Accelerated instrument training

[Bryanmooney]

So I have been using my new to me mooney lately to travel a bit. Long predictable story short,,,,,, I need to sell this thing and buy a cub to play around in or I need to get an instrument rating. My schedule really does not permit me to do instrument training traditionally. Does anyone recommend an accelerated course company or location. I would prefer to travel away from home and get it done in 7-10 days. Thanks for any input.

[Bryanmooney]

I am working on getting the written part done now . I will just need to get flight time and practical done. The time of year I can do this training is November through February sometime.

[carqwik]

Just keep in mind that if you do get your IR, whether it's an accelerated program or done over several months, it doesn't mean you're capable to fly in all kinds of IMC.  Qualified perhaps...but not capable.  It takes time to get the IFR program...and even then, some flights are best left to the airlines.

[Jamie]

I asked this question a while back and got some pretty helpful answers. When I decide to go this route, I'm seriously considering: http://www.iflyifr.com/

 

One of the instructors regularly posts on pilotsofamerica, and judging from his multiyear post history, he's very knowledgeable. I also like the "they come to me" aspect since, hey, I'm not yet instrument rated and it would suck for it to be solid IMC the day I'm supposed to fly -to- the course.

[PMcClure]

Get the rating. You are a better and safer pilot. Get it however you can with your schedule. Then hire a good instructor to travel with you on those missions. The rating isn't as important as the experience, IMHO. 

 

Now with an IR and nearly 50 hours of IFR XC dual time, the utility of my Aircraft is much higher. 

[tomn]

Your IR is probably the single most important training you can get after your private in my opinion. It will make you a much safer pilot even if you don't use it that much. I think the accelerated method would be fine if thats what it will take. It will be much easier with the written out of the way. I used the King videos to get that done and recommend them highly. I was traveling a lot and would listen to them while driving.

The comments above are correct - your IR, like your private, is a license to learn. You will need to gain experience over time to expand your personal envelope. I file IFR every where I go cross country - never VFR. Its good to work within the system and increases the level of safety. Practice is the key.

Bottom line is that it is very much worth the effort. You'll enjoy the benefits and the accomplishment. I think the Cub idea is great - except get one in addition to the Mooney for Saturday morning fun!

[Robert C.]

I did an accelerated program for my PPL with A.F.I.T. Www.afit-info.com as I recall.

Most intense 2 weeks of my life, but they delivered the goods. There are several write-ups on them floating around including a relatively recent article in Plane and Pilot (not 100% sure of which magazine but think it was P&P).

In case it matters to you, some of these programs are run by schools with fleets, others like AFIT are a collection of CFIIs with the company doing all the selling and arranging. The nice thing about that arrangement is that most of their instructors are in their 50s with over 5000 hrs of which the majority is in instruction given. So no hour-builders on their way to the airlines, and boat loads of real world experience the can pass along.

They're at the top of my list when I go back for my IR early next year.

Robert

[1964-M20E]

Whatever way you choose to go you need to set a realistic goal and time frame to get you IR. I did mine in 6 months with an independent instructor and self-study my goal 5 months so I was real close to the goal. Then you need to reschedule everything else except emergencies to accomplish the goal.  Treat it like any other obligation to work, kids, school etc. it has to get done and it is top priority because if you treat it as a second priority it will quickly become second, third or fourth and you will not achieve the goal.

 

Good luck and you will unlock the full potential of having your own plane.

 

Once you get you IR always have a backup plan for any flight you plan to make.  I've used my backup several times.

[201er]

I think it's more realistic to do an accelerated tailwheel program than an accelerated instrument... even taking your time to get instrument is fricken hard.

[DaV8or]

I encourage everyone to get the rating if possible. Do it however gets it done. One thing to consider though is, if you don't have time to get it done in the traditional method, then I would say that you probably don't have time to maintain currency, or true proficiency. This means that you'll be going back for accelerated IPCs on a regular basis and that you'll likely be taking on more and more weather and perhaps not enough proficiency and experience. Can be dangerous.

