IFR rating?

I'm debating whether to try for my IFR rating in the spring. I won't
have the time or money to start till then, but that's not the point.

The big question is, is it worth it right now? The only flying I
really do is cruising around, mild aerobatics, some formation stuff,
and occasionally a trip to the neighboring states. An IFR ticket
would be a "nice to have" but I don't think I'd really be able to make
use of it--our plane isn't IFR equipped, and probably won't be for the
forseeable future.

Any suggestions?

Bob Martin wrote:

Any suggestions?

My 2c. If you have the time and money to get the rating now and even suspect that you
will be able to use it in future, get it now. I procrastinated and found that later,
my job didn't leave me the time. There were quite a few trips made by car as a result
of that and one or two flights that were more nerve-racking than they would have been
with an IFR rating.

George Patterson
If you don't tell lies, you never have to remember what you said.

"Bob Martin" wrote in message

I'm debating whether to try for my IFR rating in the spring. .

The big question is, is it worth it right now? The only flying I
really do is cruising around, mild aerobatics, some formation stuff,
and occasionally a trip to the neighboring states.

First, alter your attitude! You said above "..I'm debating whether to try
for my IFR rating.." That should read "..I'm debating whether to *get* my
IFR rating.."

Additional training is almost always worth the effort, depending on what you
want out of it. Always remember, an Instrument Rating does not teach you to
fly in bad weather -- it teaches you to fly in low[er] visibility.

That said, an instrument rating will train you to navigate and operate the
airplane with a greater degree of precision, and will give you a more
detailed understanding of the air traffic system, and how you fit into the
flow of things, even when operating visually. All in all, this is not a bad
thing.

JG

A question, if I may...

Bob Martin stated: "I don't think I'd really be able to make
use of it--our plane isn't IFR equipped, and probably won't be for the
foreseeable future."

While he didn't directly indicate if he flew a plane he owned, a club plane,
or something similar, I gathered there was some sort of "ownership"
involved.

Assuming this is the only airplane he regularly flies, and that it is not
IFR equipped, would he not have a problem maintaining currency?

While your advice makes sense under most circumstances, given this
particular situation might he not be better off waiting until he has the
need or his airplane is upgraded?




"G.R. Patterson III" wrote in message
...


Bob Martin wrote:

Any suggestions?

My 2c. If you have the time and money to get the rating now and even
suspect that you
will be able to use it in future, get it now. I procrastinated and found
that later,
my job didn't leave me the time. There were quite a few trips made by car
as a result
of that and one or two flights that were more nerve-racking than they
would have been
with an IFR rating.

George Patterson
If you don't tell lies, you never have to remember what you said.

I definitely go for it. It is probably the toughest and most rewarding
rating you'll get. Consider it a training exercise. Independent of whether
you are able to directly use it or remain current, you will realize many
benefits. Understanding 'the system' is a tremendous help when VFR. More
precise flight and navigation (different from acro and formation) is another
benefit.

I went and got my multi just to get some additional training in an area
where I *never* expect to fly. It was partially subsidized so I went ahead
and did it. Doesn't teach a lot that spills over to other areas but it was
a good training exercise none the less.


"Bob Martin" wrote in message
om...
I'm debating whether to try for my IFR rating in the spring. I won't
have the time or money to start till then, but that's not the point.

The big question is, is it worth it right now? The only flying I
really do is cruising around, mild aerobatics, some formation stuff,
and occasionally a trip to the neighboring states. An IFR ticket
would be a "nice to have" but I don't think I'd really be able to make
use of it--our plane isn't IFR equipped, and probably won't be for the
forseeable future.

Any suggestions?

"G.R. Patterson III" wrote in message

My 2c. If you have the time and money to get the rating now and even
suspect that you
will be able to use it in future, get it now. I procrastinated and found
that later,
my job didn't leave me the time.

I started IFR this spring after having my PP/SEL for about ten years. The
most rewarding and interesting flying I've done yet. Even if I didn't
finish the rating (which I will), the things I've learned in the last month
have made me vastly more comfortable in the cockpit. Sure makes VFR seem
easy!

