I assume I don't have to get the 50 pic xc hours before I start my training, but how much should I do before I start training?
Depends on the time you expect to do x/c during your ir training. Most of the 40 hours hood time will be Basic Instruments and Holding and Approaches. If you spend 30 hours on that and 10 X/C, you get the picture. It all depends on your ability to execute the approaches and holds and stuff. It also depends on your location. If you have a good airport for approach practice that is just 51 miles away, you can build some X/C time going to that airport to practice approaches.I don't have to get the 50 pic xc hours before I start my training, but how much should I do before I start training?
Yeah, KASH is like 51.0nm away, but they have like the exact same approaches that my airport does, so it would almost be a waste of time going all the way there and back when we could do it all at SFM.Depends on the time you expect to do x/c during your ir training. Most of the 40 hours hood time will be Basic Instruments and Holding and Approaches. If you spend 30 hours on that and 10 X/C, you get the picture. It all depends on your ability to execute the approaches and holds and stuff. It also depends on your location. If you have a good airport for approach practice that is just 51 miles away, you can build some X/C time going to that airport to practice approaches.
Don't do anything. The X/C time is better spent with you under the hood, practicing approaches wherever you are going to. It would be better if you knew how to do them before trying to get the practice![]()
I agree wholeheartedly. But we need to consider the folks who don't care about experience and just want to pound out the ratings.I disagree. I think there is value to getting X/C time under the hood, but if you do them all that way you'll miss an opportunity to leave your comfort zone, and go out and find situations where you have to be the Pilot in Command and make command decisions which is some of the most valuable experience you can gain early in your development as a pilot.
I disagree. I think there is value to getting X/C time under the hood, but if you do them all that way you'll miss an opportunity to leave your comfort zone, and go out and find situations where you have to be the Pilot in Command and make command decisions which is some of the most valuable experience you can gain early in your development as a pilot.
I disagree. I think there is value to getting X/C time under the hood, but if you do them all that way you'll miss an opportunity to leave your comfort zone, and go out and find situations where you have to be the Pilot in Command and make command decisions which is some of the most valuable experience you can gain early in your development as a pilot.
Don't get me wrong, experience always is good. I don't see how the X/C PIC experience is somehow less valuable if you are doing it under the hood though.
And besides, flying outside of your comfort zone is more likely to happen once you have the instrument ticket. Otherwise, if the forecast isn't CAVU, you probably aren't going very far from home.
Trying to learn on your own, even with a safety pilot, you're at least as likely to learn how to do it wrong.
I don't see how the X/C PIC experience is somehow less valuable if you are doing it under the hood though.
I suggest you get a mixture of both. Maybe knock out your commercial X/C while building your experience for IA.
Yes, it may be that, but your question is about how much x/c time you need before starting. With a convenient airport 51 miles away, you can "fill in" any last few hours of X/C before checkride, so I would factor that in. A training flt to that airport with a half dozen approaches, holds, etc, with at least one touchdown on the runway will produce 2-3 hours of X/C.Yeah, KASH is like 51.0nm away, but they have like the exact same approaches that my airport does, so it would almost be a waste of time going all the way there and back when we could do it all at SFM.
Get it done as cheap as possible. Experience isn't gained getting the rating-it comes once you have the rating and you get to do it alone without someone there.
Cheap wins out every time.