What was your II ride like?

rframe

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I just finished an IPC and am just about finished with my II add-on prep. I always kinda figured it was pretty much an instrument ride from the right seat while explaining/talking as you go, is that pretty much how yours went or was the format any different? Just trying to set my expectations. Will probably take my ride in 1-2 weeks.
 
The flight portion was pretty much an instrument ride but easier. The oral was very different, there were several questions on the FOI but related to the IFR environment (e.g. "You have a private pilot, high time -- all VFR, working on his instrument rating, he thinks he's proficient but you know he's instrument flying just doesn't cut it. How do you handle it?" etc)
 
I'll be doing mine in the next 30 days (before my endorsement runs out), will let you know then.

For what it is worth, every CFII I have asked didn't even remember the ride... Read into that what you like
 
It was probably the easiest checkride ever. The examiner was a very relaxed guy on the oral, too. Overall I was certainly overprepared. I think the hardness factor of the ride will all depend on who your examiner will be. My friend got the one of the roughest CFI-I rides because he did it with the toughest guy in the area. I would study as much as possible either way. There is no guarantee that your examiner will make it easy on you.
 
The hardest part of the II ride for me was studying the AIM, making sure I knew all the RNAV stuff / tolerances / numbers by heart - including how to use the GPS in your plane, i.e. read the manual! For example, what are the terminal / enroute / approach scales? when should they automatically sequence? What makes a GPS unit IFR certified? For the oral, you're already an instructor, so just apply your past experience as a CFI for any FOI questions. I started my studying by re-reading the two FAA instrument books, the front matter from the NOS plates (very important to know the plates through and through) and several chapters from the AIM regarding navigation, RNAV, and the NAS. It was more a review of things I already knew. Again, you're already an instructor, just make sure the knowledge is there so you can teach it. As for the flight portion, piece of cake. Some hood work, explain and enter an intersection hold, failed vacuum pump scenario, critique and ILS, and probably shot a couple non-precision approaches. Have fun and good luck!!

Here's a bonus question - I don't know and our DPE wasn't sure either:
Approach lights in sight = descend to 100' above TDZE, but about a year ago approach plates changed from showing TDZE to THRE instead: http://skyvector.com/files/tpp/1310/pdf/00626IL29.PDF
 
You'll have no problems! Do you know who you are taking it with?

Yeah I'm going to fly with Judy and I'm using SZT's Skyhawk for it, which has a non-waas 430 (assuming they get a couple squawks fixed soon enough). She seems to be a very reasonable and straightforward examiner. Haven't scheduled a date yet, but probably around the 19th.
 
Yeah I've heard good things about her.

Are you going to be adding a larger aircraft to your fleet soon?
 
Are you going to be adding a larger aircraft to your fleet soon?

Still working on it, but most likely will add a 172 or PA28-180 next. I just dropped $2,500 on a new set of magnetos, harness, and plugs for the 150. That was pretty painful :aghast:

All of our spare cash is going into an adoption fund right now, as we're working to adopt a girl from China next year.... so the additional aircraft addition is being pushed out until that's complete, unless I stumble into a leaseback that looks attractive.

In the near-term, I do have a guy who's considering doing a limited-instructinoal lease with me on a Mooney, he's currently working to put a 430W in it, then we may have a deal where I can provide instrument instruction in that. We'll see what comes of it.

Other than that, I've got a couple primary students who bought their own aircraft (a 182 and a Cherokee 180) who both are interested in pursuing their instrument once they finish up their PP check rides (soon).
 
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