I PASSED MY INSTRUMENT RATING! | 10+ Tips for IR Student Pilots (2018)

Subscribe here ➤goo.gl/2tM0Yd Passing my IR was a big challenge, so here is my advice on how to do great in your training and your skills test based on my mistakes! The feeling up there, cruising on the flight levels amongst airline traffic is truly unique, so make the most of your training and enjoy it!
Many thanks to FTA Global for the high quality training.
➤Make sure you subscribe to watch more similar videos!
➤Facebook page: / thegreatflyer
DISCLAIMER: I am not a flight instructor, and the advice in this video reflects purely my own views. Please consult your CFI.
Standards Document 1: publicapps.caa.co.uk/docs/33/...
The Skyway Code: publicapps.caa.co.uk/docs/33/C...
SERA & UK Exemptions: www.caa.co.uk/uploadedFiles/C...
Part-NCO quick access: www.part-aero.com/en/view/par...
AIP: www.nats-uk.ead-it.com/public/...
In a nutshell:
1. Practice on flight simulator at home: I use FSX Steam & Mindstar’s G1000.
2. Write down your mistakes and develop methods of correcting them. Implement your instructor’s advice.
3. Manage your workload early in your training: Aviate, navigate, communicate always in tis order. ATC is your last priority. Level out, then manage navigation. Prioritise actions.
4. Plan your flight in advance & book your beacon slots the day before if possible. Have a plan B in case you can’t fly to your first planned airport. Plan hold headings & approach rate of descent before your flight, using forecast enroute winds (not surface wind).
5. Be ahead of your aircraft. Set up navigation systems in advance. Have next comms frequency on standby.
6. Visualise holds and approaches. Twist CDI to hold inbound axis as early as you like to visualise hold entry. Mark elements of the approach plate to make it easier for you to read it quickly. Take note of wind direction, hold direction, base turn direction, outbound track, essential missed approach instructions, expected rate of descent (as required).
7. Follow your ATO’S SOPs but feel free to implement your own methods and mnemonics to overcome your lapses and mistakes. Customise your navigation log/plog. Note beacon morse code idents, frequencies and Designated Operational Coverages/Ranges. Use double drift on the outbound leg of the hold if the wind is from the non-holding side.
8. Underestimate hold timing for the outbound leg as turns take time. Turn inbound slightly earlier than calculated. When having to decide between two figures for your approach rate of descent, go with the lower figure. It is easier to correct for being high than being low.
9. Use your aircraft’s systems to your advantage: Keep ATIS volume low in order not to miss ATC calls, keep finger next to DME ident for the same reason. Use G1000 playback if required!
10. Show confidence and knowledge in your skills test. Study documents found earlier, revise Air Law & Operational Procedures, study your aircraft’s systems. Convince yourself it’s a normal flight like all others - you will know your aircraft better than your examiner.
10+. Fly ATTITUDES, do not chase your VSI or ASI. Common failing point for the test.
Cameras Used
GoPro Hero 7 Black
Canon Legria HF G30
#cockpitview #landing #airplane #flighttraining #studentpilot #takeoff #airport #fsx #cockpitlanding #flightsimulator #diamond #da42 #flightschool #airline

[@greatflyer_aviation]

*ANNOUNCEMENT* As of the 1st of February 2019, I NOW HAVE A JOB flying the Boeing 737NG across Europe as a First Officer! I'd like to thank you all for staying tuned, especially those who followed me from my early days when I flew in my home cockpit, dreaming of this day :) I can only say stay tuned for more as it's getting big!

[@kilicsami]

Congratulations... I hope I can achieve flying as commercial one day... best Regards 👍🏻

[@patriotpilot]

Which airline are you flying, if I may ask. Thanks and Congrats!

[@memepower7240]

Congrats!

[@gerrarditto4u]

Thanks alot !! I have finished my ATPL exams two days ago and tomorrow I will have my first IR flight. Great insight, good luck with your career bro!

[@bombaytaxidriver]

Congratulations on your IR Test! And great tips for the CPL/IR trainee - nicely done - and very informative and practical. Well done young man.

[@rockabyebaby6111]

Congratulations Dimitri..with your enthusiasm I knew you would succeed, good luck on your next step !!!

[@AviationPro]

Congratulations! Thanks for the tips, will hopefully come in handy some day, keep up with the great videos so far! :)

[@SomeDumUsrName]

Congratulations man. Saw this video and man it brought back some great memories. I passed my instrument written with a 93 and never got to take the flight test. I sure miss flying.....esPecially IMC flying. I'm sure it gets to be routine and boring but man I sure loved it for the short time I did it along side my retired-747-captain instructor......so technical and precise. Congratulations again! :-)

[@theshoebooty]

Congrats Demitri! Hard work pays off, you are on your way for the career you’ve been dreaming since childhood.

