When should I start my instrument rating?

blackhawks77 · December 14th, 2007, 19:47

I got my PPL about 3 months ago and decided to start my instrument rating about a month ago. The problem is I only have 24 hours PIC XC. I need 50 hours so I have a while to go. I am wondering when I should call my instructor to start and keep in mind that I can only go flying 2-3 times a week. So should I wait to get all 50 hours or should I call my instructor now and buld XC PIC and do my Instrument stuff together?

bdhill1979 · December 14th, 2007, 20:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackhawks77

I got my PPL about 3 months ago and decided to start my instrument rating about a month ago. The problem is I only have 24 hours PIC XC. I need 50 hours so I have a while to go. I am wondering when I should call my instructor to start and keep in mind that I can only go flying 2-3 times a week. So should I wait to get all 50 hours or should I call my instructor now and buld XC PIC and do my Instrument stuff together?

Start with the instructor now and learn what you should be doing and then get a safety pilot so you can do those XC hours under the hood then it counts both ways.

DO NOT just go and get under the hood till after you have worked with an instructor, that just creates bad habits that the instructor will have to break you of.

blackhawks77 · December 14th, 2007, 22:38

I was thinking of doing a lesson with my instructor on the weekend and then do a cross country under the hood during the week after school. I just do not know if that will be possible because I do not know really any safety pilots.

bdhill1979 · December 14th, 2007, 22:41

Well post on here that you are looking, ask your flight school if any other students want too, hang out at the airport for a few hours and ask; they are out there.

tgrayson · December 14th, 2007, 23:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackhawks77

So should I wait to get all 50 hours or should I call my instructor now and buld XC PIC and do my Instrument stuff together?

You could probably arrange for a significant number of your training flights to count as PIC X/C.

JetJok · December 14th, 2007, 23:32

During the instrument training my students will log about 10-20 hours of xcountry time. All of that is PIC for the student. I wouldn't build to much more xcountry time because you probably will not need it. Obviously the instructor needs to know that he needs to take you at least 50nm on some of your flights (usually towards the end of your training when you are shooting approaches), but you should be able to get at least 10 hours of xcountry time during your training.

Murdoughnut · December 15th, 2007, 01:56

Concentrate on the written first - wait to do the flying until you have your written in hand. Provides a good foundation to take into your flight training.

bdhill1979 · December 15th, 2007, 02:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murdoughnut

Concentrate on the written first - wait to do the flying until you have your written in hand. Provides a good foundation to take into your flight training.

How could I forget that.

It is really hard to work with students that are trying to study for the written and complete the flying at the same time. Their brains just aren't all the way there.

wrxpilot · December 15th, 2007, 09:09

You can do it Part 141 right away without having to get the x/c time. However, I personally think it's a lot better to fly around in the system by yourself for awhile before starting the IR. Go gain some confidence by visiting new airports and ALWAYS get flight following. It's almost exactly like flying IFR.

mooneyguy · December 15th, 2007, 10:48

If you are not strong with ATC communications, find a towered field and do a lot of talking with them. On EVERY cross country get flight following!

GOOD atc communications are very very important

dc3flyer · December 15th, 2007, 11:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdhill1979

Start with the instructor now and learn what you should be doing and then get a safety pilot so you can do those XC hours under the hood then it counts both ways.

DO NOT just go and get under the hood till after you have worked with an instructor, that just creates bad habits that the instructor will have to break you of.

I always recommend getting about 5 hours of hood time with an instructor (yes in addition to that of the PPL requirement). THEN find a friend to split the time in the plane. It is always great if that friend is an instrument rated pilot!

blackhawks77 · December 15th, 2007, 11:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by mooneyguy

If you are not strong with ATC communications, find a towered field and do a lot of talking with them. On EVERY cross country get flight following!

GOOD atc communications are very very important

The airport I fly out of is controlled D airspace and I regularly fly through DEN airspace.

blackhawks77 · December 15th, 2007, 11:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murdoughnut

Concentrate on the written first - wait to do the flying until you have your written in hand. Provides a good foundation to take into your flight training.

I am planning on taking an insrument/commercial ground school class at a local college starting next month. So I am going to be busy with those classes and flying pretty much everyday. But I have already read the Jeppesen text book twice on instrument flying.

