Training in Actual IFR Can Be Good for You

There's no rule that says you must fly in the clouds, but, if you need to, an instrument rating will allow you to do so legally and safely.

Meg Godlewski

Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at 11:36 AM ET

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Having an instrument rating can give you more confidence in the airplane and can also reduce your insurance costs. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

The Instrument Rating is crucial for pilot confidence, legal flight in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC), and reducing insurance costs, often being a prerequisite for advanced instructor ratings.
The article strongly emphasizes the invaluable nature of actual in-cloud flying experience during instrument training, contrasting it with schools that prohibit such crucial real-world practice.
Developing a disciplined instrument scan and maintaining proficiency are critical skills for IFR flight to prevent disorientation and safely manage unexpected low-visibility conditions.

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“Get on the gauges, you’re going to feel a little bump.”

These were the words of my CFII (certified flight instructor-instrument) the first time he took me into the clouds. He is ex-Air Force and taught me to fly the AF way. The acronyms MARTHA, the UPs and the 5Ts were all part of my training—as was going in and out of clouds. “Nothing but water vapor!” he declared. We always double checked the temperature because flying through a cloud in freezing conditions would turn us into a Cessna-cicle or Piper-cicle in a hurry, something we wished to avoid.