What the flock is my problem??

[Snakum]

I had a drooling spastic moron flight about two weeks ago, but my next flight was just fine.

And I thought it was just me!

Minh
(Drooling and Spazzing)

 

[User546]

By the time I'd get on course, my altitude would go to he!! and by the time I got back up (or down) to wherever I was supposed to be, the #@## needle would be gone off to Jones' one way or the other. The only excuse I have is that there was a pretty good breeze blowing...

Relax, and don't worry about it. I found myself in the same situation in a King Air 90 a couple months ago. Hand-flying a full VOR approach (no vectoring) in IMC almost down to mins. It happens to everyone, just always remember the funadamentals of instruments and that information will never let you down. And, never EVER be afraid to go missed and try it again. If you're not stabilized early on, chances are it's not going to get better for you, and as your descending to the ground at 500fpm, thats not a time to be trying to jockey for control of the aircraft!

Your a low time instrument student, and what happened is very typical. Yea, the wind may have been blowing a bit and causing some correction, but you knew that, and you knew what you had to do. That's real life flying right there. You'll become quicker, smoother, and more proficient as your training progresses.

 

[Jmmccutc]

actual time is something that you've got to practice in to get used to...where do you do your flight trainging at? if it's sunny all the time i feel bad for you...i had 15 hrs actual time before i even got my rating...just get more practice in the soup and you'll start doing better...get your ass to ohio and start building some actual time...

 

[bobbysamd]

Flying in actual

This is only my second time in real IFR but I've got over 20 hours of simulator time plus maybe 10 more under the hood and have never had anywhere near the problems I did today in the real stuff . . .

Your experience has been primarily sim. Don't forget, a sim "flies" differently than an airplane. Moreover, ten hours of airplane hood time really isn't that much. I agree with the others that hoods let everyone cheat to a certain extent.

The funny thing about actual, though, is that it's easier in some ways than being under the hood. Any kind of hood is somewhat uncomfortable, limits your view and a distraction, but actual is easier because your view is unlimited. It's only you and the gauges.

One's first few forays in actual IMC are exciting, and great fun. You'll do better next time.

 

[Metro III]

Imc

I got my Instrument rating in AZ. Most IMC in a C172 in AZ isn't pretty. I didn't get any actual IMC until after my checkride. It was in a Seminole with an instructor. I only had around 10 hours in the airplane. I felt much like what you were describing. I did very well with the hood on, even on my checkride, examiner wrote in my book "Very Satisfactory". I thought I had it down, until I actually tried it. Don't worry though, it was all in my head and probably yours too. It didn't take long before I was as relaxed as I was on any approach. Just stay with an instructor until it all comes together, trust me it will and you'll know when your safe to do it on your own.

 

[Sig]

DUDE!

One thing I always noticed (a thousand years ago, back when we mixed our own paint to draw diagrams on the cave walls) with students who beat themselves up like that two things were usually true:

1) they were waayyyy too hard on themselves;
2) they were pretty dang good on the guages.

Being too hard on yourself undermines everything, though. I was as nervous as a longtailed cat in a roomful of rocking chairs as a new CFII when we'd get into actual... after a couple of sessions of watching it go downhill really fast in IMC, I realized it was really NO BIG DEAL [emergencies notwithstanding]. Of course, that's with two (almost) brains in the cockpit. Nowadays, an 1800 RVR approach is an exciting chance to make it all come together (again, with almost two whole brains up front).

Long/short: let the II do the evaluating. Keep on keepin' on.

I like your attitude- you'll push yourself to be the best you can be. Just give yourself some credit, man!

 

[User546]

I got my Instrument rating in AZ. Most IMC in a C172 in AZ isn't pretty. I didn't get any actual IMC until after my checkride.

Same story here. Got all my ratings in Arizona, and by the time I had finished all my training, I had a wopping 0.8 of actual in my logbook - and that was in a 172.

First real actual I logged after that was my first flight in a Citation, hitting the soup about 5 seconds after my first takeoff. Talk about trial by fire!

I've never understood why people think that actual is much harder to fly in then in training. Staring and interpreting your gauges is no different when its clear blue skies outside, or you can't see pass the nose cone in IMC. If anything, I strive in IMC enviroments, because you HAVE to be on your game in that situation, or it could have very dire consequences.

Maybe someone can explain it to me.

 

[aeronautic1]

You have to pick your equipment better

I learned a long time ago. Never fly in hard IMC without an autopilot. Believe me, it's worth the extra $10 per hour!!


"Propellers are for boats!!"