Moving on Up

If you want to buy the airplane of your dreams, you might need an IFR rating.

Thursday, January 19, 2023 at 06:26 PM ET

Verified

Typically, potential buyers who’d like to go for faster single-engine equipment—even when they remain in the piston category—find that they have obstacles to overcome, to include qualifying for insurance. [Credit: Glen Watson]

Key Takeaways:

Private pilots upgrading to faster, more complex aircraft often face significant challenges, primarily in securing affordable insurance due to provider requirements for advanced certifications and experience.
An instrument rating is frequently a prerequisite for reasonable insurance on high-performance planes, and acquiring this rating is often best done incrementally, starting with simulators and simpler aircraft.
Even with an instrument rating, new owners of advanced aircraft typically need specific make-and-model transition training, often with an instructor, to satisfy insurance requirements and reduce premiums.
Ultimately, investing in additional training like an instrument rating and type-specific instruction not only enhances flying capability and safety but also proves cost-effective by lowering insurance rates for advanced aircraft.

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Even when you’ve had your private pilot certificate for some time, buying your first airplane can be tricky. Typically, potential buyers who’d like to go for faster single-engine equipment—even when they remain in the piston category—find that they have obstacles to overcome, to include qualifying for insurance.

That was the case a few years ago when a long-time pilot friend told me she wanted to upgrade to a Beechcraft Bonanza that had come up for sale. It was in the middle of the pandemic, which meant she probably wasn’t alone in her pursuit, as more people were finally deciding to tap into the general aviation market.