"Instrument" - Simple word, profound meaning
Next to getting your Private Pilot's License (PPL), the most exciting and challenging thing for a pilot is getting an Instrument Rating, otherwise known as your IFR ticket.
It is the most difficult ticket to get and at the same time perhaps the most liberating. If you've flown on your VFR ticket for any extended period of time, you know full well that regardless of where and when you fly, you will inevitably run into inclement weather and will face cancellations and delays. Well, that's just an inconvenience and I wish that's where it ended. The problem with VFR flying beyond short trips is that the weather usually gets the better of you and once you get into the weather, you are just simply not qualified to fly the airplane safely in such conditions -- normally known as Instrument Meterological Conditions or IMC.
To make matters worse, the VFR pilot, who is used to keeping the airplane safely in different maneuvers by outside visual reference, is unaware that in bad weather and without such reference, our senses (eyes, inner ears, etc.) actually lie to us and will certainly result in us putting the aircraft in unusual and often unrecoverable attitudes. Folks, if you don't have an Instrument Rating, DO NOT fly in IMC, DO NOT fly into clouds, do not fly without visual reference. It is fatal and not worth the try.
For starters, I strongly recommend a small book called "IFR for VFR Pilots - An Exercise in Survival" by Richard L. Taylor. If after reading that, you are not convinced that your best bet is to get your IFR ticket, then please stick to short, fun flying in great sunny days!
Your IFR Ticket
So, who should get an IFR ticket and how should you start?
You should get an IFR ticket if you are committed to flying beyond a casual hobby and are going to use an aircraft for medium to long distance travel on a reasonably regular basis. If you are just a recreational pilot who wants to take the occasional trip and fly friends and family for local sightseeing, you do not need the rigor of obtaining and maintaining an Instrument Rating. The IFR ticket is a serious commitment which takes as many hours as the PPL and is much more demanding to keep current.
How should you start? First of all, in addition to the 40 hours of instruction that is needed, you need around 150 hours of PIC (pilot in command) including around 50 hours of cross country to be able to get your IFR rating. So, if you are a fresh PPL, then build up the hours by making a lot of short and medium length cross country trips. Secondly, you want to choose a first-class school and a first-class program. This is not the place to cut corners.
The Temple
Choosing the right school is a sacred first step -- hence the analogy of the Temple. It goes without saying that they have to be accredited and professional, but choose a school that are excited and passionate about IFR training. You don't want just any neighborhood club that also has a token CFII who occasionally also teaches instruments. "Getting Wet" is also critical. Many schools do not get up in the air in IMC conditions even for IFR training. As a result, you'll learn the theories and could get your license without ever having flown in the clouds or in IMC conditions. That kind of "virginity" will get you into trouble. If you get your ticket without ever being in real IFR weather, I highly recommend you go up with an instructor in real weather before ever attempting it for the first time on your own. There is more to it than just keeping straight and level.
The Monks
If you've been or heard of the legendary Shaolin Temple of the Kong Fu Masters of China, you'll know that a Temple has no spirit without its Monks. As good as a club or a school may be in its choice of planes and syllabus, without a team of world-class instructors, they will disappoint.
Everyone has their story of the relationship they built with their flight instructor on their way to the PPL. Well, this is like getting married all over again for your IFR. The flight instructor (or in my case the two of them!) is key to you getting a complete picture of the complex world of IFR. You want experience, passion, flexibility, humor, serious dedication and uncanny ability to transfer knowledge.
I consider myself lucky on both fronts -- the Temple and the Monks were just perfect for my Sacred Journey. For all the reasons stated above, I chose, without hesitation Aviation Adventures at Leesburg Virginia as my Temple and Masters Ray and Mike as my dedicated Monks.
The combination was just PERFECT! With their very different, but complimentary styles, Mike Schwartz and Raymond de Haan worked hard to ensure no stone is left unturned and even with my demanding schedule and at times impatient enthusiasm to plunge into and ahead of the game, Mike and Ray built a great program, handed over lessons perfectly and brought me to where I feel confident about my up-coming checkride. Mike is your typical "stick and rudder" pilot who wants to hone your basics and ensure you are on top of your game and can get out of trouble when you need it most. Raymond is the "systems" Master who teaches you "the way". Working everything from automation, resource management, the weather system, ATC sparring and becoming a "whole" pilot. Together, they are unbeatable. Thank you guys for a great experience.
It is the most difficult ticket to get and at the same time perhaps the most liberating. If you've flown on your VFR ticket for any extended period of time, you know full well that regardless of where and when you fly, you will inevitably run into inclement weather and will face cancellations and delays. Well, that's just an inconvenience and I wish that's where it ended. The problem with VFR flying beyond short trips is that the weather usually gets the better of you and once you get into the weather, you are just simply not qualified to fly the airplane safely in such conditions -- normally known as Instrument Meterological Conditions or IMC.
