I fly a lot of IFR year round and a fair amount of actual IMC during the winter, but not much in the summer. Like everyone else, Ive heard the wakeup call from Center in that unmistakable tone that says, “Were not amused that you think flex-altitudes are in use today…please get back to 5000 feet. Now.” 288
Making Practice Count: IFR Self-Critique
I fly a lot of IFR year round and a fair amount of actual IMC during the winter, but not much in the summer. Like everyone else, Ive heard the wakeup call from Center in that unmistakable tone that says, "Were not amused that you think flex-altitudes are in use today...please get back to 5000 feet. Now." That sort of thing may be a minor mistake, but if you add up enough minor mistakes, youve got a trend and that could lead to something ugly. The 24-month flight review and instrument proficiency checks are supposed to correct the inevitable decline in skill for those of us who dont fly much, but there may be a better way.
Key Takeaways:
- Instrument flying skills degrade over time, necessitating more than just periodic flight reviews to maintain precision and prevent minor errors from accumulating.
- Pilots should adopt "iron-handed discipline" by conducting a "searing self-review" during every flight, dedicating mental bandwidth to honestly assess and improve basic IFR skills.
- This continuous self-assessment involves evaluating performance across different flight segments (climb, cruise, descent, approach), noting areas for improvement, and striving for precise execution to foster professionalism and safety.
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