Transition training

[Hank]

4 hours ago, Parker_Woodruff said:

Buy plane.

Get dual instruction to include complex endorsement in your plane.

Fly solo for however long insurance co says to...

Don't waste your money renting a Piper Arrow if the sole purpose is just to get some RG hours and a complex endorsement.

Your insurance company, depending on how much total time you already have, will probably prescribe between 5 and 15 hours of dual prior to sole PIC operations, then another 1-10 hours of solo prior to carrying pax.

 

Yep, ^^^^ THIS.

I bought my C 15 years ago. Only one insurance company would even quote me on a Mooney, with 52 hours and a damp PPL.

Choices:  10 dual + 10 solo, or 15 dual with their instructor. He and the plane were local, it was a no Brainerd. The 15 hours had to include 5 hours real / simulated IMC, because Mooneys are made to travel. Hit my first cloud dead center, climbing out of Beckley, WV, headed back home to Huntington. 

It was doable, but spending. Got 100 hours the first year, and my rate fell substantially, then no more changes until I earned Instrument Rating.

Good luck with your (soon to be!) new plane!

[Fly Boomer]

6 hours ago, Trogdor said:

Can someone explain to me the process coming from zero time in type? I can't be the only one.

I would just add that a broker who represents multiple companies will help guide you.  You should be able to determine who will cover you, and what the likely prerequisites are.  Also, insurance company may want to specify the requirements for the instructor.  For one more option, you can call Avemco -- they are the only company that will put you in direct contact with an underwriter.

[Deb]

15 hours ago, Trogdor said:

Next question, does this community curate a list of Mooney CFIs across the country?

A list of instructors from The Mooney Flyer is here: https://themooneyflyer.com/cfi.html   
 

and Mooneyspace has a thread here:

 

[ArtVandelay]

Insurance required me to have 10 instruction and 10 solo for my 231. I found an instructor by doing a web search. My former insurance agency said my instructor had to have a minimum number of hours in a K, which limited my pool of available people. It had to be type specific because my plane is turbocharged. My retract time was fewer than 5 hours, which helped me not at all. I now have retract sign-off as well as complex and high-performance. Worth it.

Same requirements, I had complex from time in a Arrow, just to get some time in a retractable and low wing. I hadn’t flown in a year, so it was worth it to knock the rust off.
I got my 10 hours where the plane was, then flew home. Saved me money not having to pay expenses (commercial flight, hotel) for the CFI. CFI had to have 25 hours in type.

[HIghpockets]

16 hours ago, Trogdor said:

I have 300 PIC. IR/CPL/HP

I've flown 172s, 177s, 182s, and DA40s (and even an SR22 once!).

I'm thinking about buying a Mooney and was wondering how does this work if I have zero time in type?

It's not like I know of a flight school that has a Mooney on the lot for me to fly and get some dual on (I'm in NJ). I don't currently have my complex since I've never needed it but I can go get that in a Piper Arrow. But I'm told that won't really help me with insurance for a Mooney, i.e. they want time in type, so I haven't done it.

Can someone explain to me the process coming from zero time in type? I can't be the only one.

I had 500 hours in a PA 28 when I bought my J. I lived in NJ and was lucky to meet John Pallante at a Moooney Pilot Proficiency Clinic. John has remained my CFI for 30 years. He is an excellent instructor and routinely helps new pilots transition. Feel free to email me if you want details.

[HIghpockets]

3 minutes ago, HIghpockets said:

I had 500 hours in a PA 28 when I bought my J. I lived in NJ and was lucky to meet John Pallante at a Moooney Pilot Proficiency Clinic. John has remained my CFI for 30 years. He is an excellent instructor and routinely helps new pilots transition. Feel free to email me if you want details.

tgstackho@gmail.com

[Schllc]

Buy the plane you want, and find a Mooney specific instructor.  
Then fly until you are very comfortable in the plane, insurance required hours or longer. 
Not sure of your complete experience level, but going from a 172 with zero complex or rg time may require more time than insurance demands. 
Be safe and thorough, the stakes are high.  
I got my ovation before finishing my ppl, with about 30 hours total time, and flew with an instructor for close to 50 hours.  
A good part of that was because I did my IFR training immediately after, but I easily needed 20+ before I was comfortable solo with passengers. 
There’s a lot going on between a flight school 172 and  your average well kept mooney. 

[Pinecone]

15 hours ago, midlifeflyer said:

Sometimes insurance requirements are funny. I have enough Ovation hours to meet open pilot requirements but due to a number of things I didn't fly it much in 2020. So the insurer wanted me to have 2 hours dual from a CFI who met the warranty. Net result: I couldn't fly the airplane myself (as a specifically approved pilot) but I could give the required dual to someone else.

So, fly solo, give yourself the dual and sign your own log book.

I actually had a situation that a regulation was passed that I needed certain training and certification to do a task.  Based on the same regulation, due to my professional certification, I could teach the class and certify people.  I called, mainly to see why I needed to take the class if I could give the class.  After a run around, I asked the person if I could give myself the class and sign my own certificate, and they said, Yes, you can do that.

[Pinecone]

11 hours ago, Trogdor said:

Next question, does this community curate a list of Mooney CFIs across the country?

Mooney Flyer online magazine has a page of Mooney instructors.  I found my transition instructor from that list.

https://themooneyflyer.com/cfi.html

 

[midlifeflyer]

5 hours ago, Pinecone said:

So, fly solo, give yourself the dual and sign your own log book.

 Well, there is that pesky 61.195(i) prohibition on self-endorsements. There will always be someone who will point out that an insurance checkout is not a  "certificate, rating, flight review, authorization, operating privilege, practical test, or knowledge test that is required by" Part 61, but that's not exactly the best technicality to try to rely on in the case of an accident.

[Rusty Pilot]

Quality transition training in a Mooney is critical.  Also, please consider the MAPA Safety Training which provides flight review, educational information and a chance to meet fellow Mooney owners.

[Hank]

49 minutes ago, Rusty Pilot said:

Quality transition training in a Mooney is critical.  Also, please consider the MAPA Safety Training which provides flight review, educational information and a chance to meet fellow Mooney owners.

I attended my first MAPA PPP a month after finishing my insurance requirements. Learned a lot, including on the flight getting there and home again. Hit 100 hours total time enroute, got a flight review, learned Mooney procedures from a CFII who owned my same model (C), then did additional VFR training instead of IPC.

I still try to go every few years, to unlearn any bad habits that have snuck in . . . .

[Trogdor]

Thanks everybody!