Murdoughnut · December 15th, 2007, 13:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackhawks77

I am planning on taking an insrument/commercial ground school class at a local college starting next month. So I am going to be busy with those classes and flying pretty much everyday. But I have already read the Jeppesen text book twice on instrument flying.

That's a good source, I found that textbook helpful too. Also check out my training blog (below) - I've put it together to help others working on the instrument rating.

killbilly · December 15th, 2007, 15:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murdoughnut

That's a good source, I found that textbook helpful too. Also check out my training blog (below) - I've put it together to help others working on the instrument rating.

I also picked up Machado's "Instrument Pilot's Survival Guide." I don't need it yet at this point in my training, but it's nice to have. Huge amount of information, very readable and easy-to-understand. Might supplement the Jepp nicely.

Wolfy · December 15th, 2007, 20:45

I promise there is someone around who would be happy to safety pilot.

Niuflyer22 · December 16th, 2007, 01:37

If you want to work on ATC communications, I would try to find an airport with a TRSA. They are usually not that busy, and if you have a safety pilot you could go under the hood and do practice approaches in an environment that is just like flying IFR

December 14th, 2007, 19:47	#1
blackhawks77 Newbie Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 10	When should I start my instrument rating? I got my PPL about 3 months ago and decided to start my instrument rating about a month ago. The problem is I only have 24 hours PIC XC. I need 50 hours so I have a while to go. I am wondering when I should call my instructor to start and keep in mind that I can only go flying 2-3 times a week. So should I wait to get all 50 hours or should I call my instructor now and buld XC PIC and do my Instrument stuff together?

December 14th, 2007, 22:38	#3
blackhawks77 Newbie Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 10	Re: When should I start my instrument rating? I was thinking of doing a lesson with my instructor on the weekend and then do a cross country under the hood during the week after school. I just do not know if that will be possible because I do not know really any safety pilots.

December 14th, 2007, 22:41	#4
bdhill1979 Old Skool Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: U77 Posts: 2,568	Re: When should I start my instrument rating? Well post on here that you are looking, ask your flight school if any other students want too, hang out at the airport for a few hours and ask; they are out there. __________________ Commercial Pilot, IR Gold Seal CFI, CFII Will Fish for Pay

December 14th, 2007, 23:32	#6
JetJok Newbie Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Phoenix Posts: 19	Re: When should I start my instrument rating? During the instrument training my students will log about 10-20 hours of xcountry time. All of that is PIC for the student. I wouldn't build to much more xcountry time because you probably will not need it. Obviously the instructor needs to know that he needs to take you at least 50nm on some of your flights (usually towards the end of your training when you are shooting approaches), but you should be able to get at least 10 hours of xcountry time during your training.

December 15th, 2007, 01:56	#7
Murdoughnut Old Skool Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: St. Petersburg, FL Posts: 2,914	Re: When should I start my instrument rating? Concentrate on the written first - wait to do the flying until you have your written in hand. Provides a good foundation to take into your flight training. __________________ Murdoughnut is back in the saddle again and blogging about his return to IR training... ...http://murdoughnut.blogspot.com/

December 15th, 2007, 09:09	#9
wrxpilot Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: South FL (sometimes) Posts: 438	Re: When should I start my instrument rating? You can do it Part 141 right away without having to get the x/c time. However, I personally think it's a lot better to fly around in the system by yourself for awhile before starting the IR. Go gain some confidence by visiting new airports and ALWAYS get flight following. It's almost exactly like flying IFR.

December 15th, 2007, 10:48	#10
mooneyguy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: San Antonio TX Posts: 637	Re: When should I start my instrument rating? If you are not strong with ATC communications, find a towered field and do a lot of talking with them. On EVERY cross country get flight following! GOOD atc communications are very very important __________________ FLY SAFE <Tim>< CMEL CSEL CFI CFII http://desiretofly.blogspot.com/

December 15th, 2007, 20:45	#16
Wolfy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sonoma, CA Posts: 325	Re: When should I start my instrument rating? I promise there is someone around who would be happy to safety pilot.

December 16th, 2007, 01:37	#17
Niuflyer22 Newbie Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Chicago area Posts: 9	Re: When should I start my instrument rating? If you want to work on ATC communications, I would try to find an airport with a TRSA. They are usually not that busy, and if you have a safety pilot you could go under the hood and do practice approaches in an environment that is just like flying IFR

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