When should I start my instrument rating?

blackhawks77

blackhawks77

New Member
I got my PPL about 3 months ago and decided to start my instrument rating about a month ago. The problem is I only have 24 hours PIC XC. I need 50 hours so I have a while to go. I am wondering when I should call my instructor to start and keep in mind that I can only go flying 2-3 times a week. So should I wait to get all 50 hours or should I call my instructor now and buld XC PIC and do my Instrument stuff together?
 
blackhawks77 said:
I got my PPL about 3 months ago and decided to start my instrument rating about a month ago. The problem is I only have 24 hours PIC XC. I need 50 hours so I have a while to go. I am wondering when I should call my instructor to start and keep in mind that I can only go flying 2-3 times a week. So should I wait to get all 50 hours or should I call my instructor now and buld XC PIC and do my Instrument stuff together?
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Start with the instructor now and learn what you should be doing and then get a safety pilot so you can do those XC hours under the hood then it counts both ways.

DO NOT just go and get under the hood till after you have worked with an instructor, that just creates bad habits that the instructor will have to break you of.
 
I was thinking of doing a lesson with my instructor on the weekend and then do a cross country under the hood during the week after school. I just do not know if that will be possible because I do not know really any safety pilots.
 
Well post on here that you are looking, ask your flight school if any other students want too, hang out at the airport for a few hours and ask; they are out there.
 
During the instrument training my students will log about 10-20 hours of xcountry time. All of that is PIC for the student. I wouldn't build to much more xcountry time because you probably will not need it. Obviously the instructor needs to know that he needs to take you at least 50nm on some of your flights (usually towards the end of your training when you are shooting approaches), but you should be able to get at least 10 hours of xcountry time during your training.
 
Concentrate on the written first - wait to do the flying until you have your written in hand. Provides a good foundation to take into your flight training.
 
Murdoughnut said:
Concentrate on the written first - wait to do the flying until you have your written in hand. Provides a good foundation to take into your flight training.
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:yeahthat: How could I forget that.

It is really hard to work with students that are trying to study for the written and complete the flying at the same time. Their brains just aren't all the way there.
 
You can do it Part 141 right away without having to get the x/c time. However, I personally think it's a lot better to fly around in the system by yourself for awhile before starting the IR. Go gain some confidence by visiting new airports and ALWAYS get flight following. It's almost exactly like flying IFR.
 
If you are not strong with ATC communications, find a towered field and do a lot of talking with them. On EVERY cross country get flight following!

GOOD atc communications are very very important
 
bdhill1979 said:
Start with the instructor now and learn what you should be doing and then get a safety pilot so you can do those XC hours under the hood then it counts both ways.

DO NOT just go and get under the hood till after you have worked with an instructor, that just creates bad habits that the instructor will have to break you of.
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I always recommend getting about 5 hours of hood time with an instructor (yes in addition to that of the PPL requirement). THEN find a friend to split the time in the plane. It is always great if that friend is an instrument rated pilot!
 
mooneyguy said:
If you are not strong with ATC communications, find a towered field and do a lot of talking with them. On EVERY cross country get flight following!

GOOD atc communications are very very important
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The airport I fly out of is controlled D airspace and I regularly fly through DEN airspace.
 
Murdoughnut said:
Concentrate on the written first - wait to do the flying until you have your written in hand. Provides a good foundation to take into your flight training.
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I am planning on taking an insrument/commercial ground school class at a local college starting next month. So I am going to be busy with those classes and flying pretty much everyday. But I have already read the Jeppesen text book twice on instrument flying.
 
blackhawks77 said:
I am planning on taking an insrument/commercial ground school class at a local college starting next month. So I am going to be busy with those classes and flying pretty much everyday. But I have already read the Jeppesen text book twice on instrument flying.
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That's a good source, I found that textbook helpful too. Also check out my training blog (below) - I've put it together to help others working on the instrument rating.
 
Murdoughnut said:
That's a good source, I found that textbook helpful too. Also check out my training blog (below) - I've put it together to help others working on the instrument rating.
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I also picked up Machado's "Instrument Pilot's Survival Guide." I don't need it yet at this point in my training, but it's nice to have. Huge amount of information, very readable and easy-to-understand. Might supplement the Jepp nicely.
 
If you want to work on ATC communications, I would try to find an airport with a TRSA. They are usually not that busy, and if you have a safety pilot you could go under the hood and do practice approaches in an environment that is just like flying IFR
 
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