Flight School: Adding an Instrument Rating

Connie Sue White

Tuesday, March 01, 2011 at 05:08 AM ET

Verified

Aric Vyhmeister

Key Takeaways:

New instrument students often struggle with a lack of a solid foundation in basic attitude instrument (BAI) flying and a deep understanding of their aircraft's performance characteristics.
They frequently experience information overload during ground study and significant workload and communication overload in the air, especially in complex terminal and approach environments.
Mastering onboard technology through dedicated study and leveraging structured curricula are crucial strategies to reduce workload and manage the complexities of instrument flight.
Pilots should also ensure they maintain proficiency in visual flying and traffic avoidance, even when operating under IFR in visual meteorological conditions.

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What are the biggest challenges new instrument students face?

(February 2011) — Eric Radtke is an airline transport pilot, Gold Seal flight instructor, advanced ground instructor and NAFI-accredited Master Flight Instructor. Eric has been involved in aviation education since 1998 and currently serves as president and chief instructor of Sporty’s Academy, the educational arm of Sporty’s Pilot Shop.