Instrument Rating

LoLPilot

Line Up and Wait
Joined
Jun 30, 2018
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626
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St. Louis, MO
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LoLPilot
Hey guys and gals. I know I've been AWOL for a while. I've been lurking but not posting. Been kind of busy with school and also with preparing to convince the FAA that I should have an instrument rating. That happened tonight, and what a checkride it was.

My checkride was scheduled at 5:30. I had done night currency work and had done lots of ground and flown with a couple different CFII's to prepare. I got the the airport about 1 PM and was greeted by one of my friends saying that the plane I had scheduled for my checkride (which we were going to do a VOR check that afternoon on) had failed a VOR check earlier in the day. The other two planes that I'd normally use were down for maintenance. This left one 172 which is new to the school and I'd never flown before. My friend (who is an instructor at the airport) said let's take it up, do the VOR check and have you fly it under the hood. We got .6 hours on it. The DPE was pulling into the parking lot when we got back.

The oral was tough. We went through my weather briefing, approaches, my flight plan, and the DPE hunted until he stumped me. Multiple times. After being sure that I'd completely whiffed on the oral he said "alright let's go out to the airplane." When we got out to the ramp the plane was covered in frost, the fuel caps were open and the tanks were down about 2/3. I called the main office and asked if any of the line service workers were still there. One was there so he came out with deicing equipment and filled the tanks. After getting fueled and defrosted we went out and took off. It was very cold and the engine didn't want to idle initially. We flew a profile with some approaches that I was familiar with, and I liked the plane that I was in but for some reason I just wasn't meshing well with it. Through the whole ride I never felt like I got it trimmed out where it would fly hands off. I know that is just a time in aircraft thing but it bugged me a bit. None of my approaches were stellar, but they were good enough for my DPE.

I guess the question is "now what?" I don't know that I'll fly IFR all that much aside from maintaining currency and proficiency with safety pilots. I'd like to instruct so I will probably start working on commercial maneuvers. At the same time I did a VFR solo flight the other day just to clear my head and found it somewhat disconcerting not to have the voice on the radio and a course to follow. I'm really happy, and really tired, and a little sad. I made a lot of memories training for my private certificate, and I made even more training for my instrument. The instrument training had me making many new friends as I found people to fly with to practice approaches or to build cross country hours with. I guess a little part of me is sad it's over. It was an adventure, and while I know there will be more of those to come this one was special.
 
Congrats! It's a great rating to have! Makes you a better pilot. And at least for me, after I got it I filed every time. Just makes flying so much easier and safer when they're doing the lookout. Use it!
 
Congrats! It's a very freeing rating and allows you a lot more mobility even if it's just an occasional hop through a layer. Of course, for us folks living in the Northern climes it's not a great time to go blunder about in the clouds and freezing levels in our standard smasher of bugs platforms.
 
Congrats! I know what you mean about that weird feeling transitioning back to a VFR flight after spending so much time inside the cockpit.

As for what’s next, there is no downside to starting work on commercial experience requirements and knowledge, especially if you have instructor aspirations. Grab an instructor and go over the commercial maneuvers a few times. They are pretty fun and really do help expand and sharpen stick and rudder skills. I’m not quite to the 250 hours needed to take the commercial check ride, but building the time towards the rating has been some of the most fun I’ve had flying so far!

Congrats again on your IR! That’s a great accomplishment and a really important skill to have.
 
Congrats! Don't be afraid to use your newly-certificated skills.

File IFR whenever you fly XC, especially when you can punch above low clag and get a smooth ride on top, worry-free. Using the system will keep you more proficient for when you need it. Filing IFR takes away almost all the stress and indecision about MFVR flight.

Getting the IR is a significant milestone, and you will never regret having done it.
 
Congats!! Flying IFR will make you feel more like a real pilot. Make sure you use it. I hate VFR days, now. Maintaining currency/proficiency is more fun than ever.
 
When we got out to the ramp the plane was covered in frost, the fuel caps were open and the tanks were down about 2/3. I called the main office and asked if any of the line service workers were still there. One was there so he came out with deicing equipment and filled the tanks.

So despite this incompetence you passed your check ride. :smilewinkgrin:

:cheerswine:
 
Missed this a while back but congrats. Good on ya for keeping it together with the aircraft change, too.
 
Don't accidentally lose your foggles. :)
 
Congrats ,now you determine when to go or not.
 
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