First Instrument approach in IMC at night, to minimums!

My CFI, Matt, with PrecisionAire Aviation ( / @precisionaireaviation... ) and I decided to take advantage of the less than ideal weather to practice some approaches. Looking at the map, KDBQ, Dubuque had the worst forecast, so that is where we went! This wasn't my first time in actual IMC at night, but the first time shooting an approach through it!
We setup for the VOR rwy 31 approach and encountered ceiling down to minimums! After a short hold however, the weather changed for the better!
Enjoy the many nuggets of wisdom Matt adds, especially on the Garmin G530, and see me poorly fly an airplane. Still getting a feel for audio recording so bare with me!
Index:
0:32 Going over our flight plan and entering in the G530
2:18 Calling Clearance and Ground
4:15 A proper pre departure briefing
7:29 Take off! and going enroute in IMC
10:30 Briefing the approach (sorry for bad audio!)
16:00 Approaching the Initial Approach Fix (IAF)
17:30 Getting close to flying one nasty looking procedure turn
20:00 Getting sloppy in IMC, getting close to the Final Approach Fix (FAF)
21:10 Getting down to minimums! Going Missed
26:00 going to the hold and planning our next approach, discussing limitations on G530
31:48 Briefing the RNAV 13 KDBQ
38:09 Final Approach Fix RNAV13 ( I am doing this under the hood)
39:45 Land or no?
Items used in making this video:
Audio Recorder amzn.to/2HyUtgr
GoPro Hero 7 (cockpit view) amzn.to/34bXay3
GoPro Hero 6 (front windshield view) amzn.to/2MKlPVk

[@cameroncunningham4520]

This instructor is grade A. As a CFII myself I am very impressed with his cool calm and collected attitude. Well done. Thank bank to the left scared TF out of me though

[@jaw065]

also the thought of teaching in those conditions with only one yoke to share. I wouldn't do it with just any student. would have to be someone i can trust 100%

[@davidschechter195]

Absolutely nothing like the first instrument approach in real IMC when you come out of the muck and see the runway. You know it's going to be there but it's still a thrill when you see it.

[@Bigsky1991]

You HOPE it's going to be there! Lol!

[@Adalla]

As a VFR pilot with 15 hours of instrument training, this video reminds me of just how difficult flying is, and how much more difficult IFR flying is. The pilot workload can become overwhelming SO easily. Between 6 instruments to constantly watch, altitude, heading, attitude, speed + briefing and planning and reading charts and plates, having to think about what to say to ATC and when, thinking about how to enter a pattern, remembering to do the aircraft checklists and dealing with the props and mixture, remembering to turn on the approach lights, and doing all this ideally ahead of the plane by as many minutes as possible...respect for all pilots that do this properly. Especially student pilots, low time pilots and instructors. Especially for pilots that fly steam gauges and manually. In the age of G1000s and autopilots, when the plane flies itself, things as just so much easier and can lead to complacency and loss of real skill.

[@mountains_beaches98]

Very well said, it’s been an year since I did my instrument rating and I’m currently doing my type rating for A320 which is whole another level of automation and understanding you need about systems and procedures. Dealing with abnormal procedures, system failures and landing these big jets is awesome but feels like I’m miss the stuff I used to do during early training days where I’m constantly using my head to work around approaches, talking to the atc, checklists all alone, here we are a team of two sharing our tasks which is quite important in a machine where we are doing 150-200kts but, I will badly miss the days I flew with my instructors and my friend back seating the a/c 😅. I’m having a nostalgia trip watching these videos even though it hasn’t been so long, time flews so fast.

[@yoopernow]

My first time to minimums was into Burbank in the 90's, with a Southwest 737 in trail. I remember how FOCUSED I was, but almost surprised when I looked up at minimums and saw the lights, just a bit right of the nose. Completed the landing, cleared the runway and looked out just to see the Southwest's landing lights as he announced "Missed approach". Grinned all the way home...

[@southsideofhawthorne6507]

Wow.

[@scuddrunner1]

Thats awesome!! SW pilots are all military pilots.

