IMC in the winter.

Ayork62493

Ayork62493

GBR
Hi all,
I'm currently working on my instrument rating in Omaha, Nebraska. I'm planning on taking my checkride for my IR in early May. I do however have one concern, I've been in IMC once with my previous instructor and I thought it was one of the coolest things in the world. It was very short lived, so it wasn't logged. My previous instructor left town and my new instructor plans on having me get my instrument rating with all simulated instrument time. I do NOT want that, Sim isnmt. is nothing like the real thing in my opinion and I want to have experience before I can legally endanger my life in the clouds. I know a few instrument rated pilot's who actually fear clouds, I do not fear them but my instructor dosn't seem to want to go through them. Granted, it's winter I know it's cold out, and I know iceing is a potential hazard. But I know people who go up in single pistons in the winter for Instrument training. I've read as much as I can online, but I wanted to know your opinions. Any day it's broken or overcast he won't go up in the winter, once the time overcast was reported as 400 feet think. From what I know this is good practice for shooting approaches... Which is what I want?
What do you guys think?

Edit:
He won't go up when the ceilings are less then 2500, which is rare in the winter.
 
Ayork62493 said:
Hi all,
I'm currently working on my instrument rating in Omaha, Nebraska. I'm planning on taking my checkride for my IR in early May. I do however have one concern, I've been in IMC once with my previous instructor and I thought it was one of the coolest things in the world. It was very short lived, so it wasn't logged. My previous instructor left town and my new instructor plans on having me get my instrument rating with all simulated instrument time. I do NOT want that, Sim isnmt. is nothing like the real thing in my opinion and I want to have experience before I can legally endanger my life in the clouds. I know a few instrument rated pilot's who actually fear clouds, I do not fear them but my instructor dosn't seem to want to go through them. Granted, it's winter I know it's cold out, and I know iceing is a potential hazard. But I know people who go up in single pistons in the winter for Instrument training. I've read as much as I can online, but I wanted to know your opinions. Any day it's broken or overcast he won't go up in the winter, once the time overcast was reported as 400 feet think. From what I know this is good practice for shooting approaches... Which is what I want?
What do you guys think?

Edit:
He won't go up when the ceilings are less then 2500, which is rare in the winter.
Click to expand...

Its pretty hard to get IMC in Omaha if not impossible because of icing. I have the same troubles in WY.
 
Just like the PPL, the instrument rating is a ticket to learn.

While being cautious is a good thing, by the time a CFI become a II, they shouldn't be afraid of the clouds, icing not withstanding.
Tell your II to grow a pair, and let you learn in the real deal. "Actual" is different than wearing a hood.
 
Ayork62493 said:
Hi all,
I'm currently working on my instrument rating in Omaha, Nebraska. I'm planning on taking my checkride for my IR in early May. I do however have one concern, I've been in IMC once with my previous instructor and I thought it was one of the coolest things in the world. It was very short lived, so it wasn't logged. My previous instructor left town and my new instructor plans on having me get my instrument rating with all simulated instrument time. I do NOT want that, Sim isnmt. is nothing like the real thing in my opinion and I want to have experience before I can legally endanger my life in the clouds. I know a few instrument rated pilot's who actually fear clouds, I do not fear them but my instructor dosn't seem to want to go through them. Granted, it's winter I know it's cold out, and I know iceing is a potential hazard. But I know people who go up in single pistons in the winter for Instrument training. I've read as much as I can online, but I wanted to know your opinions. Any day it's broken or overcast he won't go up in the winter, once the time overcast was reported as 400 feet think. From what I know this is good practice for shooting approaches... Which is what I want?
What do you guys think?

Edit:
He won't go up when the ceilings are less then 2500, which is rare in the winter.
Click to expand...

I did all of my instrument training under the hood. Even if you completed all of your training in actual, it wouldn't make you an IFR god. Like all things, it takes time to build confidence and proficiency. Just get through your training and build your actual time once you're rated. Use good judgement of course, and it's never a bad idea to fly with a safety pilot (who is Instrument Rated of course) in actual. Somthing I still do even though I've had my ticket for a few months now.
 
