PIC versus GATT for accelerated IFR training

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Blueangel

Line Up and Wait
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Scott
I am buying a plane equipped for IFR and have 20 hours of IFR training and the written exam done and looking to complete the rating with an intense program either with PIC or GATTS. Anyone have experience with either program and which would be preferable? With GATTS, I would have to fly my new plane to Kansas and finish the rating there and with PIC they come out to you locally.
 
Conduct a search on this board... Lots and lots of past discussions on this very topic.
 
And you don't have to use your aircraft at GATTS if you don't want to. They advertise a good rate on theirs.

However, since you have your own, PIC coming to you has advantages of increasing the knowledge and skill of your own equipment.
 
I have no experience with GATTS but I did my instrument rating with PIC about ten years ago. I recommend them highly. It's intense. I got two days off for good behavior (they refunded me on this).
 
PIC you get to stay home and GATTS sounds like you head to their place for the duration. Either route you need to have 100% dedication and put the rest of your life 100% on hold until you are done. You literally need to vanish off the face of the earth and focus on nothing but this to get it accomplished.

I did PIC where they came to me, but did my PPL by traveling away from home. Traveling was easier for me to 100% focus, but had no problems with PIC at home for my IFR. One of the advantages of PIC is that you will be training in the airspace and approaches you will be regularly flying in for real life.

Cost wise you have instructor accommodations vs traveling to KS...so that sounds about a wash.

I HIGHLY recommend PIC but if distractions at home will be an issue, traveling may be the way to go.
 
Thanks! I am more inclined to use PIC after getting the plane home pending the prebuy goes well since I would like to do my IFR stuff in San Diego airspace as it is my backyard. Of course, taking a flying adventure VFR from San Diego to Kansas in the new plane could be rewarding as well if time permits.
 
I'd recommend spending some time before taking any of these courses to get comfortable in the airplane. The classes pretty much assume you can fly VFR with ease prior to launching into the IFR curriculum. This is somewhat true even for "traditional" IFR training. It's one of the reasons why the FAA insists you have 50 hours of XC time before getting the rating.
 
...as would the IFR adventure returning home.

If you training in very active airspace such as San Diego, you will definitely get your radio skills well exercised.
 
Does sandy eggo even have IMC? Kansas IMC this time of year is usually the scary kind with big sparks and windy bits. GATTS says they will try to get you in actual. I don't know California weather well enough to know if you could go find some actual to cruise around in. Experience with actual IMC is important in my not so humble opinion.
 
Clark1961 said:
Does sandy eggo even have IMC? Kansas IMC this time of year is usually the scary kind with big sparks and windy bits. GATTS says they will try to get you in actual. I don't know California weather well enough to know if you could go find some actual to cruise around in. Experience with actual IMC is important in my not so humble opinion.
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In another month or so however there will be a fair amount of IMC but will still be warm enough to keep the freezing level at higher elevation. Fall in Kansas is either widespread IMC with 1,000ft decks or severe clear.

I'm not sure if San Diego has to deal with the Marine Layer like the LA Basin but my understanding is that it's usually pretty thin and well below MEAs in the area.
 
When I was instructing at an Aero Club a reserve dentist was doing his 2 weeks at the base, and wanted to knock out his instrument while he was there in his own plane, a C210. I worked and flew with him everyday and we got him thru it. My point maybe you can find an instructor locally who can dedicate to you for a few weeks.
 
Yes we get some IMC and in my training we had some actual clouds. It was interesting. But nothing compared to the midwest or east coast.
 
My 2 cents....unless you have a strong reason to go elsewhere, stay home.

One advantage for going elsewhere is that the CFII probably is familiar with a particular DPE Checkride which frankly, will help with passing the Checkride but may do a disservice with learning how to fly in the system properly. When I got back in the saddle, I used a CFII at my location for a week and at the CFIIs location for a couple of weeks (yes it took me 15 days of intense training). So it worked well with me. Maybe use someone from PIC that is relatively local to San Diego or knows of a good DPE in the SD area.
 
Agree and based on training toward the IR in San Diego, its best to be familiar with my backyard. Plus sleeping in my own bed each night is a major plus.
 
Another option to consider is www.accelerated–ifr.com. All their instructors are employees and not contractors so the quality appears to be much better. In addition there are they are more likely to provide you recent references with aircraft with equipment that you might own. The others are reluctant to do that, based on my experience.
 
You do realize this was started over 5 years ago?

You should also disclose you work for the company you just promoted.
 
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AggieMike88 said:
I remember the good time I had hanging out with you and Sam when I went to GATTs.

Unfortunately that was the only good thing that happened from that trip.
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Heh. That was an interesting flight out there. I had to do s turns on final for the United Express (?) departing ahead of me and watch his takeoff point. I was on with MHK approach and they were vectoring me around then dumped me to tower. I called tower to make contact and they hadn’t gotten word from approach I was there. Tower asked for my “heading”, so I said “NW”, or whatever. Then tower said, “No, where ARE you!” We eventually got that straightened out. It been a long time since I had been there and I had trouble picking out the airport for some reason. When I climbed out after landing that’s when I realized I had torn a huge hole in the crotch of my pants when I had climbed up to stick the tanks. Made for a slight draft when I was sitting at that high top at dinner.

Good times.
 
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