 

Sadly, the IFR system and the technology we are stuck with is still ridiculously complex and almost designed to test a pilot to see where they fail. Single pilot IMC ops is high work load with serious concentration and if you get hit with a curve ball, it can unravel pretty fast. Things that are not intuitive and at times very abstract have to be preformed as second nature. You only get there with lots and lots of experience and regular retraining. I wish the IFR system could be completely overhauled to be the system it could be with current tech, but alas, it is not to be.

 

I used to fly IFR everywhere all the time, but given limited time and money, I found myself doing nothing but chasing currency and IPCs. Flying became un-fun. I almost quit altogether. The thought of giving up my IFR privilege that I had earned and returning to a second class status as a pilot was crushing. Rather than quit, that's what I did. You know what? Flying was fun again!

 

Turns out, I never really travel per say with my plane because my wife doesn't really like to fly and I refuse to try to run a scheduled airline. I just fly around for fun. I refuse the notion that I should ditch the Mooney and down grade to a simple plane like a Cub. The Mooney allows me to fly farther and see more on my day trips than I ever could in a Cub.

 

Is it an expensive toy? You betcha! If I had to guess, I'd say 80% of all GA airplanes are toys and a similar number of GA pilots are engaged in a very, very expensive hobby. So be it. More power to us. Now go get that rating and have some fun doing it. Just don't become a slave to it and don't kid yourself and put and your family in a very, very dangerous situation with it.

[kmyfm20s]

I think it depends on your personality. I would do an accelerated course and after I would pick up instruction in any areas I didn't feel comfortable in. The funny thing I found is how little real IMC you really fly in after you get it. I usually am just flying above or between layers and have found myself requesting altitudes to maintain IMC for proficiency. I am a west coast pilot and 99% of the time my IFR flight plans are for departures and approaches through an overcast layer or night flights in VMC. I also love having my IFR to fly into busy and unfamiliar airports.

[jlunseth]

I never tracked how many hours it took to get my instrument.  What I wanted, was to be a safe, bulletproof instrument pilot.  It is far and away the most unforgiving environment we fly in.  The one rating, other than maybe PPL, where you really want to get it right rather than just get through it.

[Earl]

I got my IR over 400 hours ago using an accelerated program for the very same reason you are considering one.  I knew with my busy business schedule, including lots of travel, it would take me forever to get the rating and I would be spending too much time relearning what I had learned too long ago because of schedule conflicts.  It was much more practicable for me to take a week and a half off work and get my IR rating.  I got my rating with PIC but there are a number of reputable firms to consider.  Also, bear in mind that you need to unplug from everything during that two weeks.  If you don't you will not succeed because it is in many ways like drinking water from a fire hose and you need to 100% commit yourself to the task.

 

While I understand Dave's point, I have a somewhat different take.  The downside with the accelerated course is you may not get much if any actual IMC experience unless you get very lucky with the weather for the 10 days or so you are training.  Also, the more time you spend in the system the more you learn and experience different issues, etc.  My suggestion is that if you go this route you initially have very conservative personal minimums for your initial experience in the IFR system.  And always file IFR regardless of the weather.  I have learned a lot in CAVU about routing changes, holds, miscommunication with ATC and all the stuff that comes with an instrument rating that are way easier to deal with in VFR conditions.  And more importantly, if things get too hectic you always have the option to cancel IFR and continue VFR.  And any IFR pilot, I don't care how they got their rating, should spend quality time with a CFII on a regular basis honing their skills.  I spend 2 hours or so every 3-4 months with a CFII shooting approaches.  Helps keep you legally current but more important safely proficient.

