IFR training material

[Archer]

Next semester I'm taking Instrument Flight Lectures, and they require four texts.

Jepp Instr./Commercial, FAR/AIM,some advisory circular on weather services (can't remember which one), one other text I can't remember, and then local approach plates. I don't know fully the details yet.

But I talked to the instructor, and she said that a good way to prepare for the intensive material, is to get a head start by reading over the FAR/AIM and a DVD or CD or Tape with IFR material.

So i'm wondering what material you guys would advise. I have the first of seven volumes of Sporty's DVD course, and it says on there it got an award from Flying Magazine 2001.

I liked the DVD format, as I'm using the Cessna Kit right now, and I frankly don't like re-installing the first 6 Cds to look over earlier material, changing the CDs every two seconds etc...

My FBO makes IR students buy the Cessna IFR kit, but I'm not going to start IR flight until late spring, or maybe even next Fall.

I'm just doing IR theory and building up VFR x/c time in the spring.

Thanx

Archer

 

[172driver]

All the stuff they require is pretty good and should pretty much cover it. Instrument Flying Handbook is a necessary book. If you want more...try Trevor Thom's instrument books...they're very good and a little more in depth than what you can get from the Jepp and the FAA pubs.

 

[tarp]

You have a nice list of "books".

I think that new Jepessen Instrument/Commercial book is just great. I also like the FAA's Instrument Flying Handbook and Trevor Thom's book (note: study from the Jepp, use the FAA book to answer any questions you may have from written test questions and use Trevor as a reference book). I like Trevor because he explains how to do things from two or three perspectives. For example: he must have 3-4 "crutches" on how to visualize holding pattern entry - they don't all have to be learned, just pick one that works for you.

Now as to other suggestions of Video's, etc. I always remind my students to think about how they learn best. Are you good at reading a subject and understanding? Then stay with books. Do you like to have someone talking to you and seeing things visually? Then get a CD or Video course. Do you need to have the ability for questions and answers, then take a ground school course. When people suggest materials, they usually make the suggestion from their own experience. Some people are visual, some are tactile, some like study material - YOU make the choice how you learn best.

As to the WX AC - that is actually a book that just has an official FAA AC #. You can find Aviation Weather and the companion Aviation Weather Services at Sporty's or any FBO with a good library.

The FAR/AIM is evident and even available on-line at FAA.GOV.

 

[El Cid Av8or]

I like ASA's The Pilot's Manual #3: Instrument Flying. I think Trevor Thom contributed to it. You can get it at MyPilotStore.com.

 

[Archer]

What are your guy's take on DVDs, especially Sporty's...

I'm thinking of getting that set of DVDs as I like to learn both "visually" and by reading text...

I don't know much about Instrument flying, but I've been hearing it's pretty tough, which is why I'm taking a class and getting ready to study all these materials...before I even start flying...

thanx for the advice

Archer

 

[172driver]

Haven't seen the DVD's...I'm sure they're fine but I learn well from books and experience. Speaking of which, do you have a flight sim for your PC? If not, get one. Don't worry about yoke, pedals, and all that jazz, just a joystick. You'll mostly use it for procedures and positional awareness. Read about a procedure, discuss it with your CFI, try it at home several times, go fly. You can cut your costs dramatically by not seeing things for the first time in the plane while distracted by ATC, wx, CFI, and controlling the plane in general.

Best of luck...you have the right attitude and will do fine. IFR, like all flying, is not that tough if you're well prepared and practiced. It is, to me, the most rewarding part of aviation.

 

[tarp]

I'm a reading enthusiast so I can't help you much.

I know what I don't like - The old Martha King videos with talking heads blathering away at you (I understand they have revised that series, but the old stuff was awful). I saw a trial version of the Cessna DVD's when they first came out and they were terrible - very bad organization - scattershot learning. Again - these were very early samples of the new video age.

Hopefully, someone will have something positive to say about a product out there. When I was teaching ground school from the then brand new Jepessen IFR/Commercial book, the DVD's were just being developed - the salesman actually talked me out of recommending the videos to my students saying they were "thin" on content unlike the book itself.

One thing I would suggest. It sounds like you want to go through a whole ground school before starting the flying lessons on IFR. Even if you don't have the money/time right now, find a good IFR instructor and ask him for one-two hours of lessons to reinforce your ground studies. Ask him if he would ever so informally and just as an intro, show you a VOR and ILS approach (using raw needles/data - not GPS at first), then show you the art of holding (again just an intro) and then show you an advanced GPS approach using both map and CDI's. This "taste" and seeing the real deal in the airplane will make you understand the concepts so much easier- it wouldn't hurt if he took you on a little trip into actual IFR conditions either. You will be hooked!

 

[bobbysamd]

IFR materials

The manual published by Professional Instrument Courses (PIC) is a well-organized instrument flying book.

One of my all-time favorites is IFR Principles and Practice: A Guide to Safe Instrument Flying by Avram Goldstein Newton W. Miller, ISBN: 0934754047. It's a great little book about instrument flying that explains it in easy-to-understand terms. Very well written.

One caveat about training materials: Although commercial pubs may explain things well and convey the same information as FAA publications, bear in mind that for flight instructors the government pubs are the FAA's final word on what should be taught. Therefore, my .02 recommendation is that you should prepare your course and lecture materials based on FAA materials, saying it the way the FAA says it. Use the commercial books as supplemental references.

Good luck with your course.

 

[OldTomcat]

How about CFII books?

Good recommendations--- what would you add to the book list for CFII (practical)?

