Build IFR Skills with Airline-Pilot as Your CFI-I
Instrument training rewards structure — and airline pilots live in structure.
Organize your IFR work so it transfers cleanly to your airplane CFII.
Better briefings. Cleaner setup. Steadier pacing. More consistent execution.
IFR stops feeling chaotic and starts feeling repeatable.
Book Your First IFR Lesson
Start your instrument training with a structured 2-hour session covering the fundamentals.
See It. Learn It. Practice It. Then Fly It.
Our proven methodology: simulator-first training that builds real IFR competence
See It in the Simulator
We can fly from New Jersey to Nantucket to show you how a specific approach works. Then compare it to another approach at a different airport to highlight the differences. Can't do that in the airplane—weather, time, and cost make it impossible. In the simulator? We can show you 5 different approaches in one session.
- ✓Work with airline pilots who fly these procedures for a living
- ✓No weather delays, no airport drives
- ✓Real nav data—same charts you'll use in flight
Stop Overpaying for Your First 20 Hours
FAA allows 20 of 40 hours in simulator. Here's what that means for your wallet.
❌THE OLD WAY
- Drive to airport
- Wait for weather
- $350-450/hour in airplane
- 20 hours = $7,000-9,000
✓THE SMART WAY
- Train in NYC (Lower Manhattan)
- No weather delays
- $130/hour (6hr bundle)
- See your savings grow below ↓
YOUR SAVINGS TIMELINE
Best Value for IFR Training Time (Toward the 20 Hours)
If you're working toward your instrument rating, the bundle is the most cost-effective way to build your required sim time. You lock in the lowest hourly rate and get repeatable practice on procedures—at a fraction of typical NYC aircraft costs.
Use bundles to stack time toward the 20 hours. Valid for 90 days per bundle.
Complete 10-Lesson IFR Training Curriculum
20 FAA-loggable hours in our G1000 NXi simulator
Note: We tailor the order to your learning style and experience level. This is a suggested progression.
Lessons 1-5
IFR Foundations
Lesson 1Topics Covered:
- IFR flight planning: KFRG → KBED
- Weather briefing and ForeFlight chart organization
- IFR clearance structure and autopilot basics
- Approach briefing framework
- Basic instrument scan and trim technique
- ATC communication essentials
- Ground procedures: filing IFR, taxi clearances
Need a Pilot's Perspective?
Active airline pilots, not a call center. Share your situation and we'll point you to the best next step.
Need Help Navigating All This?
There's a lot of information here. Two simple ways to get unstuck and move forward.
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- Share your goals once
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Talk to a Real Pilot
- Message goes directly to pilots
- We respond on our days off
- Free consultation when it helps
Why the form? We're airline pilots, not a call center. Detailed messages help us give you specific guidance.
Train with Real
Navigation Data
Our G1000 NXi runs the same worldwide navigation database used in active aircraft. Current AIRAC cycle. Real procedures. The same SIDs, STARs, and approaches you'll fly on your checkride.
FAA Instrument Rating Requirements
Here's what the FAA requires for your instrument rating. Up to 20 hours can be logged in an FAA-approved AATD simulator like ours.
Accelerate Your In-Airplane IFR Training
Whether you train with us or elsewhere, these strategies will help you get the most value from your in-airplane IFR instruction. Click any tip for detailed guidance, or watch our airline pilots share proven techniques.
In-Airplane IFR Training Tips
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Trusted by 500+ NYC pilots and students
New York City
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Office
BikesWhy Train at Aviator.NYC?
We're not a traditional flight school. We're a simulator training center built for serious IFR students.
Airline Pilots Who Fly IFR Daily
Not CFIs building time. Real airline pilots who fly these approaches for a living.
20 FAA-Loggable Hours in AATD
Log half your required hours at $130/hour instead of $350+ in the airplane.
Real Jeppesen Nav Data
Same charts you'll use in flight. Not generic simulator data.
Lower Manhattan Location
No airport drives. No weather delays. Train evenings and weekends.
Your Instructor Isn't Building Flight Hours.They're Major Airline Pilots.
Julian
ATP
Peter
ATP
Charles
ATP
Elijah
ATP
William
ATP
Ethan
ATP
Liam
Instructor Specialties
Instrument Rating & IFR Training
Practice real procedures on a G1000 AATD
Practice approaches, holds, and IFR workflows on a G1000 AATD so your airplane time goes to checkride-level flying—not figuring out button pushes.
Non-U.S. Citizen?
TSA approval is required before your second lesson. We do NOT sponsor visas.
We do NOT sponsor visas.
Learn about TSA requirements →Master IFR Procedures: Essential Guides
In-depth articles from airline pilots on G1000 techniques, approach briefings, and IFR mastery
Unlocking VNAV on Garmin G1000
Master vertical navigation on the G1000 — setup, descent planning, and common pitfalls to avoid.
Mastering Climb Gradients for IFR Departures
Calculate and fly departure climb gradients — obstacle clearance, aircraft performance, and FMS techniques.
Approach Setup and Brief
Professional approach briefing techniques used by airline pilots — what to brief, when to brief it.
RNAV Equipment Airworthiness (Part 2)
Understand RNAV equipment requirements — what you need to file /G and fly RNAV approaches legally.
Optimize Your Instrument Rating Training
Proven strategies to train efficiently — simulator vs aircraft, lesson planning, and checkride prep.
Earn FAA WINGS Credit
LOFT scenarios with airline pilot instructors
About Aviator.NYC
Manhattan's premier flight training center
Questions About Instrument Training?
Get personalized guidance on your path to an instrument rating.