-c

My suggestion would be to skip the rating unless you're going to really use
it. I got my IFR about 2 years ago and have really only needed it a few
times. It takes a lot of time and money to stay proficient in IFR even
after you have the rating.

For enjoyment flying, IFR is not needed.


"Bob Martin" wrote in message
om...
I'm debating whether to try for my IFR rating in the spring. I won't
have the time or money to start till then, but that's not the point.

The big question is, is it worth it right now? The only flying I
really do is cruising around, mild aerobatics, some formation stuff,
and occasionally a trip to the neighboring states. An IFR ticket
would be a "nice to have" but I don't think I'd really be able to make
use of it--our plane isn't IFR equipped, and probably won't be for the
forseeable future.

Any suggestions?

I did not see anything wrong with his attitude, "try" can mean many things from
trying to get the time off from work to trying to get the finances together for
it.

there tends to be a trend amoungst some people to focus on words and not the
question in general.

John Gaquin wrote:

"Bob Martin" wrote in message

I'm debating whether to try for my IFR rating in the spring. .

The big question is, is it worth it right now? The only flying I
really do is cruising around, mild aerobatics, some formation stuff,
and occasionally a trip to the neighboring states.

First, alter your attitude! You said above "..I'm debating whether to try
for my IFR rating.." That should read "..I'm debating whether to *get* my
IFR rating.."

Additional training is almost always worth the effort, depending on what you
want out of it. Always remember, an Instrument Rating does not teach you to
fly in bad weather -- it teaches you to fly in low[er] visibility.

That said, an instrument rating will train you to navigate and operate the
airplane with a greater degree of precision, and will give you a more
detailed understanding of the air traffic system, and how you fit into the
flow of things, even when operating visually. All in all, this is not a bad
thing.

JG

Bob,
my suggestion is if its a rating you think you may want, start working on
the written exam portion, once you pass the test, its good for 2 years, so
you have 2 years to finish the rating before you wouldhave to take test
again. Also the written will put you ahead of the game because you will
already know the charts and other things you will need for the flying
portion.



Bob Martin wrote:

I'm debating whether to try for my IFR rating in the spring. I won't
have the time or money to start till then, but that's not the point.

The big question is, is it worth it right now? The only flying I
really do is cruising around, mild aerobatics, some formation stuff,
and occasionally a trip to the neighboring states. An IFR ticket
would be a "nice to have" but I don't think I'd really be able to make
use of it--our plane isn't IFR equipped, and probably won't be for the
forseeable future.

Any suggestions?

Just an anecdote which may or may not affect your decision; the
circumstances are not parallel: I once gave a private checkride to a fairly
well off business owner, so well off that he had two planes on leaseback to
the FBO I worked for...a Cherokee Six and a Seneca. Obviously, the Six had
more instrumentation than your proposed plane. When he needed to travel in
instrument conditions, he had me fly the plane. Years later, when I ran an
AST-300 simulator business (I know, I know, it was a Flight Training
Device), I tried to talk him into at least getting a couple of hours in the
AST-300. "No, no...I do not have an instrument rating because I will never
use it! If I need to fly in those conditons I will hire a pilot." Note that
I was not trying to talk him into getting the rating, just to get an hour or
so of instrument instruction because it had been so long since his private
checkride. You can anticipate the end of the story...he was on the west side
of Puget Sound, the ceiling was low, it was after dark, and his daughter was
having a birthday party on the east side of Puget Sound. They found the
wreckage the next morning in a junkyard, where searchers had missed it
because of all the other white, metal things like refrigerators lying
around. Would a couple of hours of sim time taught him to keep the airplane
right side up while climbing through a layer to VFR conditions? Who can say?
But I always think of him when someone says "Oh, no...I will never fly in
instrument conditions so I don't need the training."

Bob Gardner

"Bob Martin" wrote in message
om...
I'm debating whether to try for my IFR rating in the spring. I won't
have the time or money to start till then, but that's not the point.

The big question is, is it worth it right now? The only flying I
really do is cruising around, mild aerobatics, some formation stuff,
and occasionally a trip to the neighboring states. An IFR ticket
would be a "nice to have" but I don't think I'd really be able to make
use of it--our plane isn't IFR equipped, and probably won't be for the
forseeable future.

Any suggestions?