Help getting my IFR rating!!!

[jajthejackson3]

I was wondering if you guys and gals would help me. I am in my 50's and have been flying since i was a kid. I have a nicely equipped Mooney that is IFR certified (HSI, Garmin 430, KNS 80.....etc) and I need to get my Instrument rating. Can anyonr suggest a good instructor (I live in the Asheville, NC area) and a good ground school course....King?, Jeppesson?
Any help will be greatly appreciated...

 

[b18onboost]

I would go with the King. I watched the vid and got a 92 on my written test.

 

[Amish RakeFight]

I recommend the Gleim books and CD's. You might want to use their products to complete the written work.

For the study material, the FAA publications (The Instrument Flying Handbook) are fine. If you go to the FAA website, you can download a PDF version of this book: http://www.faa.gov/library/manuals/aviation/instrument_flying_handbook/

Otherwise I would use the Jeppesen text books. They're more expensive but with more expanded material and glossy illustrations.

Investing in a PC-based flight simulator might be helpful in acquiring the procedural aspects of instrument flying.

 

[VW Pilot]

Don't forget Sporty's Instrument Rating DVD course. Nice. Comes with the DVD's, some airfacts, FAA Terminal Procedures Manual, FAA Instrument Flying Handbook, Sylabus and more. Alot of great information in this IFR kit. As mentioned before, so is Gleim Publications and learning kits.

 

[midlifeflyer]

I'd find the CFI first and choose the self-study course after. The CFI might have a preference that fits with his own methodology or syllabus.

For the CFI, if you don't get a personal recommendation, you might try some of the "find a cfi" sites. Here's one from the National Association of Flight Instructors:
http://www.nafinet.org/directory/flight_lookup.html

You might also try a forum like www.studentpilot.com, where people talk mostly about instruction issues at every level.

 

[Goose Egg]

FWIW, I absolutely CAN NOT stay awake during any of those video courses. Some of them have some pretty good graphics for topical use though. But to watch more than about ten consecutive minutes is snoresville for me. I do a lot better out of a book.

In recommending a book, I think it just comes down to which book you find the easiest to learn from. I love how the Jepp books put it all into nice color diagrams, but I personally feel that they don't go into enough detail on some subjects for my preference (and I speak as a student and an instructor.)

Otherwise, the info is all the same. What I generally had to do is go through several books (Jepp, IFH, etc.) to come up with what I would consider a "complete" treatment of a particular subject.

-Goose

 

[kf4amu]

Flight simulator is a good tool to use to develop a scan and get used to VOR navigation, ILS and holding. But only do it once you've learned the correct way from a CFI to avoid getting bad habits.

 

[jajthejackson3]

Very good advice from all concerned......I will be making the choice in a few days......keep the opinions coming

 

[Amish RakeFight]

Whatever you do AVOID those "10 day instrument courses."

Scary, if you ask me.

 

[MJPilot]

BEST books hands down are from Rod Machado.
Rod Machado's Instrument Pilot's Handbook

http://www.rodmachado.com/Product/Books/books.htm