If you can do it without icing, by all means do.

That said, it's unlikely that you'll be able to in OMA in winter.

Wait, I just saw the edit where he won't go up with ceilings less than 2500. SRSLY? Dude needs to grow up. Unless of course those are his minimums because the airplanes you're flying are crap. I have no idea if that's the case, that's just the only thing I can think of that would set my personal minimums that high if I was current and proficient on instruments
 
I'd say your flight instructor wants to be around to teach instrument students next winter.

If it were 6 months from now and the temps were way above freezing with no threat of TS than it would be a different story. I know it's frustrating and believe me it is, but you simply cannot fly safely in these conditions when it's cold.

Are you going to pursue further ratings after your instrument?
 
Can I back my own post up with a post? lol.

At my local 'drome the ILS IAF is 2700', the VOR is 2500', the RNAVs are... somewhere around there... For an instrument student beyond BAI, I wouldn't be able to do less than 2500 either in the wintertime. brrrrrrrrr
 
My first touch of clouds was during training at a 135 cargo operator. At night. Between cells. Doing stalls in a hold. I had been instrument for a year, but the school I went to didn't allow pilots to go IMC (regardless of freezing level). Its great that you have the desire to go find IMC. Developing that skill will help you gain confidence to do at minimum approaches, fly in very much less then optimum conditions and show you that their isn't anything to fear (but respect). Find a way to gain that IMC experience. Just don't undercut the industry or do anything that is counterproductive to your training. Good luck!
 
JLF said:
I'd say your flight instructor wants to be around to teach instrument students next winter.

If it were 6 months from now and the temps were way above freezing with no threat of TS than it would be a different story. I know it's frustrating and believe me it is, but you simply cannot fly safely in these conditions when it's cold.

Are you going to pursue further ratings after your instrument?
Click to expand...

Yes, I plan to make a career of this. I'm only 16 at the moment.
 
You are a lot further along than I was when I was 16. I was just finishing my solo and you are already talking about IFR flying!
 
Training in actual doesn't happen in OMA in the winter. It's just too cold and you will get ice. I live in OMA and a single engine piston airplane is not what you want to be flying if you're in the clouds right now.
 
Hey, I've lived in North Platte, Kearney, and now Omaha. I've got a lot of experience flying in this region.

In a nutshell, those clouds are below freezing and your instructor knows what he is talking about. There might be some rare occasions(temperature inversions) where you could get in them, but it's really not worth the effort or worth jeopardizing safety.

I'd say do as much hood work as possible, because that's probably how you will do your checkride anyways. Actual time is hard to come by, especially for a private pilot. Take your time, get your hood work in, and the actual time will come.
 
cmhumphr said:
You are a lot further along than I was when I was 16. I was just finishing my solo and you are already talking about IFR flying!
Click to expand...

Goal is to get the private and IR on my 17th birthday. Maybe the IR the day after, it'll depend. I need about 30 more hours sim/actual instrument and I'm set.
 
Don't worry about the actual instrument time right now. It will come. No need to rush into things at this point. Based on what you are saying, the situation may not be ideal with your CFII in regards to minimums. However, there is still plenty you can do to simulate IFR. I did all my instrument training up here in Minnesota during the winter. I knew going in that my actual time would be limited, at best. In the end I think I had 3 hours actual. One way I tried to compensate for the lack of actual time was to do nearly all my training after dark. While not the same as truly being in the clouds, I found it better than under the hood during the day. Basically, it makes it harder to "cheat," if you will. While the hood may not be fun, just keep in mind that it is a useful training device. Get your license now, then go gain the experience in the clouds with an appropriately rated, and current/proficient pilot.
 
Ayork62493 said:
Goal is to get the private and IR on my 17th birthday. Maybe the IR the day after, it'll depend. I need about 30 more hours sim/actual instrument and I'm set.
Click to expand...

I think you can only use 20 hours worth of sim time towards your rating.....I think there are a couple exceptions, but for the most part it's 20 hours. I'd say get comfortable with the hood. Like it or not, that hood easier to get into than actual, and more realistic than the sim.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top