gismo
Touchdown! Greaser!
Working on the stick and rudder skills already mentioned seems quite worthwhile but I think there's another aspect of preparing for IR training to consider. And that's planning for and setting up your life and airplane to minimize the things that impede such training:
1) Work out a realistic schedule for the training that allows you to get through it without spending most of your time reviewing past lessons. Typically that means flying at least 3 or more times per week and given the usual issues with weather, airplane availability (if you're renting), instructor's schedule, and your other activities (like work/family/etc) you should plan to schedule an extra flight each week as an alternate slot.
2) Set aside enough money that cash flow during training won't be a hinderence. That doesn't necessarily mean you need to have enough uncommitted cash lying around to pay for the whole thing up front, just work out a plan that ensures the money will be available on the schedule you intend to follow. IMO it's far more productive to hold off on the training for several months than to take an unscheduled nibble by nibble approach as money becomes available.
3) Get the airplane ready. If you own that means planning around annuals, ensuring your avionics are working properly, all required bi-annual checks are up to date etc. If you're renting, make sure you have a backup plan in case the plane you intend to use becomes unavailable and check into the plane's maintenance schedule. It wouldn't be pleasant to find that the DA40 you were using for training was taken off the line for a month halfway into your training (or worse yet a week before you're ready for the checkride) and the only other similar airplane is either booked solid, inconveniently located far away, or unusable by your instructor.
4) Get yourself ready. This is going to take a large portion of your "free" time for a while. Now's the time to take care of anything that might interfere later if you can. Learn all you can about the airplane you intend to use, especially WRT the avionics. Get the IR written out of the way half a year to a year before you plan to take the checkride.
1) Work out a realistic schedule for the training that allows you to get through it without spending most of your time reviewing past lessons. Typically that means flying at least 3 or more times per week and given the usual issues with weather, airplane availability (if you're renting), instructor's schedule, and your other activities (like work/family/etc) you should plan to schedule an extra flight each week as an alternate slot.
2) Set aside enough money that cash flow during training won't be a hinderence. That doesn't necessarily mean you need to have enough uncommitted cash lying around to pay for the whole thing up front, just work out a plan that ensures the money will be available on the schedule you intend to follow. IMO it's far more productive to hold off on the training for several months than to take an unscheduled nibble by nibble approach as money becomes available.
3) Get the airplane ready. If you own that means planning around annuals, ensuring your avionics are working properly, all required bi-annual checks are up to date etc. If you're renting, make sure you have a backup plan in case the plane you intend to use becomes unavailable and check into the plane's maintenance schedule. It wouldn't be pleasant to find that the DA40 you were using for training was taken off the line for a month halfway into your training (or worse yet a week before you're ready for the checkride) and the only other similar airplane is either booked solid, inconveniently located far away, or unusable by your instructor.
4) Get yourself ready. This is going to take a large portion of your "free" time for a while. Now's the time to take care of anything that might interfere later if you can. Learn all you can about the airplane you intend to use, especially WRT the avionics. Get the IR written out of the way half a year to a year before you plan to take the checkride.