 

[EMcx2]

While doing your ground school, back seat other students instrument flights. You can gain valuable experience watching someone else make mistakes and it's free. If you are in an academic environment, backseating is probably a common occurrence. It's less common at Part 61 schools but your instructor might be able to facilitate a few rides for you.

 

[bigD]

At the Part 61 school where I rent, all of the instructors are really cool about back seating a flight. They just ask that you get permission from the student, and at least for me - that's never been a problem. I do this whenever I'm bumming around the airport. I always learn something new, and as a budding CFI I also learn about different instructional techniques.

 

[bobbysamd]

CFI-I books

Good recommendations--- what would you add to the book list for CFII (practical)?

Along with the ones I wrote about above, the FAA Instrument Flying Handbook, Aviation Weather, Aviation Weather Services, the FAA Flight Instructor Instrument PTS.

In fact, get the FII PTS, look up the list of references, and get all of them. Then, you should be set, bearing in mind, again that the FAA's pubs are its final word on the subject. Meaning, for a practical, as long as you do it and/or say it the FAA way, and even if you, your instructor, or examiner disagree with it, you have to be passed.

 

[Archer]

One thing I would suggest. It sounds like you want to go through a whole ground school before starting the flying lessons on IFR. Even if you don't have the money/time right now, find a good IFR instructor and ask him for one-two hours of lessons to reinforce your ground studies. Ask him if he would ever so informally and just as an intro, show you a VOR and ILS approach (using raw needles/data - not GPS at first), then show you the art of holding (again just an intro) and then show you an advanced GPS approach using both map and CDI's. This "taste" and seeing the real deal in the airplane will make you understand the concepts so much easier- it wouldn't hurt if he took you on a little trip into actual IFR conditions either. You will be hooked!

Tarp, I see what you mean, it is hard to understand from books alone sometime, being in the plane will help you see things better.

There was one lesson during my PP training in which it was IMC, and I thought we were going to do ground work, when my CFI(II) told me that we could go up and do some hood work and actual IMC (it wasn't totally IMC, it broke here and there). So we went up quite late, and I flew myself 0.4 actual (weird that was!) and ended up doing things I had not expected, like my first night landing, and my first night, x-wind, ILS approach (assisted of course). It was awesome, and my CFI told me that was one of the best "first ILS" approaches he had seen...

It was amazing, and I might actually tell him (during my ground school/class) to take me up on another IFR ride...hell I might do a couple of hours dual here and there...

but riding on the back never occured to me, and I will investigate this

Right now I know two pilots...one is my CFI (which will be my CFII too) and the other is a friend in my major, who happens to have his CFI too...

so this friend of mine could be a very good resource, as I most probably would not have to pay him, and we could split the cost of an IFR flight, and I coudl get valuable experience...

I have to get through my PP first though...I'm just thinking slightly ahead to make sure I don't end up doing something really wrong in IFR flying...as it seems to be much much more dangerous...as you depend on your instruments and ATC almost entirely...in IMC at least...

Archer

 

[tarp]

Oh Archer,

You fooled us a little bit. Thought you were done with the PPL. Concentrate on that one first, then go to your dreams of IFR flight. First, we must walk. Let me guess, you've soloed and are just about to start working on X-C's with your CFI. It's very predictable that you are a little bored and looking for excitement that the IFR rating holds. Don't worry, you'll come back to earth and find a whole new reason to get serious about your PPL ticket. I've taught a few folks and know all about this "drop" in attention. I'll guess your CFI has got some excitement waiting for you on the very next nice flying day.

On the CFII books,

It's the same list. Jepps, Trevor, and as Bobby said, all the FAA publications. I am a William Kershner advocate but don't like his Instrument Manual at all. However, In Kershner's Flight Instructor manual there are some tasty instructor tips but I don't know if these are worth going out and buying the book if you already have your CFI.
The biggest tip I can give any double-I candidate is keep looking outside. It's hard at first, but when you get into a hold over a popular VOR and find yourself whizzing by other folks who don't seem to be saying much on the radio, you understand that your #1 priority is the safety of the flight while the Instrument student figures out how to fly on the six-pack. I find that when I'm teaching Instruments, I recline back like an F-16 pilot so I can scan both the windshield and the instruments. The student already has basic airplane control and you have to trust this. Then you get headaches trying to look outside and inside for hours on end - instrument instruction can be fun, but six hours of it can be exhausting in a busy environment.

 

[Archer]

Well...that's why I'm taking ground school in spring and IFR flight training next Fall or late Spring...

I'll be finishing up my PPL by Feb, and building x/c time till late spring...where If I'm confident, I might start IR training...if not, i'll wait till next Fall...

but the IR ground school IS in the Spring...

Archer

 

[JediNein]

Kershner's Book

Don't CFIs have to have every aviation book out there? (jk)

Kershner's "Flight Instructor" and "Advanced Pilot Manuals" are awesome for the detail. Both are being updated, so if someone is a semester or two away from commercial and CFI, it's best to wait. His "Instrument Manual" is far superior to the FAA's sleep therapy manual.

Additional books: Rod Machado's "Instrument Pilot Survival Guide" and "Private Pilot Manual."

Spend some time at the bookstore (college store, Borders, Amazon) and flip through the aviation books. One is bound to make more sense than the others. That's the one to get. (*SIGH* So many books, so little time.)

Here's a tip: Become a ground instructor (two written tests) and join NAFI. The instructor certificate allows you to purchase these books at a discount, or, Jem-Aero allows CFIs to be distributors and able to buy at the dealer price. For some books that is over $15 off, especially the Jepp series.

Fly SAFE!
Jedi Nein