[@a.nasongo3152]

Beautiful 😅

[@yoopernow]

@@scuddrunner1 It was a ragged layer, so my timing was just better than theirs, lol...

[@txman201]

@@yoopernow aren't minimums different based on approach speed? At a lower speed on the approach, you'd have the luxury of lower minimums than a 737 with it's higher approach speed.

[@locustvalleystring]

Very educational way to go over an IFR approach. We, as observers, get to see the issues we all have seen and catch them as they happen from the comfort of our desk. My first ILS at night to minimums was into LNS. We were holding a noticable crosswind correction when the approach lights appeared. When I started a bank toward the direction of the lights, my instructor stopped me with a quick hand to the yoke and said "don't turn...hold your current heading". That was a revelation to me. My current heading was what was needed to get to the runway...obviously. Live and learn. Some things can only be learned by doing.

[@videopokernetwork6824]

The best Instructors fly 3 steps ahead of the Student. This Instructor was teaching you how he does it. You got lucky by having him mentor you.

[@Crouchypants]

I feel stressed watching this, in spite of my IR(R)...! It’s amazing how much harder this is when you swap the sim for a real aeroplane. The vestibular illusions (which we of course ignore but it’s yet another sensory input which we must use executive function to discard), the radio chatter in..... varying volume (good old AM radio), throwing the entire approach brief in the can when something changes, not having an AP to help the workload so programming, gaining SA for the new procedure whilst flying and not losing the scan, managing prop, MAP, gear. Well done to the trainee; this is properly hard and managing the workload is sooooo much harder than in the sim

[@princevillekauainorthshore736]

I am not a pilot and loved watching this. The instructor was top notch to detail.

[@josephburton92]

This video is buttery smooth. I thought this was flight sim 2020

[@aviatortrevor]

A trick on many garmin units to load a 2nd approach is to go to an empty/inactive flight plan and hit the “menu” key, and load an approach on that separate flight plan using the menu-key method (instead of the PROC procedures button), and then when it’s time to switch approaches you just make the other flight plan your primary flight plan and activate the approach.

[@AvianaAircraft]

I’ll have to try that next time I fly!

[@MrGameface]

.... that is brilliant.

[@jamesmackinlay4477]

I remember my my first solo IFR approach was a busted forecast into Fredrick Md another 100 feet it would have been minimums. I just got my rating but I wanted just a few more lessons before I thought I was ready. I was in a Piper Arrow no gps then all gauges all I kept thinking was I done this at least 100 times before with my instructor gentle and deliberate control movements cross check everything and stay focused and calm. WHEW when I broke out there it was the runway your first real instrument approach is something you never forget.

[@bayernrekordmeister344]

I flew an ILS in a 4 Bomber with 2 engines on fire and the Nazis shooting at me while smoking a Cuban cigar......Then I woke up.

[@miltonmiller]

I am not a pilot and watching videos like this I am pretty impressed with the amount of workload on the pilots. A lot of things to memorize, check and do. Fascinating stuff. Will keep learning.

[@connorhale599]

Flying to minimums is what will save our job from automation. Even though modern airliners can land themselves, no way should anyone be comfortable without a pilot onboard

[@miltonmiller]

@@connorhale599 I think there is no way they will automate to the point of getting the pilots out of the cockpit. There are too many decisions, too much complexity, the human factor is way too crucial.

[@azcharlie2009]

I got my private and instrument rating at the Cedar Rapids Airport many years ago. Watching this video brings back a lot of memories - lots of nights flying with my instructor, Harley Noe. May he rest in peace. This was back when Wathan Flying Service was where Signature is now.

[@avatar098]

Man, flying instruments only looks so stressful. I'm currently saving my money so I can get my PPL!

[@AvianaAircraft]

Good luck! It will be some of the best money you will ever spend! I had a great time flying all over Iowa for my PPL. I took up one of those 1 year 0% interest credit cards so I could fly as often as I needed. I think being able to fly 3-5 times a week helped me save money by getting my license faster!

