Practice Approaches VFR

Murdoughnut

Murdoughnut

Well sized member
Are you allowed to practice instrument approaches if you're a non-instrument rated pilot, are in VFR conditions, and are by yourself (no safety pilot, obviously not under the hood)? Not looking to log the approaches, was just wondering if you could request an approach from ATC even though you were flying VFR for practice purposes. I'm not even sure if this is something people do, just thought I'd ask.

Thanks
 
Absolutely. You are not only in VFR conditions but you are also under Visual Flight Rules. Just ask for a practice approach. Workload permitting, ATC willl be happy to do it.

BTW, it's a shame more folks don't do eyes-open practice approaches on their own. Even if not under the hood, they help you learn the procedures. Even better, since you can see what the result is, it give the approaches a context and may even help a bit with the tendency to overcontroll when you can't see.
 
Well they are not giving you a IFR clearance so you prob could. However if you don't know what you are doing you are prob going to have a few words for you. I would recomend doing it at an airport where you don't need to take to ATC.
 
Sure!

I used to do it a lot. It gives you a nice visual to compare to the gauges. I think it makes it easier to correlate your position when you're in the soup when you know what it looks like VFR. (edit to add: MLF said it first, and better).

I don't see a problem doing it at controlled fields, either, as long as they aren't too busy. Good practice working "the system".
 
Awesome - thanks. I've been studying the approach plates and procedures information pretty hard. I haven't started formal IR training yet as I'm waiting to built my CC and hood time first. I think I'll try some practice approaches early one morning when there's not a lot of traffic in the system.

Thanks for the advice guys!
 
Good plan.

Let the controller know that you're just learning the procedures and not yet instrument rated. They'll handle you in a manner consistent with your experience level and things will go much smoother for both you and them.

Have a blast!
 
Yes and its' a good idea too. When I started IFR training, Id be under the hood and OFTEN would overcorrect myself coming in on an ILS. Doing it one day, on my own, eyes open, clear skies, but following the needles, gave me a much better feel for what I needed to be doing.

I'll never forget, about 3 days after getting my instrument, going on a flight, in actual IFR, and getting vectored for an ILS.. I was a little nervous, mostly excited.. because this was the real thing! Broke out of the thick soup about 500' above minimums.. and by god.. I was lined up w/the runway - beautiful site and so rewarding!
 
Murdoughnut said:
Awesome - thanks. I've been studying the approach plates and procedures information pretty hard. I haven't started formal IR training yet as I'm waiting to built my CC and hood time first. I think I'll try some practice approaches early one morning when there's not a lot of traffic in the system.

Thanks for the advice guys!
Click to expand...

I would suggest possibly taking a CFI-I up for a lesson or two, just to make sure you *know* what you're doing, but that's just me. Better to learn something right the first time and then practice a bit on your own, IMO.
 
I agree that you can do this and it's a great idea. One thing you may want to do is go up with an instructor for an hour or two and just make sure you really have an idea of how to fly the approaches, at least get a little ground work, or even go through a couple with a fellow IR pilot.
 
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