Brand Spanking New Instrument Pilot Here!

[GatorFC]

Finally, I see the light! Or maybe that was just the sun reflecting off the windshield as the DPE said, "field in sight," and I lifted up my hood on the last approach of my checkride.
It feels like I've been under that hood forever. It is such a weight to be lifted off of your shoulders to finally get that ride done. I thought I'd be making this announcement last Friday, but the DPE wasn't feeling well and was only able to get the oral done. Which really sucked, cause then I had the whole weekend to agonize over the flight.

So today, me and my instructor had to fly over to MLB to finish up my ride. We shot the ILS w/an engine out coming in to get that last bit of practice before I met up with the examiner.
The ride, just like the oral last Friday wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. The weather cooperated too, because there was hardly any wind, clear skies (didn't matter to me, but the DPE wanted to do the whole flight VFR), and none of the bumpy stuff. We left the airport, did unusual attitudes, then she had me track a VOR radial outbound and hold at a certain DME. As I came around the first circuit, she had me track the radial back inbound and then commence an arc from another DME. From the arc, we asked for and got a full VOR approach for 9er in which she wanted me to do a circle to land rnwy 5. For those in this area, make sure you are up to date with the FDC notams concerning circle to land approaches to MLB. On the miss, we got vectors for the ILS to 9 which was done with an engine out. Went missed again, and shot the final approach which was a localizer to 9 without my DG or AI. I was so relieved when we taxied back to the ramp, and I was pretty sure I passed (because she never had to take the controls or correct me on anything major), but you never know with some examiners. Needless to say, when I shut down the plane and the examiner extended her hand to congratulate me I felt like, like... What's even sweeter is that this examiner is known as being tough but fair. So I'm glad to know that I flew well enough to her standards.

I'm gonna sit back and enjoy this one for little bit , but then its on to some time building and the commercial!

[Coney]

Awesome job, Gator! I just earned my IR on 09NOV2004. It sounds like you and I are at similar stages in our flying. Like yourself, I'm planning to move on to commercial, but I need to pay down some debt, which I accrued due to the IR. Anyway, CONGRATS!!

[mtsu_av8er]

Sweet, man!! Congrats!

[Maximillian_Jenius]

Is the IR rating easy or hard and how long on the average should it take?
I still have the King/Cessna IFR DVD learning package it comes with a course book and I read it quite often. On paper it seems kinda easier then I originally thought and fairly common sense. Is it?
Likewise my old instructor said that I should get a copy of MS flight simulator to aid me in my IFR training so waiting for 05 to be released.
I'm not the fastest learner but definately not the slowest I'd rate myself on a scale of 1-10 as being a 5-7 you know just average.
Should I be sweating my IR as much as I do???
Sure wish Lloyd lived in PHX. he seems like he' be a good flight instructor !


Matthew

[Coney]

Hey, Matthew. I would say the instrument rating is one of the more difficult hoops through which we are required to jump in our pursuit to become pro pilots. Then again, I've not yet completed the commercial or multi-engine stuff -- much less ATP. Everyone I know who has gone all the way has told me that the IR was the most difficult, mostly because you're really learning how to fly precisely without any outside visual cues. The written exam is just like any other exam. That is, if you prepare well, you'll score well -- just academic stuff. The flying is the part that takes much longer. I flew with my CFII about 3 times a week, and it took me about 6 months. Hope this helps. By the way, it's pretty expensive, too.

[mtsu_av8er]

[ QUOTE ]
Is the IR rating easy or hard and how long on the average should it take?


[/ QUOTE ]

All depends on how much extra time you want to spend working on it. I took my checkride with 15 hours of instrument flight instruction. I will say, though, that I spent alot of time in the middle of the night studying, and flying with other pilots watching what they did. I also spent a whole lot of time with MSFS flying the system, shooting approaches and playing with DME arcs.

[ QUOTE ]

I still have the King/Cessna IFR DVD learning package it comes with a course book and I read it quite often. On paper it seems kinda easier then I originally thought and fairly common sense. Is it?


[/ QUOTE ]

I think that it is nothing but common sense. the whole IFR system is designed to make life easy. Too many people make it more difficult than it really is.

[ QUOTE ]

Likewise my old instructor said that I should get a copy of MS flight simulator to aid me in my IFR training so waiting for 05 to be released.

[/ QUOTE ]

Read the above!! There's really no reason to use the latest version of MSFS....use one that runs smoothly and concentrate on instrument stuff. The outside references aren't really that important!!

[ QUOTE ]

Should I be sweating my IR as much as I do???


[/ QUOTE ]

Naw...you should enjoy it! It's the most fun you'll have in an airplane!!!!

[ QUOTE ]

Sure wish Lloyd lived in PHX. he seems like he' be a good flight instructor !


[/ QUOTE ]

Relocation is in the future.....




Matthew

[/ QUOTE ]

[Stone Cold]

Congrats to both of you on the new rating. Now, go out and truly fly in the system solo...in IMC. Set personal limits and get used to being in the clouds...there's not much that's more rewarding as a pilot.

Fly safely.

tx

[GatorFC]

Thanks all and congrats to you too, Coney. I agree with you, I think the Instrument is one of the more difficult ratings especially for someone like me who started with zero time at my flight school and not really having a lot of hours from my private to multi to instrument. I've also been told the same as you talking to other students and instructors that the IR is the hardest ride and that its all "downhill" from here. The general feeling being that the commercial is basically like the private but with stricter standards and a few more maneuvers and the CFI's consist of more studying than actual flying which, of course, is done from the right seat. I wouldn't worry about the multi, I thought that was the easiest of my checkrides so far.

Max, ditto what Lloyd said, just go ahead and get MSFS 04 now. Unless you always have to have the latest and greatest, 04 was good enough for my needs (practicing approaches, holding pattern entries, holds themselves, arcs, and intercepting and tracking radials especially NDBs) and you should be able to get a good price on it now rather than have to spend 50 large or so on 05 when it comes out. I bought my 04 copy from Wal-Mart for $20 and there was a $10 rebate .

Lloyd - 15 hours! Daymmm or should I say OooRah!

Tx - believe me, I'll be doing some solo time. After some more dual with my instructor and a checkout from the chief pilot, I'll actually be doing some 55 hrs solo Duchess time as a GI bill/VA requirement (but I'm sure you and Lloyd know about this being military).

[mtsu_av8er]

[ QUOTE ]
. . .I'll actually be doing some 55 hrs solo Duchess time as a GI bill/VA requirement (but I'm sure you and Lloyd know about this being military).

[/ QUOTE ]

I never used my G.I. Bill for flight training....got a much bigger payout using it for college...

[Stone Cold]

I had a small signing bonus so I didn't qualify for the GI bill, but yes, I know it can help many, many people out. Good luck out there and stay safe.

[woodreau]

Congrats Gator,

Now you really get to use the IFR system after having spent all this time tracking VORs, doing full approaches. It's the most annoying thing after doing your preflight planning to hear while you're enroute, "I have a new clearance for you, let me know when you're ready to copy." Followed 10 miles down the road by, "Cleared direct -> xxxx (destination which is still 150 miles away very much out of VOR range)"

[GSMPilot]

I'll tell you what, i'm doing my IR and i think i'm doing okay but i went to waco (ACT) over the weekend and i got the crappiest vector for their ILS, blew right past trying to establish, made me feel like i didn't know what i was doin. plus the controller sounded like he didn't want to be there. not my best flying day