Passed my instrument checkride.

[rbridges]

The training was well worth it to me.  I learned a lot over the past 6 months.  My ATC talk and piloting skills are much improved.  I'm glad it's done, however.  I can finally start sleeping late on the weekends.  

[lahso]

Good for you, Rob! Congrats, and use your new rating often.

[carusoam]

Congrats....!

-a-

[omega708]

Congrats! As someone that is currently in the first quarter of that training, in envy you.... :-)

[PilotDerek]

Congrats! That's a great accomplishment. Fly safe.

[gregwatts]

Congrats! I think the IR is the most difficult to get. I recommend that you file IFR as often as possible.....even on severe clear days.....just to stay in practice!

[aaronk25]

And remember to moniter 121.5 on your number 2 radio while on a ifr flight plan because if you miss a radio call enroute they will contact you on 121.5 and you won't get a nasty pilot deviation.

I had a problem with my iphone 12v charger screwing up my com where if center had a weaker radio and the 12v charger when pluged in it prevented the transmission from coming through unless it was strong such as 5 out of 5.

I missed the call and had alot of explaining to do. I was told in my ifr training to moniter 121.5 for elts but not for missed raidio calls. Maybe you already do this but just wanted to pass on some info.

Congrats!!!!!!! Have fun in the clouds.

[N201MKTurbo]

Very cool!

 

Just be careful out there There are evil monsters living in those clouds sometimes.

[kris_adams]

Congrats! I heard you on (I believe) Atlanta Approach a few weeks ago training down around Macon.  This is a great accomplishment!

[co2bruce]

Let me add my congrats also. Well done. Be safe out there. One thing I learned from very experienced pilots is to always have personal minimums. Its also important to review, and change

them every so often. 

[Txbyker]

Great accomplishment. Congrats!

[rbridges]

And remember to moniter 121.5 on your number 2 radio while on a ifr flight plan because if you miss a radio call enroute they will contact you on 121.5 and you won't get a nasty pilot deviation.

I had a problem with my iphone 12v charger screwing up my com where if center had a weaker radio and the 12v charger when pluged in it prevented the transmission from coming through unless it was strong such as 5 out of 5.

I missed the call and had alot of explaining to do. I was told in my ifr training to moniter 121.5 for elts but not for missed raidio calls. Maybe you already do this but just wanted to pass on some info.

Congrats!!!!!!! Have fun in the clouds.

 

thanks for the advice

 

Congrats! I heard you on (I believe) Atlanta Approach a few weeks ago training down around Macon.  This is a great accomplishment!

 

you may have.  I was running approaches out of MCN.  Checkride was in Dublin.

[danb35]

And remember to moniter 121.5 on your number 2 radio while on a ifr flight plan because if you miss a radio call enroute they will contact you on 121.5 and you won't get a nasty pilot deviation.

...and besides that, we're all required by regulation (check the FDC NOTAMs) to maintain a listening watch on 121.5 when able, whether IFR or VFR.

[WardHolbrook]

Get two books - Weather Flying by Buck and Instrument Flying by Taylor. Read them cover to cover a couple of times. 

[bnicolette]

Get two books - Weather Flying by Buck and Instrument Flying by Taylor. Read them cover to cover a couple of times. 

+1   Great suggestion!

 

Congratulations on the ticket!

[1964-M20E]

Congratulations :-))) You will love it. Stay proficient and current. File IFR as often as you can it will cause you some delays but it is worth it. Do not be afraid of going up in the clouds but be careful as well clouds and rain do not hurt the plane but thunderstorms and icing do. I just made three flights in the last 5 days all with the confidence and help of having my IR. These flights would to have been possible with out the IR.

[DonMuncy]

Congratulations.

As someone who got his Instrument rating but was still not confident, let me offer some advice.

1. Every time you catch the ceilings between 1500 and 2000, file and fly. Ask for multiple approaches at your home drome. That way, if the weather changes, you can land before the ceilings get too low.

2. Start by planning your trips with 1000 to 1500 foot ceilings at departure and destination.

3. When you start feeling confident with that, plan with 5 or 600 at departure and 1000 at destinations.

4.  When that feels comfortable, start planning trips with lower and lower ceilings down to your comfort level.

Personally, I don't fly IMC often enough to feel comfortable with minimums (after 8 or 10 years with IR), and don't plan on landing with less than 800 ft.

[jnisley]

Congratulations!

[rbridges]

Get two books - Weather Flying by Buck and Instrument Flying by Taylor. Read them cover to cover a couple of times. 

 

 

thanks.  someone on POA mentioned the same thing.  

[Oscar Avalle]

The training was well worth it to me. I learned a lot over the past 6 months. My ATC talk and piloting skills are much improved. I'm glad it's done, however. I can finally start sleeping late on the weekends.

congratulations! Obviously you don't have toddlers....I have not slept in since...I don't even remember

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[Seth]

Congratulations!  The IFR ticket really opens up the capability of your aircraft.  It makes all those trips that you worry about taking a non issue.  When you worry about a trip you're taking IFR, that's when a true go/no go decision needs to be made.

 

I like Don's comments above as a way to get comfortable starting with higher cielings (gentleman's IMC) and then working your way with experience and confidence down to minimums. 

 

I'm always amazed the few times I have taken an approach to minimums, you pop out of the layer, and the runway is right in front of you.  It can be very tempting to bust minimums by just a few feet.  DO NOT DO IT.  Fly the missed procedure and always have a back up plan, even if it puts you behind schedule or out of the way for a while. 

 

Welcome to the privileges, flexibility, responsibility, and liability of your IFR ticket!  Now go fly!

 

-Seth

[GaryP1007]

Congrats! I think the IR is the most difficult to get. I recommend that you file IFR as often as possible.....even on severe clear days.....just to stay in practice!

 

Congrats and I "second" the advice from above.  I file IFR 80% of the time just to stay in shape.

[fantom]

Congrats, as well. Maybe flyboy is next.

[Hank]

Congratulations, Rob!

 

That's a big step. I second the advice of Don and Seth above. Fly in the system as much as you can. I routinely file if I'm crossing the mountains, even if it's VFR all the way. Weather changes, and forecasts are not always correct.Start out easy, there's nothing wrong with wanting 1000' ceilings at your destination. I've not flown any to less than about 2X minimums in the almost three years since my checkride.

 

It can be beautiful to descend on vectors between some cumulus that are way too close for VFR, sidestepping to remain clear until you enter the bases. Then just fly the approach like you're wearing foggles, and the runway appears in front of you. Just be careful transitioning from the panel to out the windshield, especially when the bottom is ragged. Stay on the panel and glance out the windshield, then get back on the panel. Repeat as necessary until you're sure you are clear.

 

Have fun flying now! If you thought, like I did, that the PPL was a license to learn, you ain't seen nothing yet!

[rainman]

Congratulations. I've only had my IR for six months and took the advise of the posters to fly in the system as much as possible. I'm still very cautious, but getting better at the scanning and ATCcom stuff. Best of luck.