[@theflyingguy7279]

@@AvianaAircraft this is exactly what I done ... flew frequently so it kept me focused & saved me lonely in the long run. Just starting my IMC training this week - and just want to say - great videos

[@Crouchypants]

It is kinda stressful, but also remember that training flights do cram a fair bit in, you don’t learn much cruising straight and level above an undercast with the autopilot doing the flying. That said, when you’re hand flying raw data NDB approaches in training, it’s just as hard hand flying raw data NDB approaches after you’ve got your licence, although after you’ve got your licence you can start to use the AP to help you when workload is high. You do still have to keep half an eye on it though incase it gives you the aeroplane back unexpectedly and you’ve no SA!

[@darthmoomoo]

I think this is the first IMC approach video that I have seen. Thanks for posting this! Something to look forward to for later when I finally have my Private Pilot!

[@douglaswhitcomb9729]

I used to provide instrument training at night in IMC all the time. This was well before any type of GPS. Now 35+ years later and a career in FAR 91 two pilot corporate flying, I sometimes wonder what the heck was I thinking. The CFII did a fantastic job here. The experience the student gained in this training was invaluable. The actual missed approach for example. For those of you watching that are instrument students…once you are rated and plan on night IMC flight, be very conservative with it. Raise your minimums, plan your alternates&fuel carefully. Lastly, any widespread low IFR, forecasted icing or convective WX should be avoided.

[@pmh1nic]

This was a wonderful, real world instructional video. Brought back fond memories of my training days. Thanks for sharing.

[@johnboylong40]

Excellent work! Thanks for the ride and education on the challenge and even terror IMC offers.

[@russelllocke7180]

Very calm & knowledgeable instructor. Enjoyed being taken back to my old flying days. Cheers.

[@bt25tvr93a]

Awesome video. Had me feeling task saturated just watching. Great work by CFI Matt. Makes me want my instrument rating even more.

[@cookingwithcuyandotherfuns6238]

Excellent----thank you for sharing this! I've been flying VFR for 40 years but love watching what it is like to fly IFR. Can not imagine what it was like to fly IFR before FMS's or GPS.

[@ProPilotPete]

Refreshing to see an instructor that’s comfortable and good at instructing, allowing mistakes, calming letting the student fix it. They can’t learn if the instructor is always hovering on the controls. Good job. New subscriber, not sure why I just found your channel

[@TheAlf61]

Great CFII, and good hand flying this high performance in night IMC. Great job guys!

[@mikekopf1173]

just got my ppl a few months ago. Wow! this is really cool. I am sweating just watching this. So much to learn about IFR. Well done.

[@AvianaAircraft]

Glad you enjoyed it! I could not imagine doing this fresh after my PPL.

[@Mikinct]

@@AvianaAircraft how long would you say is the best time to go for IFR training after ppl?

[@noelmasc.4348]

Fantastic, well done guys! Thanks for sharing this..

[@Graffenwehr]

Nice! This gives me something to aspire to! Matt seems like a great instructor.

[@OtakuAviators]

Awesome video! Good practice and good instructor.

[@MrGameface]

Most CFIIs I know wouldn't shoot an approach to min with a student in actual. Honestly, I don't blame them. Instrument students are often very low time pilots and can get overwhelmed very easily. It's a skillset that can be learned without going to mins in IMC, but doing the thing for real is a psychological challenge in itself, outside of simply applying learned skills. That has a lot of value. This instructor was able to bring the student just barely past his workload limit which is the best way to improve skills. There were times when I thought some of the concept teaching he was doing would have been better done on the ground after the landing (especially after the FAF). That would be my only criticism, only because most (if not all) students aren't going to be receptive to new information at 1500 feet, at night, in IMC, tracking a localizer, scanning instruments, and looking for the runway.

[@AvianaAircraft]

I think it helped that by that point I had about 100hrs in the bonanza, and 250hrs total time.

[@rustywidebottom4678]

Your last paragraph is very insightful. Well said. ❤🛩️

[@paulstavrides9785]

Very experienced instructor. Single yoke yet. He trusts you ;)

[@Windtee]

Importance of very small corrections becomes real when inbound on course and glide-path in the soup at night. Great flight!