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Thank you so much! Aiming for that dream office up there :)

[@athaviation6077]

Congratulation Dimitri i wish you the best!!

[@Klavkjir]

Brilliant video! Just got my EASA ME/IR and wish I’d seen this before my training. For those starting their training: definitely try to prepare during hour building by getting used to flying attitudes and rate-1 turns. And try to enjoy your training. It’s not that hard once you get the hang of it.

[@isaackang7]

Congrats! Your videos brings back memories~ keep it up

[@sebastiendobbelaere2258]

Congratulations! I wish you a great future with many happy landings!

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Thank you so much!

[@KEITHGEE1000]

Great news, many congratulations!!! And as for FSX/flight sim being a great help, great news for all of us in that world!!!

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Thank you so much! Oh wait and see how much the PMDG737/Aerosoft A320 helps me with my type rating 😂

[@germangamerpros]

Congrats! I love how you advanced step by step over the years. Im here since you flew on your home made simulator!

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Thank you so much for staying around Lucas! Good to have you onboard 🛫

[@kilicsami]

I believe you are in the uk... man I need to meet up with a pilot like yourself... I have so much to ask and listen. Bravo brother.. you made your dream come true!

[@DEFENDER1able]

Many pilot students Will be very greatfull to you that you have spend your time by explain and advise them what to do to succeed to their instrument test. I think every one develops his own method, but to excange informations and skills these helps a lot. Congratulation again for your progress, i wish and hope to see you someday behind the wheel of a Jet airplane as this is your target and be a good pilot. God bless.

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Thank you so much! I just felt the need to let other people know how I tackled it as my examiner seemed quite happy with my methods. Thanks for stopping by.

[@ota2012]

Congratulations! And thanks for share with us this special moment.

[@greatflyer_aviation]

It was exactly what I wanted to do since my examiner turned around and said “you’ll be pleased to know you passed” :)

[@sabeillard]

Outstanding mate!! Congrats from Portugal 👍😊

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Thank you so much! Greets from the UK!

[@PrivatePilotFlightVlogs]

Congratulations! Great tips and explanation. I can’t wait to get my IR soon.

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Thank you so much mate! I really hope I helped some way :)

[@damelzat5309]

Many congratulations! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@daltonbennain6757]

You are indeed a great flyer😁

[@greatflyer_aviation]

**blushes**

[@hugelavalava]

Congrats mate, well done!!!!😄👍

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Thank you so much!

[@hannahrice2273]

Super helpful! Thanks for posting this

[@SkyNdiveProductions]

Great vid.. just finished my ira test and trying to get ready to start my next level of training.

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Best of luck! Thanks for watching.

[@kilian7447]

Congratulations! That's an insane fact that you have achived, now just a littel bit more and you will achive extra happynes :DD

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Thank you so much!! Indeed :)

[@matthewtroth06]

Nice video! I have my IR skills test tomorrow afternoon in the Seneca V. Vectored ILS at Bournemouth and an asym NDB at Oxford!

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Best of luck! Let me know if this video has helped you at all :)

[@matthewtroth06]

I passed! Eventful flight but it's done! MCC/JOC and jobs now!

[@Mickeys_Flightdeck]

Congratulations and have a good time with art of flying.

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Thanks Michael!

[@eliacomo9891]

Καλημερα, GreatFlyer... Good job!

[@Airplanegeek777]

Congrats! The IR is definitely one of the harder parts of training but very useful in building up your capacity. The learning curve from going from visual flying to on instruments is pretty steep. Coming onto the Airbus?

[@user-ej2xv4wg7p]

Thanks a lot ! I will have my instrument flight test few days later, wish me good luck!

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Best of luck buddy, you will ace it!

[@user-ej2xv4wg7p]

@@greatflyer_aviation Thanks!

[@slaero5411]

Very interesting video ! I'm still in the ATPL Theory, but your advices will come in handy in a few months time : )

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Glad you liked it, best of luck!

[@MA-rn6gz]

What I did was simulate the fly and the possible things might happen. The examiner was happy he was 1 of the hardest examiner to pass student.

[@andybellais7954]

Hello from Tahiti Island 🌴 Congratulations 👏 Bravo "Big BOSS"💪

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Thank you so much! Greetings from the UK!

[@pilotroushas8956]

Thank you dimitri great video and very helpful!

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Hope it helps!

[@BeastGaming-wu1qc]

Awesome video bro

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Thank you Awesome!

[@naijapilotxmax6006]

congratulations bro

[@odc43054]

Congratulations!

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Thanks Dave!

