Commercial or Instrument - which to do?

ahw01

ahw01

Well-Known Member
Flying is a first love for me but unfortunately a sideline to my current career. I did a PPL multi add-on last July and will head back to Phoenix this June. I want to get Comm & Inst for proficiency (you never know what the future job market might hold either), but with 2 weeks (+ a week's holiday with the other half) which is best to do this time around?

I'm thinking PPL Multi VFR to Comm Multi VFR is the easiest to gain,

PPL Multi VFR to PPL Multi IFR would give me more skills, but I can always come back to do an accel IR at ATP or wherever - time/cost probably prohibit me taking 5 weeks off in one go to do both.

Which would you do? I'd love to hold the commercial cert, and then I could tackle instrument flying as a separate exercise. though IR is the better skill, in case I get to fly a jet over the summer (just for e.g.), which Comm VFR (a fairly limited certificate) wouldn't let me do.

Alex.
 
I would go for the IR. I think for now you will get more out of it and it opens up a whole lot more flying for you. Nothing like filing IFR and going thru the clouds instead of having to navigate around them. Also, the commercial will come with a limitation without the IR. You wouldn't be able to fly more than 50 nm from your airport for compensation or hire, nor would you be able to fly for compensation or hire at night. Assuming you looked for a flying gig.
 
Get the IR. Gives you more options. You aren't employed in the aviation industry or immediately planning it so a CSEL/CMEL ticket is really useless to you at the moment. The IR, however, is not.
 
killbilly said:
Get the IR. Gives you more options. You aren't employed in the aviation industry or immediately planning it so a CSEL/CMEL ticket is really useless to you at the moment. The IR, however, is not.
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+1. To actually use the Comm ticket you basically need the IR anyway.
 
Depends on what you want to do. If you want to fly IFR, then get the IR, otherwise, you'll learn some valuable stick and rudder stuff during the commercial.
 
Thinking about it more:

The IR (XC hr building/instruction in a single, checkride in a multi) should be more expensive and take longer than just doing X-C hr building then Comm Multi, but if I can do the hours in the same time that's ideal.

61.129 has some hours reqs for Comm ME initial, but they're less than the 40 Sim Instrument for IR - If I don't have the time for IR, I can go for Comm, I'd try and follow a 10 day IFR syllabus after making up the time.

Should I take the PPL IR in a Single or a Multi if Comm is next? I guess a Multi is easier, depending on how much I csn knock out in a 172.

Alex.
 
Although if I do Comm, I have the urgency to do Instrument to unrestrict the certificate, which I could do with a 10 day IFR program (ATP etc). It would mean the IFR currency clock would start later but if there's only 3 months difference in timing, I guess it doesn't matter.

Though the PPL IR PTS limits would be lower than Comm PTS limits?

Alex.
 
ahw01 said:
Although if I do Comm, I have the urgency to do Instrument to unrestrict the certificate, which I could do with a 10 day IFR program (ATP etc). It would mean the IFR currency clock would start later but if there's only 3 months difference in timing, I guess it doesn't matter.

Though the PPL IR PTS limits would be lower than Comm PTS limits?

Alex.
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not saying I would do the comm first, but if you do the comm first, the IR would be very short, very cheap, but at the same time not as rewarding experience wise.

maybe that's just me.
 
ahw01 said:
Though the PPL IR PTS limits would be lower than Comm PTS limits?
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There is no distinction between adding an instrument rating to a private or a commercial certifcate. The PTS is just for the Instrument Rating itself and not dependent on which certificate you have prior.
 
Good point, thanks for the clarification. I think part of the Instrument checkride can be done in the Sim (not all) but if I have the hours of dual under 61.129 then the commercial can entirely be done in the sim?

Alex.
 
Update:

It looks like I'll do instrument first, but given i'll do commercial soon afterwards, is it better to do instrument SEL or MEL (ie most of the hours SEL then checkride in a twin) or does it not matter, as when I do the Comm ride it'll be in a twin anyway?

Alex.
 
ahw01 said:
Update:

It looks like I'll do instrument first, but given i'll do commercial soon afterwards, is it better to do instrument SEL or MEL (ie most of the hours SEL then checkride in a twin) or does it not matter, as when I do the Comm ride it'll be in a twin anyway?

Alex.
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the comm ride does not have to be in a twin.

What I would say to do to keep cost down is to go SEL instrument, SEL Comm and then get a multi addon.

if you get a multi comm you will need to get a single engine addon so either way.
 
I think as I am multi trained I should keep doing the checkrides in the multi, maybe comm SE add-on one day, but I can train in the 172, take the actual checkride in a twin (PPL Inst) and then do Comm in a twin, unless there is a distinct advantage to do PPL Inst SEL then Comm Inst MEL?

Alex.
 
ahw01 said:
I think as I am multi trained I should keep doing the checkrides in the multi, maybe comm SE add-on one day, but I can train in the 172, take the actual checkride in a twin (PPL Inst) and then do Comm in a twin, unless there is a distinct advantage to do PPL Inst SEL then Comm Inst MEL?

Alex.
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that's why I said get them all single and just get a multi addon.

that way you only do a multi once.
 
There are quite a few intangibles you've not addressed that will probably need to be considered. For example, I have approximately 300 hours TT. The easiest/quickest rating for me to achieve is CSEL. Nope, I have the 50nm restriction, but hey. . .I can banner tow in and around the Houston area if it becomes available and I have the right connections.

Should I decide to pursue my IR rating (which is guaranteed), my plan is to get the multi-add on then get CMEL IFR rating. Doing the math, it can be both faster and less expensive in the long term.
 
That way is cheaper though getting multi first does help build multi time.

There's the argument between my old CFI and the chief guy over timebuilding - I need 30 XC PIC and also 30 Sim Instrument (15 dual) - there should be no reason why the XC flights cannot be used as good Instrument practice under the hood?

The opposing view is:

"In addition, the regs require that your meet the minimum aeronautical experience requirements separately. you cannot do your instrument training, take your IR check ride and then call your IR training Commercial training. At a minimum the regulations will require that you receive 15 hours of dual instrument training and 20 hours dual/10 hours solo for commercial training. In addition you will need to meet the total aeronautical experience requirements of 61.129 (commercial)"

Which is correct, or does that depend on the interpretation of the individual DPE and my ability to defend it?

Alex.
 
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