[@poppetrurazvan3900]

Thank you mister. Fells cosy, exactly as is on msfs. Thank you!

[@anthonyescribens]

What an experience! Thanks for sharing! Awesome job!

[@richborg45]

Very nicely done.

[@marksmith402]

After learning to fly in Iowa, then living in AZ for almost 20 years, now that I'm back, I have renewed respect for IFR WX and not just the mountains. Great Video, Thank You!

[@cjl76]

This brings back so many memories; and I didn’t have the world looking over my shoulder via KZbin! Great job and thanks for publishing.

[@AvianaAircraft]

Glad you enjoyed it! It was a lot of work to edit it surprisingly for only having two cameras!

[@fiddlefolk]

Kudos to the instructor! Very thorough

[@adamspringer2442]

That instructor is awesome! He is very good! Great video guys! Thank you!

[@4420dano]

Lots to like here - particularly the calm of the CFII and the student. I would've been pretty stressed as an IFR student, even as a current instrument pilot, with 500+ hours - in night flight, at minimums, using (what I'd call) old school avionics and DEFINITELY working a hard VOR approach (with procedure turns). Finally, as if all that wasn't enough -- my god -- a one yoke bonanza! Even if there was a pilot freak out, could a CFII take control? Probably not. Even on the 2nd approach, with complete VFR sight of the runway, the approach was unstabilized and botched. Even so, All in all, very very impressive. Nice job - but not for me, thanks - either as pilot or safety.

[@FSAUDIOGUY]

Not something I ever wanted to do. Salute to you brave souls!

[@boryswwa]

Thank You very much for sharing this! I don't have a PPL yet, but I'm thinking about that for many years now, and I thought that I would immediately go for instrument rating as well to be on a safe side, when conditions deteriorate, but seeing this shows, that before your brain has enough capacity to handle instrument flying, it first needs to have basics (basic instrument scans, keeping level, rate of turn etc.) deeply etched in. So basically You no longer need to "think" about flying - it's your second nature, so that you had brain capacity to handle IFR procedures. I didn't take that into consideration before I saw this video, on how workload-heavy it might become, doing IFR approach in IMC.

[@davidsandberg6179]

This is great stuff, extremely educational.

[@bernardanderson7569]

Great IFR flight with your CFII

[@BumHaven]

Wow great example of IMC. Thanks for sharing.

[@AvianaAircraft]

Glad it was helpful!

[@rogerseelbach5330]

This is bad ass..you were in the soup. I love that landing light in the clouds. Im working on my instrument right now.

[@droge192]

Fascinating video, real nailbiting at times! I'd say you did a great job. I've 28 years of VFR flying in (what we now call) LSAs and tip my hat to you sir. At my age and concentration abilities I could not do what you did here. The level of critical multi-tasking you did at times would have fried my old brain. Well done!

[@billgalante1181]

Great video, thanks for sharing.

[@scuddrunner1]

I did my 1st instrument approach after getting my private from Tacoma to Olympia in IMC, rain and winds with a Cessna 172SP. None of the instruments worked because of the driving rain. I was completely lost! My flight instructor was awesome. We did a missed approach and back to Tacoma Narrows. I've never been so scared in my life. That is the perfect video for a new instrument pilot!

[@sparkie951]

Thanks for Sharing and an Excellent Video.

[@mygremlin1]

I remember a Navajo flight I did into Des Moines Iowa in 1987. Day time but fog and a ceiling on the runway. Several other A/C shot the approach going missed trying to get the fog to clear up a bit. When I did my approach I broke out at about 50 feet. A real sweater that one was.

[@dannyefrank9930]

Great video and good job staying calm! Your cfII did a great job as well!

[@precisionaireaviation8970]

Dannye Frank thanks!

[@Marc1973Dez]

AMAZING vid..... brilliant with all the details ...

[@chuckmartin5773]

Great informational video!! Thanks for sharing and keep them coming!

