Instrument Flying

Wally, who was nearly thrice my age, was giving me a Taylorcraft checkout at a grass strip. I already had a tailwheel endorsement, but my insurer wanted time in-type for the new (to me) BC-12D. There were no systems to learn, so all I needed were a couple of stalls and about a hundred laps […]

We all saw the recent image of a Mooney 201 suspended 100 feet above the ground and tangled in an electrical transmission tower on a dark and gloomy night. Without knowing the details, we all probably asked ourselves, “How did that happen?”  The NTSB’s preliminary report on this accident is out, and tells us that, […]

During the initial phases of my private pilot training, something I struggled with was overusing the flight instruments. Rather than use external references like the horizon and a visual point for something like steep turns, I would fixate on the attitude indicator and altimeter. After all, how could I tell if my altitude was off […]

In an ideal world, upon reaching our decision altitude/height (DA or DH) or missed approach point (MAP), there would always be beautiful visibility and a clear runway. As we all know, life throws curveballs. A classic curveball in instrument flying can be a missed approach. Preparation is worth an ounce of cure, and these tips […]

I will never forget my first time in true IMC. It was about halfway through my instrument training, during the winter months of New England. There were always challenges getting actual IMC experience; most of the quality clouds contained icing that prohibited any safe training. Finally, it was a warm day with the freezing levels up […]

There’s only so much airspace. Without minimizing separation requirements—as was implemented with reduced vertical separation minimums, or RVSM, in certain airspace—there’s no way to squeeze more aircraft into a finite area. At the same time, there are only so many ATC facilities and controllers staffing them. Anyone who has flown down the U.S. East Coast […]

If you’ve had your instrument rating for a few years, filing IFR has probably become second nature for you. Before launching on a cross-country, you naturally pick up the phone to file, even when the weather is CAVU. The idea of not filing an IFR flight plan doesn’t really occur to you. Until, that is, […]

As time marches on, so do advancements to many of the aircraft we are fortunate enough to fly. When I did my initial instrument training, I remember the high-workload events like setting up and briefing approaches, talking to ATC and running the checklists, all while hand-flying the aircraft on steam gauges. It was an exercise […]

There you are, droning along in the clag toward your destination. You still have over an hour before your ETA and the frequency isn’t all that busy, so you’ve eased the seat back a bit to stretch your legs while George flies. In a few minutes, you’ll get the ATIS and load the expected approach, […]

When I am doing check rides, training and instrument proficiency checks, I take a lot of notes. My goal is to write down symptoms needing attention, such as altitude deviation or airspeed mismanagement, and find solutions. Most pilots strive for professionalism, and they work with me to identify those solutions. During post-flight briefings, I start […]