How long does it take to get an Instrument Rating?

How long will it take for me to get my private pilot certificate and instrument rating?

• I have 21 hours total.I'm 20 years old most of my hours are from 05 and 06 andI have about 4 hours in 2011. My instructor said it won't take me long because i already know how to fly the plane, takeoff, land, basic moves, preflight inspection, taxi, stalls, etc. I was taking lessons this year but had to stop because i quit my job. Now i have a job again, however, im saving up for next year because im going to thru hike the appalachian trail. This is the best time for me to do i while im still in college. Im afreshman righ now.. My goal is to get my PPL in less than 6 months andmy instrument in 6-12 months.. reason because my local flight schoo has cheap rates anda great instructor and im going to transfer frm a community college to a university to study finance/accounting and the flightschools around the city cost more so im trying to save as much as possible and get my ratings done before i finish school or aleast most of them.. that wy when i go into accounting or finance i can make decent money to continue to pay for flight time or instruct part time.. my long term goal is to get hired by a regional airline, then one day if im lucky a major airline. i know all the realitiesof the aviation business.. no need to lecture me...about the prospects.

• Answer:

  Well, you need at least 40 hours (usually closer to 55-60) for your private and FAR 61.65 lists what you need for your instrument rating. Among those is "Fifty hours of cross country flight time as pilot in command, of which 10 hours must have been in an airplane; and (2) Forty hours of actual or simulated instrument time in the areas of operation listed in paragraph (c) of this section, of which 15 hours must have been received from an authorized instructor who holds an instrument-airplane rating, and the instrument time includes: " see http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgFar.nsf/FARSBySectLookup/61.65!OpenDocument&ExpandSection=2 Once you have flown and learned those you can have your PPL and Instrument tickets.... HOW LONG it takes depends on YOU and how often you fly! If you fly every day you should be able to finish that in a few weeks, if you fly once a week then make it a year or so. No way we can answer you really.