[@frankiechileman479]

Congratulations from U.S.A!✌️👍👍👍

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Thank you so much! Greetings from the UK!

[@TheTRELOS7]

Congrats!

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Thanks George!

[@747-pilot]

Well done and kudos on passing your instrument checkride! I'm in the middle of my instrument training right now, and found most of your tips very helpful, with the exception of a couple of them, which went right over my head 😃 . But that is most likely because, I'm guessing, you're in the UK?? and I'm in the US, and I'm sure they do some things very differently there. For instance I had no clue what that "beacon slot stuff" meant 😃 But for the most part, learning to fly is the same, no matter where you do it, with of course, a few "procedural" differences here and there!

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Hi there! Extremely happy you found some of my tips handy! Basically, as we operate into major airports which are also used by the airlines, we need to book a slot to fly an airport's ILS or NDB procedure, or to execute a hold, purely for ATFM reasons. I guess the situation is different in the US as you have many more airports to choose from!

[@jackdanel3783]

Congratulations from the US.

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Thank you so much Jack!

[@paulejbuckley]

fantastic tips, thanks!

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Thanks for watching Paul!

[@JimWalsh-rl5dj]

Well done! Now get yourself into a jet! Ryanair, and Easyjet are recruiting. Both will charge you about £300 for the interview which will include a sim ride. A lot pf people will either get some sim time either in the 320 or 737 NG but, looking at your flying, I dint think you need to do that! Best wishes for your career. Once you have 2000 hours jet time, apply to BA!

[@mohamedfalag4830]

Great job Captain wish to u all the best

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Thank you Mohamed!

[@cptmh8979]

You’re an example nice videos Thanks for these informations

[@JackM101]

Great job !

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Thanks mate!

[@godwinadotey4390]

Congratulations.

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Thank you!

[@HPGruener]

Congrats👌

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Thank you so much!

[@christians.8739]

Well done!

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Cheers Christian!

[@alexlxt]

Congratulations

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Thanks Alex!

[@logesh744]

Congratulations 👍👨‍✈️👨‍✈️

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Thank you captain!

[@marvensvictorm.2833]

Congratulations 👍🏽👍🏽✈️✈️💪🏾💪🏾

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Thank you so much!

[@eyeeye00]

Fantastic!

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Thanks!

[@frequentsimpilot7311]

So...your going for the Baby Bus or the *BOEING*? Congrats man! Well done! thanks for the tips, btw

[@dankdat620]

You have the right and you will shut up!

[@lonelysail906]

Well done 👍.

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Thank you!

[@harris1540]

πολύ ωραίο βίντεο συνεχεισε έτσι!

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Will do!

[@jacobmould5941]

Nice work

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Thanks Jacob!

[@nkgreenday]

I’m about to take my instrument exam in the US. Still a very helpful video tho 💯

[@avibecher6100]

Cobalt air just announced they are closing down

[@greatflyer_aviation]

I stayed up all night yesterday. Tracked FCB327 all the way until it landed... Memories from Cyprus Airways flashed back.

[@danskpolitifr2286]

congrats so happy for u

[@greatflyer_aviation]

😊✈️

[@danskpolitifr2286]

remember when you was a kid and made the sim wow time flyes just like you

Back in the days we had no computers...good for u

[@bla855]

Now get your instructors rating and enjoy afew years of that

[@quericococina4497]

thank you

[@abbieamavi]

This was extremely helpful thank you!! Will be saving for future reference once I start my flight portion! How long did it take you to complete your IFR in total from written to Checkride/practical exam?

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Hi there, thanks for watching! There is no IFR written under EASA rules, so it only took me 5-6 weeks from day 1 until skills test (checkride). Make sure you check out my IFR flight videos in the DA42 to get an inside look ✈️ Best regards, Demetris

[@berke320]

Congratz from turkey mate. Whats next? :) Also i will be started my atpl lessons in next 2 week , so any advice acceptable to not going crazy during atpl lesson :)

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Thank you so much! Check out my video on passing the ATPLs so you can get a taste :)

[@MrDusselsentez]

I have downloaded g1000 on ipad for now. Any ideas, recommendations.. how I can track my flights ? Thanks

[@adennis200]

I hope it's ok for someone like me who hasn't started flighttraining yet to be overwhelmed at this point xD

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Yeah, I really didn’t want to scare people away! Your ATO will teach you step by step so do not worry about the volume of information :)

[@rickairs551]

Greetings from the Netherlands

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Greetings!

[@niranjankhairnar3670]

🌹 Thank you 🌺

[@mattiafrancioni2365]

Hi! What are main specs of the laptop you were running the Mindstar’s G1000 on?

