7 Things to Expect During IFR Training

According to federal regulation, a private pilot needs to receive "three hours of flight training in a single-engine airplane on the control and maneuvering of an airplane solely by reference to instruments, including straight and level flight, constant airspeed climbs and descents, turns to a heading, recovery from unusual flight attitudes, radio communications, and the use of navigation systems/facilities and radar services appropriate to instrument flight."

The idea behind this is that the pilot will have basic knowledge of how to control an aircraft if they lose outside visual references. The most important thing to learn is: Trust the instruments because your body will lie to you.

Instrument training begins with basic attitude flying. The pilot will be under a view limiting device (VLD), such as a hood or Foggles flight training glasses, so they can't see the horizon out the window. They will be maintaining heading and altitude by reference to the flight instruments, specifically the attitude indicator, altimeter, airspeed, turn coordinator, heading indicator, and vertical speed indicator.

It is very much like watching a box of kittens. You can’t fixate on one, because the rest will get out of the box. Do so and you will be behind the airplane.

Do this by moving your eyes only, not your head because the latter can lead to spatial disorientation and airsickness. Fly with your fingertips, which means don't grip the yoke or stick tightly, and gently trim the aircraft—no dramatic turns of the wheel or holding down the button on the electric trim.

Treat trim like garlic. A little goes a long way, and you have to taste (see if the airplane is in trim) before you add more.

Carry a Ziploc bag down the front of your shirt just in case. This queasiness goes away in a few flights.

It also helps to suck on a mint Tic Tac during the flight because mint helps keep your stomach calm.

Do the first few lessons under VLD in VFR conditions while listening to flight following. 

You don't necessarily have to be on a flight plan because the instructor should be looking out the window watching for traffic.

Before the lesson, review the local approaches and look for fixes in the vicinity of the airport or that are attached to feeder routes. Keep your ears up for those because this information tells you where the traffic will be.

On marginal VFR days file an IFR flight plan that takes you in and out of the clouds so you can get used to the sensation of entering a cloud and the jolt that happens when you go from the relatively warmer air (clear) to the cooler air in the cloud.

The trick to going in and out of the clouds is to get on the gauges and keep your attention on them.

If you have Microsoft Flight Simulator or X-Plane, practice your scan there. You won't have the physical motion of the airplane, so you will need to be extra attentive to what the instruments are doing. This will help you when you move back into the aircraft.

Instrument flying allows you to fly into the clouds, but in the clouds is where you find ice, so read the terminal area forecast (TAF) carefully. Note the freezing level and the nearest VFR to give yourself an "out" if you encounter unforecasted icing and need to get into clear skies.

If you are training in a Part 61 program you will need to have logged at least 50 hours of cross-country time as pilot in command (PIC). Because instrument skills are so perishable, you don't want to take big breaks during the training, so it will behoove you to plan to build those hours before and or during your instrument training.

If the training is being done under Part 141, the 50 hours of cross-country PIC is waived, but many pilots find they benefit from flying in the airspace on flight following since it is very similar to flying on an IFR flight plan.

Although it is not a requirement to have actual time in the clouds, you may find it highly beneficial as it will give you extra confidence when it happens outside the training environment.

Add instrument practice to your proficiency and currency regime.

In addition to the three takeoffs and landings every 90 days, add an instrument approach into the mix. On VFR days invite a pilot-rated friend along to be your safety pilot.