[@AvianaAircraft]

Will do!

[@dylansmith6984]

Great video reminds me of my flight instructor! I hope you add more videos like this one!

[@wayneleinen7030]

Good instruction. Very aware of student's actions and the overall situation.

[@precisionaireaviation8970]

Wayne Leinen thanks!

[@thatguy7085]

You always remember this flight… almost more than your first solo. I made one of these flights… departed into a 400ft ceiling… arrived at minimums.

[@SimDeck]

Superb stuff. So cool.

[@sofuture8848]

nice flying, thanks for sharing this flight :)

[@joycethomas8868]

My old instructor used to say “ stay ahead of the aircraft “ meaning know what should happen next and be ready for it not to happen. Easy to say, hard to do. Good job, good video. Stay safe.

[@AvianaAircraft]

Thanks for watching

[@sammulhare302]

Keep the practice up and stay safe out there! Great video!

[@AvianaAircraft]

Thanks for watching! Trying to get a little bit better every time!

[@johnwighton]

I feel for you too! Great video, thank you.

[@AvianaAircraft]

Thanks for watching!

[@linka1886]

Great student, great instructor. Lots of pointed conversation and reflection. Overall, good control of aircraft and comfortable on the COMMS while fiddling with hard IMC, night, and a complex aircraft. Nice job all around!

[@AvianaAircraft]

Much appreciated!

[@jakesinclair8337]

Great video and great job. Also, good call on your instructor's part by noting the "evasive" actions you would have to make to complete that landing. Always rememeber 91.175 for your requirements to land under IFR. Keep up the good work!

[@HalJikaKick]

Bruce Dickenson in his memoir “What Does This Button Do?” told of his solo IFR landing in zero visibility. I got sweaty just reading it. So many good aviation stories in that book.

[@h2oski1200]

great stuff. I'm prepping for my IR checkride and found this real world IFR flight helpful.

[@AvianaAircraft]

Good luck with your checkride. Hope to get to that point soon!

[@krishansen9674]

This is a great video for me I am studying for my IFR rating and I own a 1960 beechcraft debonair

[@austinformedude]

Awesome CFII. Wish I had one that good during my instrument training.

[@rnordquest]

That was fun. Can't wait to do it myself someday.

[@AvianaAircraft]

Make it happen!

[@megadavis5377]

Well done video, good training. Just remember: The most important factor in successful IMC flying is your COMMITMENT. Learn to instantly forsake what is outside your windshield and commit to your instruments. Nice job on this production.

[@keithexum7312]

Great instructor.

[@coreyjordan2745]

Very educational for future flight training.

[@AvianaAircraft]

Good luck with your training!

[@abhinavsharma-uf3pc]

Really good video that has so much to learn from, really good instructor, I felt like I am flying it, felt so real as it was great job done Keep posting such videos because there is so much to learn who really want to and it’s fun at the same time as well#great job done M sure trainee must have told entire flight to his granny 😄✌️

[@EpicWesley]

As random dude at home, I love the mix you did with the Headset comms in one ear and the Cockpit audio in the other, You can pretend to be a passenger if you mute one of the audio channels :D

[@badgerfishinski6857]

My first IMC ILS was with a Piper Archer into MDW with an ATA B727 on my ass. I broke out at about 800 tho.... so I'm really impressed how these guys flew down to mins in their Bonanza. Thanks for the video gents!

[@dhyde9207]

Wasn't at night, but my first approach close to minimums after earning my ticket taught me a lesson I never forgot. I was so incredibly focused on nailing all the procedures and being perfectly aligned with the runway and hitting every altitude, which I did, that I descended from cruise to the middle marker without ever touching the mixture control. Silence was deafening. I was rather busy for a couple of minutes. Don't EVER make that mistake!

[@johannesb.]

Well done!

[@FlyingAroundOz]

Wow! Very intense and huge workload. Thanks for sharing this. This scared the crap out of this VFR pilot. IMC at night. I can't imagine doing this is windy, gusty conditions...

