IFR Training

[TWinter]

So I've just started diving into the books and DVDs to start IFR. Oh how I wish I had continued pursuing it when I got my ticket back in 1986. Is it possible to get dumber over the years..lol.

This to shall get accomplished. It just might take some time. I'm kind of feeling like this after the first few days

 

[kris_adams]

I'm with you.  I got my license back in 1988 and finally did my IR in 79H in 2010.  I have to say, I do like flying the plane that I did my training in-that's a side benefit of waiting.  Hang in there!

 

[TWinter]

3 hours ago, Kris_Adams said:

I'm with you.  I got my license back in 1988 and finally did my IR in 79H in 2010.  I have to say, I do like flying the plane that I did my training in-that's a side benefit of waiting.  Hang in there!

 

That's what several people have said..Very beneficial being able to use my Mooney. Some of the things I've noticed is the study material (Sporty's IFR Course) still makes reference to older equipment and technique for tracking and so forth. When I got my license I remembered all of that technology and how to use it. With a 20+ year hiatus things changed.

Fast forward to present day ..Shortly after getting my Mooney I started updating it with more modern equipment such as Garmin GTN750 etc and removing items such as ADF and so forth..The new technology takes a lot of the leg work out of it and that's what I've been used to using since getting back in the saddle 5 yrs ago. If someone says load in a approach on the 750, well no problem. Lots of automation.  I'm now having to relearn how older technology and how it works again and relearn things that we learned for PPL even though we rarely use the methods anymore. It's all good though. In the end hopefully it will make me a more capable pilot. I'm fairly determined and it will come with practice and time ( I hope).

 

 

-Tom  

[DrBill]

i got my license in 1970.   Did not fly from 74-2002 (raised a family) . In 2002 got my biennial in 10 hrs of dual (2 weeks). In 2003 got my IR in 6 weeks.

Still remember 1st IR lesson.. Was IFR and the instructor said "GREAT, now submit a flight plan to Florence (SC), then to Lumberton and back. "(I'm based near CLT).

So I did, and off we went. Got to Florence and the controller says "30S, let me talk to the instructor.",  I had marked the plan IFR Training flight in the remarks field,

So he gets on and asks how can he help. She says she is training a new controller and would like to do a P A R approach.  My guy says "FINE".   So I say  "what he HE** IS A P A R Approach"... He replies,  "just do what she says".  And I did.

That was my first instrument approach.  Talk about stuck in my memory bank... I'll never forget it.

Now I stay current every 3 months. I spent hours listening to LIVEAtc.NET TO UNDERSTAND THE LINGO WHILE IN GROUND SCHOOL AT MY LOCAL AIRPORT.

Bill

I was flying N9230S a Beech Sundowner a partner and I bought 1 month earlier to fly around the Southeast.  When the partner lost his medical we sold the Beech and I bought  my 65 E.in 2011

[kris_adams]

PAR for first approach...now that's funny!

[Pictreed]

That's some good advice...Live ATC ap and practice writing down the clearances and chart the trip with paper plans, ForeFlight, Garmin Pilot or whatever you'll use. 

I used a portable Comm radio and would tell my wife on rainy days I'll be parked at the FBO listening to Departure Control.  That helped a lot. 

I got my PPL in '92 and stopped in '97 with about 120 hours then picked up the instrument last fall, all in a complex airplane.  

The GPS was a little pain to figure out (since I'd never used one) so I downloaded the Garmin 530/430 simulator on my laptop and practiced in my spare time. 

I was lucky in that I had been through all ground schools up to the CFII and Aircraft Dispatch in college.  In dispatch we constantly simulated IFR flights on the 727-200 so that made my instrument training go quick.  Plus in '93 I took 20 hours simulator time in a Singer sim...pretty cool device.

I also used the King videos and some other IFR training videos called Real World IFR from  PilotWorkshops. 

I'm glad you're back in it, congratulations.

Tim

[TWinter]

Between studying here at home with the prep study packages from Sportys, watching Youtube (very informative) believe it or not for learning basic procedure (I even get to learn from some of the IFR flying some of our MS brothers/sisters have posted on Youtube). I've also been flying with some of the IFR pilots at my field, mostly in their plane watching and learning the basics from the right seat. This week a IFR buddy and myself will go up in my Mooney and start working some approaches in it. There is a IFR course in Memphis that a few of the local guys attended and was well worth it. Several of the local guys that attended had a very good handle after just that three day class. I have that in my mind to schedule in the very near future. I just want to get a firm handle on what I'm doing and procedure as much as I can before the class and putting a instructor in the right seat.

As far as ground school book studying, what would you guys/gals recommend for home study? There are several publications out there..I'm looking for the one that follows the theme of the well known computer books, Computer's for Dummies, I'm looking for "IFR for Dummies"..lol.   I'm just joking, what reading syllabus and IFR training book is best suggested? I'm really not as ignorant as I joke..I'm just very critical of myself and when I do something I like to be prepared and do the best I can. Lack of preparedness drives me crazy!!

 

-Tom

[DrBill]

17 hours ago, Kris_Adams said:

PAR for first approach...now that's funny!

Thats what I thought too.. Now that its all over.  Even my examiner said I had a good instructor

Bill

as for book,, I used the book my local ground school uses (Jeppesen  instrument/commercial book) plus I bought INSTRUMENT FLYING by RICHARD TAYLOR used on AMAZON. a super but old reference.. It is cheap enough I buy one for each instrument pilot I know and fly with at our airport. (there are not many of us).

 

.

[ArtVandelay]

49 minutes ago, DrBill said:

 plus I bought INSTRUMENT FLYING by RICHARD TAYLOR used on AMAZON. a super but old reference.. It is cheap enough I buy one for each instrument pilot I know and fly with at our airport. (there are not many of us)

Ignore the section on pg 31 "Fundamentals of Attitude Control" where he talks about the age old argument of what controls altitude and what controls airspeed. It's a silly discussion.

[kris_adams]

Btw I need to save a link to this video.  I crack up every time I watch it.