Aviation glossary

What is IFR?

Instrument Flight Rules

IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) is flying by reference to the aircraft's instruments, used in poor weather or by choice, under a defined set of rules.

Instrument Flight Rules govern flight by reference to instruments rather than outside visual cues. IFR is required in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) and may also be flown in good weather, particularly in controlled airspace.

Flying IFR requires appropriate qualifications, such as an Instrument Rating or, in the UK, an IR(R).

Related terms

VFRVFR (Visual Flight Rules) is flying by visual reference to the ground and horizon, in weather at or above the visual minima.IMCIMC (Instrument Meteorological Conditions) is weather below the visual minima, where flight must be by reference to instruments.IR(R)The IR(R), formerly the IMC rating, is a UK rating that lets a PPL holder fly in instrument conditions within UK airspace, with defined privileges and limitations.VMCVMC (Visual Meteorological Conditions) is weather good enough to fly visually, meeting the minimum visibility and distance-from-cloud requirements for VFR.

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