How to get the most from VFR XC's for IFR requirements?

Why don't you get some IFR training, and come back later to do the XC
flights? That way you will be able to apply your IFR skills. VFR Flight
Following functions basically the same as IFR except for the VFR
limitation. You don't even need a safety pilot as long as you fly
visually, and you can even fly the approaches.



gregg wrote in
news:m_0yd.303337$R05.271951@attbi_s53:

Hi all,

I've begun my IFR taining and at the same time, racking up the cross
country hours required for the ticket.

I'm wondering what things I could do in these strictly VFR XC's that
would
help me learn/gain insight or facility with the IFR world. So far I
have:

1) My CFII suggested I plan routes that VOR hop

2) Another CFII suggested I take along IFR enroute charts and look
them over while enroute

3) it occured to me to select alternates and plan fuel reserves as if
this was IMC.

Are there any other things that could be done during a strictly VFR
XC that
would help?

thanks

Gregg

"gregg" wrote in message
news:m_0yd.303337$R05.271951@attbi_s53...
Hi all,

I've begun my IFR taining and at the same time, racking up the cross
country hours required for the ticket.

I'm wondering what things I could do in these strictly VFR XC's that
would
help me learn/gain insight or facility with the IFR world. So far I have:

1) My CFII suggested I plan routes that VOR hop

2) Another CFII suggested I take along IFR enroute charts and look them
over
while enroute

3) it occured to me to select alternates and plan fuel reserves as if this
was IMC.

Are there any other things that could be done during a strictly VFR XC
that
would help?

thanks

Gregg


If your destination X-C airport has a navaid on the field, ask the tower if
you can enter a hold over it. If the controller seems to be slow and there's
not already a published hold on your approach plates, ask them to make up a
hold radial for you, then figure out the best entry.


--
-smc

Gregg,

What gives you the idea the croscountries must be VFR? Fly them under the
hood and log them as both crosscountry and simulated instrument time. That
is what I did and my DPE was happy with it.

Daniel

"gregg" wrote in message
news:m_0yd.303337$R05.271951@attbi_s53...
Hi all,

I've begun my IFR taining and at the same time, racking up the cross
country hours required for the ticket.

I'm wondering what things I could do in these strictly VFR XC's that would
help me learn/gain insight or facility with the IFR world. So far I have:

1) My CFII suggested I plan routes that VOR hop

2) Another CFII suggested I take along IFR enroute charts and look them
over
while enroute

3) it occured to me to select alternates and plan fuel reserves as if this
was IMC.

Are there any other things that could be done during a strictly VFR XC
that
would help?

thanks

Gregg

Daniel L. Lieberman wrote:

Gregg,

What gives you the idea the croscountries must be VFR?

Well I don't have the idea that they have to be VFR. But I'll be doing many
of the next hours of XC VFR as I'l be adding challenges on each trip.


Fly them under the
hood and log them as both crosscountry and simulated instrument time. That
is what I did and my DPE was happy with it.

After a while I'll probably do that.

thanks

Gregg


Daniel

"gregg" wrote in message
news:m_0yd.303337$R05.271951@attbi_s53...
Hi all,

I've begun my IFR taining and at the same time, racking up the cross
country hours required for the ticket.

I'm wondering what things I could do in these strictly VFR XC's that
would
help me learn/gain insight or facility with the IFR world. So far I
have:

1) My CFII suggested I plan routes that VOR hop

2) Another CFII suggested I take along IFR enroute charts and look them
over
while enroute

3) it occured to me to select alternates and plan fuel reserves as if
this was IMC.

Are there any other things that could be done during a strictly VFR XC
that
would help?

thanks

Gregg

I'm at the latter stages of ifr training and currently doing this.....

Use the low altitude charts. Know exactly where you are based on your
instruments, not pilotage. Use a scale, time, and the chart to estimate
your position and compare with the gps. Turn off (or just don't look at )
the gps. At all times be prepared to tell atc your location. Consider wind
and how it affects your alternate. There are a million little details.
Keep calculating endurance. Write down actual leg time and compare with
predicted. At an intersection, check how accurate you are by looking at the
gps. Believe me, you can stay busy the entire time.

Ask for a vfr practice approach of your choice upon arrival.

"gregg" wrote in message
news:m_0yd.303337$R05.271951@attbi_s53...
snip Are there any other things that could be done during a strictly VFR
XC that
would help?

thanks

Gregg