 

You will hear from some naysayers that the accelerated courses only teach you to pass your flight exam.  That was not my experience and I frankly don't believe it to be true in most cases.  My CFII was determined to make me a competent IFR pilot that could operate safely in the system, which he was convinced was what I needed to also pass my exam.  When I did proficiency training with another CFII in the years after I earned my rating he had no issues with the quality of my training or my abilities.  I have not seen any statistics that would convince me that a newly minted IFR pilot using an accelerated program is any less safe than one that goes the traditional route.

 

When you talk to vendors make sure you tell them you very much want as much actual time as possible.  They will tell you they can't control the weather but if the CFII is on board with what you want at least he or she can modify your flying schedule during your training to take advantage of any actual conditions that might pop up.  I know mine did and I loved it.  So if you are willing to develop very conservative personal minimums and take your training very seriously this can be a safe and effective way to go.

[rainman]

I used "Accelerated Flight Training" in Long Beach. I had already completed the written using the King DVDs. I was there for 10 days last summer and my instructor was very good. His name is Marcel, and they have several others. We flew twice each day, and classroom in between. They arranged for an examiner and I passed. It was intense and I feel like I still have a lot to learn, but it was good for me to just knock it out. I used my M20K for the training and exam so it can be done, but several folks have said it would have been easier in a C-172. I know that the Redbird Skyport school in San Marcos Texas has a good program with excellent simulators which help get more approaches and better IMC simulation. They will only fly in their planes but it's still a good program worth considering. I did some simulator time with them and found it really helpful. PM me if I can give any more help. Ray

[Bryanmooney]

I am definetly set on an accelerated program. And as with any new ability I will certainly take my time. I was hoping someone may have a direct contact or facility they recommend. Hopefully something on the east coast.

[carusoam]

Bryan,

Where are you located?

American Flyers...

Accelerated or as what fits your schedule. Your plane or their fleet of Cs...

This is who I used. They were close to work. Left work, put in a few hours, went home and slept in my own bed.

It is a challenging amount to learn in a short period of time. If you recently finished an engineering class or two, you will know what to expect as far as how much you can learn in a short period of time.

My thoughts and experience...

Best regards,

-a-

[Robert C.]

The A.F.I.T. Instructors will come to you and train you in your Mooney. Sunstate in Florida trains at their location (assume you consider Florida East Coast . )

Robert

[gjkirsch]

Went to Bullhead City AZ for a 7 day course.  Had the written done and the required cross country hours before I arrived.  Go in the winter!  I went in the spring and by noon, it was too hot to fly and the thermals were brutal.  The week ended with a checkride.  I think it was about $2K but that was probably 20 years ago.

[J Bird]

I also took an accelerated course. After looking around I ended up at Ocala Aviation. I was fresh out of school with my PPL and knew I wanted a Mooney... I have been searching topics on Moonyspace  befor getting my PPL. I purchased my M20J with 37 hours total. I got my written and IR certificate in 18 days total even though there was some weather (sandy hurricane) on the east coast. I spent 50 hours in a Mooney M20C Johnson Bar. 5 hours a day under the hood. I had 1.0hrs ground school...2.5 hrs flight... lunch.. 1.0 hrs ground school... 2.5 hrs flight..

It was one of the most challenging cert... I had an awesome instructor (Martin) who even had me fly into Orlando International and challenged me all the way to completion. I give him much credit..I was not just a number to him..I still call him with questions and he is still there to answer. Even though he charges me... for lunch when I fly into Ocala..

[PMcClure]

Another option - I did the written with a weekend crash course. That was a lot of water to drink in 3 days but I passed the test. With the written out of the way, I hired an instructor to travel with me as I went over the next 6-9 months. This way, I got real world experience, and got to use my plane for travel. When it came time for a check ride, it was a breeze!

[bnicolette]

I think the accelerated course is a great way to go and just as others have mentioned its the experience that will really count. Once you have your ticket you can call on the local instructors to go with you until you feel comfortable. Some of the most fun i had flying was "baby stepping" into what i felt comfortable flying in while IMC.