely in the IFR system. You'll train in the Diamond DA40 with the Garmin G1000 — glass-cockpit, airline-relevant avionics — building a precise instrument scan, mastering precision and non-precision approaches, holds, and partial-panel work.

The full program is about 40 hours of flight, 40 hours of instruction, and 20 hours of ground over roughly two months. Students who already have cross-country PIC and instrument time on the books can complete it in as little as 15 flight hours over about 20 days. You'll prepare for the IRA (Instrument Rating Airplane) knowledge test, and your checkride is scheduled at a defined milestone so there's no waiting around at the end.

FAA Requirements (14 CFR 61.65)

Requirement Minimum Notes
Certificate Private Pilot Required to start
PIC Cross-Country 50 hrs Per 61.65(d)
Instrument Time 40 hrs actual or simulated Per 61.65(d)
Instrument Dual 15 hrs with a CFII Per 61.65(d)
Knowledge Test IRA written Pass before checkride
Medical 3rd Class or BasicMed Student's responsibility

What You Will Learn

  • Basic attitude instrument flying and a reliable instrument scan
  • Garmin G1000 / GFC 700 autopilot and flight-director operations
  • Precision approaches (ILS) and non-precision (LPV/RNAV, VOR, LOC)
  • Holding procedures, course intercepts, and missed approaches
  • Partial-panel and unusual-attitude recovery
  • IFR cross-country planning and execution
  • IFR clearances and ATC communications
  • IRA written exam preparation and checkride readiness

The Smart Approach

  • Fly XC routes in IFR conditions — every flight logs toward your 50-hour PIC requirement AND your 40-hour instrument requirement simultaneously
  • Use the AATD simulator for up to 20 hours of instrument time — significantly cheaper than DA40 time, ideal for approaches, holds, and partial panel
  • Reserve DA40 time for what matters most — IFR cross-countries, ATC communication, and checkride-standard maneuvers

This approach means you're never flying just to log hours — every flight is doing double duty.

Training Phases

Phase 1 — Basic Attitude Instrument

The IFR system, G1000 and autopilot, instrument scan, partial panel and unusual attitudes.

Phase 2 — Approaches

ILS, RNAV/LPV, VOR and localizer approaches, holds, and missed approaches flown to ACS tolerances.

Phase 3 — IFR Cross-Country

Full IFR cross-country including the required 250 NM IFR XC, ATC communications, and actual IMC where conditions allow.

Phase 4 — Checkride Prep

Mock checkride, oral prep, and partial-panel and non-precision polish.

Checkride

Instrument Rating practical test with an in-house DPE.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need my Private Pilot first?

Yes — the IR is added to an existing Private Pilot Certificate.

How fast can I finish?

The full program is about two months. If you already have the cross-country PIC and instrument time logged, as little as 20 days.

Why train in the DA40 with G1000?

The glass-cockpit avionics mirror what you'll fly in a professional cockpit — it's airline-relevant from day one.

Will I fly actual instrument conditions?

Where weather allows, yes — supplemented with simulated instrument time to meet all requirements.

Is financing available?

Yes, through Stratus Financial.

Ready to Train

Fill out the form below and we will be in touch within 24 hours with a personalized training plan.

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Phone

(480) 640-4160

Email

sales@goflightstars.com

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Office Hours

Mon–Fri: 7 AM – 6 PM
Sat: 8 AM – 4 PM
Sun: By appt

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Location

4550 E McKellips Rd STE 101, Mesa, AZ 85215
Falcon Field Airport (KFFZ)