IFR rating?

I started IFR this spring after having my PP/SEL for about ten years. The
most rewarding and interesting flying I've done yet. Even if I didn't
finish the rating (which I will), the things I've learned in the last
month
have made me vastly more comfortable in the cockpit. Sure makes VFR seem
easy!

Agreed, it's good training. VFR flying becomes soooo much easier after 20
hours or so under the hood.

That said, I have not finished up my IR, even though I've got all the flying
requirements and was signed off to take the flight test. (I haven't taken
the written, yet.)

Why? Because (a) I simply don't have time right now to study, and (b) I
don't believe that I would use the rating enough to stay proficient enough
to be safe.

I've flown for almost 10 years, and almost 900 hours, VFR. Throw in another
500 hours with Mary as PIC during that period. There have been some times
when I wished I had the rating, but -- more often than not -- when I've been
grounded due to weather, an IFR rating wouldn't have helped. My plane is
simply not capable of handling ice, snow or thunderstorms -- and that covers
95% of the times I've been on the ground, cursing the weather gods...
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Bill Denton" wrote in message ...
A question, if I may...

Bob Martin stated: "I don't think I'd really be able to make
use of it--our plane isn't IFR equipped, and probably won't be for the
foreseeable future."

While he didn't directly indicate if he flew a plane he owned, a club plane,
or something similar, I gathered there was some sort of "ownership"
involved.

Yes... it's my dad's plane; an RV-6 whose only additional instruments
beyond minimum for VFR are a turn indicator, nav radio (built-in VOR
display; actually part of a nav/com radio), g-meter, and Garmin 196.
There's just an empty hole where the AI goes. I usually fly every 2-3
weeks (when I'm home for a weekend) or when I get longer stretches
(like this summer; I'll be commuting to school instead of living on
campus).

Also, when I said "try" for it, I meant that I didn't know if I'd be
able to get it in four months (ie, over spring semester). I can't
start earlier or go later since I'd have to go back down to Savannah
for work, and I definately can't afford it there. My private took me
about a year (though only 42 hours) between weather, work, school,
9/11, and money. And the only reason I'm considering it now is that
the flying club at Georgia Tech is much cheaper than any FBO or school
I've seen, both for aircraft rental and for instructor time.
Something like $60 for a 172, or $78 for a 172RG. "Advanced
instruction" is $23.

It's worth remembering that in order for an Instrument Rating to be used, you
need to meet recent experience requirements. It's not like riding a bicycle,
where once learned, it's automatic.

Unless you're going to file IFR and fly in the clouds, I strongly suggest you
invest in hood time so you can get out of trouble should you find yourself in
IFR conditions. I think, unless you are flying 150 hours a year or so, you'd
likely not be current.

Having said that, I can tell you that SEL flying, especially at night, under
IFR is a heck of a lot easier than VFR, regardless of condtions. I mean, think
of this, coming into your tower controlled home base, being cleared for an ILS
approach which probably means, unless it's a dreaded 'circle to land' a
straight in from 5 or 6 miles.

Bill Denton wrote:

Assuming this is the only airplane he regularly flies, and that it is not
IFR equipped, would he not have a problem maintaining currency?

Absolutely - in fact, I'd say it would be darn near impossible to stay current. But
it will be a lot easier to regain currency at a later time than to get the rating at
a later time.

George Patterson
If you don't tell lies, you never have to remember what you said.

Jay,

A little advice...If you aren't going to get an instrument rating, don't
curse the weather gods. You are just asking for trouble.

Mike
MU-2


"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:L6Bjc.54148$_L6.4226739@attbi_s53...
I've flown for almost 10 years, and almost 900 hours, VFR. Throw in
another
500 hours with Mary as PIC during that period. There have been some times
when I wished I had the rating, but -- more often than not -- when I've
been
grounded due to weather, an IFR rating wouldn't have helped. My plane is
simply not capable of handling ice, snow or thunderstorms -- and that
covers
95% of the times I've been on the ground, cursing the weather gods...
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Jeff" wrote in message

I did not see anything wrong with his attitude, "try" can mean many things
from

sigh

Send me your address. I'll send you an entire carton of nits. Free. You
can pick at them in your spare time.

yes you seem to have allot of "nits", thank you for the offer tho, but I will
leave those to you.

John Gaquin wrote:

"Jeff" wrote in message

I did not see anything wrong with his attitude, "try" can mean many things
from

sigh

Send me your address. I'll send you an entire carton of nits. Free. You
can pick at them in your spare time.

just to get an hour or
so of instrument instruction because it had been so long since his private
checkride

I just had an hour of instrument hood time this week for the Wings program. (
First time doing the wings program) It was a great experience. What a challenge
for a VFR pilot.. I would like to pursue an IFR rating. I can see where it
would make you a better and safer pilot, even if you don't use it right away.
The instructor covered the AI and the DG later in the hour, and I had to make
climbing turns to headings using compass, turn and bank, airspeed and VSI only
to make it even more interesting.

Mitch
Luscombe 8A

That was the point of my rambling anecdote...get some serious instrument
training, whether or not you intend to go on to the rating. The hood time
for the private really doesn't prepare a pilot for the situations s/he is
likely to encounter.

Bob Gardner

"tony" wrote in message
...
It's worth remembering that in order for an Instrument Rating to be used,
you
need to meet recent experience requirements. It's not like riding a
bicycle,
where once learned, it's automatic.

Unless you're going to file IFR and fly in the clouds, I strongly suggest
you
invest in hood time so you can get out of trouble should you find yourself
in
IFR conditions. I think, unless you are flying 150 hours a year or so,
you'd
likely not be current.

Having said that, I can tell you that SEL flying, especially at night,
under
IFR is a heck of a lot easier than VFR, regardless of condtions. I mean,
think
of this, coming into your tower controlled home base, being cleared for an
ILS
approach which probably means, unless it's a dreaded 'circle to land' a
straight in from 5 or 6 miles.

(SKYKING195) wrote in message ...
just to get an hour or
so of instrument instruction because it had been so long since his private
checkride

I just had an hour of instrument hood time this week for the Wings program. (
First time doing the wings program) It was a great experience. What a challenge
for a VFR pilot.. I would like to pursue an IFR rating. I can see where it
would make you a better and safer pilot, even if you don't use it right away.
The instructor covered the AI and the DG later in the hour, and I had to make
climbing turns to headings using compass, turn and bank, airspeed and VSI only
to make it even more interesting.

If you don't use it right away it will go away very quickly. If you
want to be an instrument pilot you must fly in IMC. You can't just
keep the rating in your back pocket "just in case".

-Robert