[@AvianaAircraft]

The thing that helps is that we are not required to land at DBQ. The plane has 5 hours of fuel on board, and there is good weather all around.

[@scottallen8950]

wow, I'd be freaking out and wouldn't be able to do this by myself....great calmness and skill....Impressive!!

[@scottallen8950]

@James k I'm jealous. I wish i could

[@AvianaAircraft]

Thank you very much! practice, practice, practice

[@cn9936]

Great training video. Scary how easy it is to get disoriented. Great pilot and great CFI!

[@AvianaAircraft]

Thanks for watching!

[@goneflying140]

Great video!

[@Dr.GeoDave]

Outstanding!

[@kyleraymer5581]

Did all my flight training in DBQ. This brings back good memories.

[@AvianaAircraft]

I did my first XC to DBQ about 10 years ago. Ate a bison burger at the restaurant. Good memories indeed. Thanks for watching!

[@Goldmangun]

That's a lot of work!

[@kiethlowry2862]

Great video

[@lukevargz]

This is so helpful ! Thank you

[@AvianaAircraft]

Thanks for watching. I will make sure to record more videos next time we are in IMC!

[@santareviews]

Very nice! It took me a while to trust the reindeer in IFR and not my own senses 🎄

[@Pilot-Ali]

Love the faf proceedure and missed appraches mates. I am getting overall feel of instrument approach that how cumbersome it might be in real life scenerio.

[@jsh1257]

I remember hand flying my first few low approaches in actual thinking OMG!!

[@johnfish1194]

I remember my first IFR landing. I was sweating buckets. It was like flying inside a light bulb. ALL i had was instruments. But, the ILS system brought me down right in line with the runway. No issues landing.

[@captainplanet8167]

Im in IFR training. Flying IMC at night seems like so much fun

[@2beesfarmstead819]

As I was watching this I am reminded of the difficulty in SPIFR. You do not have the guy whispering words in your ear, cross checking you and helping. I find I talk to my self a lot. Great training doing instruments at night. I spent a lot of time teaching guys in Pakistan instruments in a Huey :) Even VFR in the high desert it is dark dark.

[@aviatortrucker6285]

This is a great example of how automation makes everyone non-current. Even though the student is learning, it is showing you exactly how hard it is to do all these tasks and hand fly the airplane without hundreds of hours of experience in the make and model. If you have auto pilot, it’s suggested to use it, but you should also do some hand flying in VFR at altitude and getting used to the airplanes, power, setting, pitch, configurations and dissent rates. This way you have better control, setting up a profile, rather than chasing power, heading, and airspeed.

[@Airplane_Willy]

Lots of hours/cycles flying in and out of CID hauling checks back in the day when the FBO was on the west side of the ramp. Miss those days.

[@AvianaAircraft]

Good honest time building there!

[@luisbello8499]

This was excellent! don't really get allot of soup here in Los Angeles unless your by the ocean or sometimes open fields.

[@ellomot0]

You did a great job!

[@AvianaAircraft]

Thanks!

[@skipstraut9719]

You are a Pilot! Awesome!

[@AvianaAircraft]

You beat me to it!

[@tstanley01]

This might be the best IFR video on the internet....

[@BonanzaPilot]

Great instructing! Awesome flight

[@precisionaireaviation8970]

Golf Pilot thanks! Nothing beats flying in real IMC!

[@midlifeflyer]

You can load the next approach by creating a fight plan in the catalog using the menu, not the PROC key. That leaves the current flight plan intact. Then it's ready to a load when you are ready.

[@AvianaAircraft]

Thanks, we will try this on the next one!

[@TheTerrypcurtin]

Went missed on my first in Santa Monica. That was nerve racking. Acceleration and cleaning up the flaps and gear was scary. Plus fighting vertigo. Basically ignoring my inner ear. Went back next one was fine. To min at 500 feet on a circle to land. Exciting. Won't forget it

[@ceebeebeats1077]

Gradually drifting off course is really a challenge when you are too focused on procedures. Been there, it's not an easy task for first few hours flying IFR. Btw great video and superb instructor.Salut!!!