To make matters worse, the VFR pilot, who is used to keeping the airplane safely in different maneuvers by outside visual reference, is unaware that in bad weather and without such reference, our senses (eyes, inner ears, etc.) actually lie to us and will certainly result in us putting the aircraft in unusual and often unrecoverable attitudes. Folks, if you don't have an Instrument Rating, DO NOT fly in IMC, DO NOT fly into clouds, do not fly without visual reference. It is fatal and not worth the try.
For starters, I strongly recommend a small book called "IFR for VFR Pilots - An Exercise in Survival" by Richard L. Taylor. If after reading that, you are not convinced that your best bet is to get your IFR ticket, then please stick to short, fun flying in great sunny days!
Your IFR Ticket
So, who should get an IFR ticket and how should you start?
You should get an IFR ticket if you are committed to flying beyond a casual hobby and are going to use an aircraft for medium to long distance travel on a reasonably regular basis. If you are just a recreational pilot who wants to take the occasional trip and fly friends and family for local sightseeing, you do not need the rigor of obtaining and maintaining an Instrument Rating. The IFR ticket is a serious commitment which takes as many hours as the PPL and is much more demanding to keep current.
How should you start? First of all, in addition to the 40 hours of instruction that is needed, you need around 150 hours of PIC (pilot in command) including around 50 hours of cross country to be able to get your IFR rating. So, if you are a fresh PPL, then build up the hours by making a lot of short and medium length cross country trips. Secondly, you want to choose a first-class school and a first-class program. This is not the place to cut corners.
The Temple
Choosing the right school is a sacred first step -- hence the analogy of the Temple. It goes without saying that they have to be accredited and professional, but choose a school that are excited and passionate about IFR training. You don't want just any neighborhood club that also has a token CFII who occasionally also teaches instruments. "Getting Wet" is also critical. Many schools do not get up in the air in IMC conditions even for IFR training. As a result, you'll learn the theories and could get your license without ever having flown in the clouds or in IMC conditions. That kind of "virginity" will get you into trouble. If you get your ticket without ever being in real IFR weather, I highly recommend you go up with an instructor in real weather before ever attempting it for the first time on your own. There is more to it than just keeping straight and level.
The Monks
If you've been or heard of the legendary Shaolin Temple of the Kong Fu Masters of China, you'll know that a Temple has no spirit without its Monks. As good as a club or a school may be in its choice of planes and syllabus, without a team of world-class instructors, they will disappoint.
Everyone has their story of the relationship they built with their flight instructor on their way to the PPL. Well, this is like getting married all over again for your IFR. The flight instructor (or in my case the two of them!) is key to you getting a complete picture of the complex world of IFR. You want experience, passion, flexibility, humor, serious dedication and uncanny ability to transfer knowledge.
I consider myself lucky on both fronts -- the Temple and the Monks were just perfect for my Sacred Journey. For all the reasons stated above, I chose, without hesitation Aviation Adventures at Leesburg Virginia as my Temple and Masters Ray and Mike as my dedicated Monks.
The combination was just PERFECT! With their very different, but complimentary styles, Mike Schwartz and Raymond de Haan worked hard to ensure no stone is left unturned and even with my demanding schedule and at times impatient enthusiasm to plunge into and ahead of the game, Mike and Ray built a great program, handed over lessons perfectly and brought me to where I feel confident about my up-coming checkride. Mike is your typical "stick and rudder" pilot who wants to hone your basics and ensure you are on top of your game and can get out of trouble when you need it most. Raymond is the "systems" Master who teaches you "the way". Working everything from automation, resource management, the weather system, ATC sparring and becoming a "whole" pilot. Together, they are unbeatable. Thank you guys for a great experience.
Cessna Pilot Centre - The Best Way to Your Instrument Rating
I started my IFR ticket by enrolling in the DVD based comprehensive Instrument Training program offered by Cessna. It is a compelete program with 25 DVD's and a full exam that will prepare you for both your theoretical ground course as well as your practical flying lessons. Each lesson has a "Lab" and a "Flight". Every Lab is well organized and takes you through a step-by-step program of the entire Instrument Training. The best part is that John and Martha King of the King Schools are the main teachers of the program, coupled with a host of staff that are witty, professional and fun to listen to. At the end of each Lab, there is usually one or two flights by either John or Martha that demonstrate practially the in-flight execution of what has been learnt. John is arguably the most gifted teacher who makes you feel excited about the most complicated subjects whilst making them seem simple and fun to learn. It takes about 2-4 weeks to go through the program if you study it on a daily basis. Each "flight" also has a curriculum to follow for practical flight which your instructor will use to take you through the program.