MyassisDragon
Line Up and Wait
Thought I would get a login and start my posting with a big ole "Thank you" for the posts and opinions made public by this forum. I gained (and gain) a lot of knowledge by questions asked here.
All of 2012 was spent getting my PPL and all of 2013 was spent studying, researching on the internet and flying toward a successful completion of my Instrument check ride (passed on Christmas eve)
I also wanted to post (for those interested) what I found helpful in acquiring the rating (not that it was right, but just what I did).
1) Requested Flight Following on EVERY VFR flight with a destination when ever I got in the air, also planned landings at busier airports (this got me used to the ATC system even in only VFR conditions, Chicago MDW taught me more in 1 trip than 10 trips to a small airport with only 1 or 2 planes on approach)
2) Had (or found) a CFII that flys small jets and turbo props for a living (his daily use showed me many tricks in the cockpit like navigating the 430 with VOR radials and setting altitude reminders using the HSI, this also scored many compliments from the examiner after the check ride).
3) Purchased the sportys IFR program and used it on the exam or study mode almost "Every day" (mostly 30-45 minutes at lunch or evening when wife was watching something brainless on tv)
4) Purchased Rod machados IFR book on tape (or mp3) and played it in the car 100% of the time while driving instead of music.
5) Flew in the clouds IMC as much as possible "WITHOUT AUTOPILOT" (My CFI also task loaded me quite a bit while doing this while bouncing around in the clouds)
6) Constantly (every few days) plan fake trips around the country and see if you can fly them. (my CFI would text me about a trip he was making and ask if I could do it in my plane, so I would have to plan it and text him back the details)
7) Found another PILOT who was working on his Instrument rating and and agreed to be safety pilots for each other. The dialog in the cockpit while figuring out why we were just taught something was sometimes worth more than the time with my CFI (it was the light bulb moments).
8) Setup a computer with Microsoft Flight Simulator and the Saitek Yoke, pedals and throttle quadrant and USED IT (it was around $350 for everything and it really helped develop my instrument scan and you can simulate failures, plus I could drink a beer while flying
)
9) Last but not least I got an IPAD (mini) to fly and study with. (this allowed me to look at weather, approach charts, study for the written wherever I was) (I also got the cellular active one with a stratus 2 and dont leave home without it, and yes I do have backup charts/plates when flying) and yes the examiner allowed me to use it during the check ride but I made sure first.
Even though I only have around 200 hours My CFII was very very tough on me to be spot on and understood I was serious about getting my rating in order to be a safe conservative pilot. My family, friends and co workers all put their life in my hands as a pilot so I value the importance of responsibility.
I also have to mention that every day while helping my friend (currently) get his instrument rating I keep realizing just how much I don't know
, and that this learning journey is never going to end or that my knife can always be sharper.
Cheers
All of 2012 was spent getting my PPL and all of 2013 was spent studying, researching on the internet and flying toward a successful completion of my Instrument check ride (passed on Christmas eve)
I also wanted to post (for those interested) what I found helpful in acquiring the rating (not that it was right, but just what I did).
1) Requested Flight Following on EVERY VFR flight with a destination when ever I got in the air, also planned landings at busier airports (this got me used to the ATC system even in only VFR conditions, Chicago MDW taught me more in 1 trip than 10 trips to a small airport with only 1 or 2 planes on approach)
2) Had (or found) a CFII that flys small jets and turbo props for a living (his daily use showed me many tricks in the cockpit like navigating the 430 with VOR radials and setting altitude reminders using the HSI, this also scored many compliments from the examiner after the check ride).
3) Purchased the sportys IFR program and used it on the exam or study mode almost "Every day" (mostly 30-45 minutes at lunch or evening when wife was watching something brainless on tv)
4) Purchased Rod machados IFR book on tape (or mp3) and played it in the car 100% of the time while driving instead of music.
5) Flew in the clouds IMC as much as possible "WITHOUT AUTOPILOT" (My CFI also task loaded me quite a bit while doing this while bouncing around in the clouds)
6) Constantly (every few days) plan fake trips around the country and see if you can fly them. (my CFI would text me about a trip he was making and ask if I could do it in my plane, so I would have to plan it and text him back the details)
7) Found another PILOT who was working on his Instrument rating and and agreed to be safety pilots for each other. The dialog in the cockpit while figuring out why we were just taught something was sometimes worth more than the time with my CFI (it was the light bulb moments).
8) Setup a computer with Microsoft Flight Simulator and the Saitek Yoke, pedals and throttle quadrant and USED IT (it was around $350 for everything and it really helped develop my instrument scan and you can simulate failures, plus I could drink a beer while flying
) 9) Last but not least I got an IPAD (mini) to fly and study with. (this allowed me to look at weather, approach charts, study for the written wherever I was) (I also got the cellular active one with a stratus 2 and dont leave home without it, and yes I do have backup charts/plates when flying) and yes the examiner allowed me to use it during the check ride but I made sure first.
Even though I only have around 200 hours My CFII was very very tough on me to be spot on and understood I was serious about getting my rating in order to be a safe conservative pilot. My family, friends and co workers all put their life in my hands as a pilot so I value the importance of responsibility.
I also have to mention that every day while helping my friend (currently) get his instrument rating I keep realizing just how much I don't know
, and that this learning journey is never going to end or that my knife can always be sharper. Cheers
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