Instrument training

xxx wrote:
I've got no professional aviation aspirations buy might buy my own
airplane in the reasonably-near future. I can see that I'd get more
utility out of it with the legal right to punch a layer when it's
convenient.

And that is one of the best reasons.... you will get to use your airplane
more often, with the result that you will maintain currency and competency.
Insurance companies know this and that is why your insurance rates will
be lower with an instrument rating.

David Cartwright wrote:

Who said training had to be fun? Instrument training is damned hard work

One doesn't preclude the other.

- Andrew

Flying in the clouds is fun. Instrument training sucks, I don't think
anyone likes it. You're paying to fly but you can't even see outside.

-Robert, CFI

In article .com,
"Robert M. Gary" wrote:

Flying in the clouds is fun. Instrument training sucks, I don't think
anyone likes it. You're paying to fly but you can't even see outside.

Yeah. I had this epiphany while doing my IFR cross country up to Arcata
(KACV) some time ago: there I was, 8,000' over the redwoods, the ranges,
the fog-shrouded coast (apparently) in sight, etc., and I'm *paying* to
block all this out under the hood and concentrate on the instruments.
Ditto for the NEUVO 5 approach out of Oakland -- people pay large
amounts of money to see the City and the Golden Gate, etc., from up here
and here I am paying vast sums *not* to see it. Bah humbug! :-).

Hamish (who did of course end up with the rating...)

On 5/19/2005 9:46 AM, Robert M. Gary wrote:

Flying in the clouds is fun. Instrument training sucks, I don't think
anyone likes it. You're paying to fly but you can't even see outside.

-Robert, CFI


Instrument Training Sucks? I don't know about that. Perhaps I just
have a hard time separating the "what I have to do now to get there"
from the "what I'll be able to do once I get there" ... but I'm enjoying
the training.

.... of course, I'm only at the beginning (10.4 hours). I'm reasonably
proficient at Attitude Instrument Flying and have just started on
VOR/NDB nav, so we'll see how I feel when things really start popping.

I think my instructor is at least a part of what is making the
training fun.

--
Mark Hansen, PP-ASEL, Instrument Student
Sacramento, CA

Mark Hansen wrote:
... of course, I'm only at the beginning (10.4 hours). I'm reasonably
proficient at Attitude Instrument Flying and have just started on
VOR/NDB nav, so we'll see how I feel when things really start popping.

Kudos to your instructor for making sure you've got BAI down pat
before moving onto navigation. If you've still got to give any real
thought to holding heading and altitude, it's too early to move onto
other stuff. I think a lot of instructors push straight on to
approaches before the student is really ready.

I have to wonder, though, if spending any time on NDB skills really
makes sense these days. VOR, yes, but NDB???

Roy Smith wrote:
Mark Hansen wrote:
I have to wonder, though, if spending any time on NDB skills really
makes sense these days. VOR, yes, but NDB???

Roy,

What are you asking? Am I interpreting my October 2004 ASA PTS wrong?
Can't the examiner choose an NDB IAP?

a.

He can't if the plane you are flying is not equipped with an ADF. My 3
approaches were LOC, VOR and ILS.

If it's in the plane, he can ask you to demonstrate it's use.

wrote:

Roy Smith wrote:

Mark Hansen wrote:
I have to wonder, though, if spending any time on NDB skills really
makes sense these days. VOR, yes, but NDB???


Roy,

What are you asking? Am I interpreting my October 2004 ASA PTS wrong?
Can't the examiner choose an NDB IAP?

a.

In article .com,
wrote:

Roy Smith wrote:
Mark Hansen wrote:
I have to wonder, though, if spending any time on NDB skills really
makes sense these days. VOR, yes, but NDB???

Roy,

What are you asking? Am I interpreting my October 2004 ASA PTS wrong?
Can't the examiner choose an NDB IAP?

a.

Not if you don't have an ADF in the airplane :-)

Roy Smith wrote:

Mark Hansen wrote:

... of course, I'm only at the beginning (10.4 hours). I'm reasonably
proficient at Attitude Instrument Flying and have just started on
VOR/NDB nav, so we'll see how I feel when things really start popping.


Kudos to your instructor for making sure you've got BAI down pat
before moving onto navigation. If you've still got to give any real
thought to holding heading and altitude, it's too early to move onto
other stuff. I think a lot of instructors push straight on to
approaches before the student is really ready.

I have to wonder, though, if spending any time on NDB skills really
makes sense these days. VOR, yes, but NDB???


Well, one reason is that it shows pretty quickly if you REALLY can hold
a heading, altitude and do some simple mental math simultaneously! :-)

I agree that spending a lot of time on NDB approaches is probably a
waste, but I still think learning to navigate accurately using an ADF is
good basic training.


Matt