[@topofthegreen]

You can learn so much from flight sim.

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Agreed.

[@markitusbonus]

Can you pass a URL for downloading your Navigation Log sheet?? Thank you very much!

[@DuroyDeCantelLeBaron]

actually, you aren't supposed to end up late during your holds, if you take into account the one minute inbound turn in your corrected outbound time.

[@greatflyer_aviation]

What you are saying does make sense, so how would you actually take the turn into account? Mind you, if you are flying triple drift you may be much more than 180 degrees away from your inbound heading, so how can I take that turn into account?

[@DuroyDeCantelLeBaron]

oh i get it :) we aren't flying the holds with the same technique. I read about the drift technique, but never tried its accuracy. Here is what I've been taught (it only relies on crosswind and head/tailwind), if you are interested: when turning outbound you correct your turn adding one extra second of level flight, for every knots of crosswind. When outbound, your 1 minute outbound time is corrected adding (or subtracting) one second for every half of head/tailwind and this 2 times (one correction for the outbound leg and one for the inbound turn) if you get to take your TOP abeam the beacon or 3 times (one more for the "drifted outbound turn"). Finally, during this corrected outbound time if you cross what I call the guard radial (which actually is the offset entry course) you follow it with the GPS1/ADF/NAV1 needle until the inbound turn back on the inbound track with a 90° interception (GS/200Nm anticipation). And there you should get an almost perfect 1 minute inbound time... That may be a lot to compute at the beginning but it's quiet easy and quick when you get used to it :)

[@AviationChannel27]

Nice video. How do you book a 'beacon slot'? I am flying in another eu country but I am not sure if we have something liek a beacon slot.

[@greatflyer_aviation]

You should always check the AIP and phone the destination airport if required to book a slot :) Thanks for watching!

[@alfredwhite4133]

I play fsx but soon I am moving to X-Plane 11

[@biggusbestus551]

FX steam ...did you use a laptop (I see one in the video)? Flight simulators don't work well on laptops. If you did use a laptop I would appreciate some information on how well the simulator worked. I would like to try the simulator but can not afford a gaming laptop.

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Hi! I run P3DV4 on my PC back at home (Cyprus) so FSX Steam was a cheap alternative. I have all the sliders all the way down as practicing on the G1000 I would never look outside above DA/MDA so who needs graphics? It's an HP Probook with 4GB RAM, i3-4030U CPU @ 1.9 GHz running Windows 10 64bit.

[@marcusreed2]

I fly at shoreham too!

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Love that neat little airfield! It was a great place to be trained at :)

[@marcusreed2]

@@greatflyer_aviation I'm just hour building on a PA28 at the moment for IMC then Night Rating before my ATPLs. Need to find a full time job. Have you got your f/ATPL now then? Love the videos. You remind me of a young Captain Joe lol :)

[@marcusreed2]

@@greatflyer_aviation Just saw your comment about flying the 737NG. SOOOO Lucky!!!

[@danjohnston4168]

Any California Pilot Schools you know that have good reputation with Airlines

[@kim_but_not_korean]

Hi,may i know the link where i can buy the software so i can practice also?

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Here you go Kim! www.mindstaraviation.com/Product_G1000.html Thanks for watching.

[@myagilbert3780]

Feel like I’m gonna find this bit the hardest

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Challenging but extremely rewarding!

[@nerotomas]

Try doing your IR/ME on the Seneca V , way more challenging than the diamond !!!!!

[@greatflyer_aviation]

I know, FADEC makes life simpler. However, as technology in modern airliners keeps advancing day by day, many support that reds and blues are starting to become pointless in early pilot training.

[@nerotomas]

GreatFlyer , Totally agree with reds and blues being pointless , but the challenge and experience is magnificent , after all we ATPL Students will all end up flying with FADEC , did my IR 3 years ago and also I have flown both the Seneca and the diamond and they both have different demands and feel love them both to be honest , I Appreciate your response and efforts to making things easier for other students , good luck in the airlines !

[@EYTANOFIR]

where are you lerning? btw great vid

[@greatflyer_aviation]

FTA Global, Brighton, UK. Thank you so much!

[@sumettaengo4993]

congratulations! And how did you finance your training?

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Thank you so much! I financed the whole thing by modular training. PPL for €10.000 when I was at school, cost-sharing my hourbuilding with friends, ATPL at CAE for £5.500 and MEP/CPL/IR at FTA Global for £24.950. Also, FTA accepts a "pay-as-you-fly" scheme, so you need to pay NOTHING upfront, and you can choose to pay them whenever you want really as long as your account remains in balance. Thanks for watching, stay tuned for more!

[@aishasalim1281]

hello, i just wanted to know my cousin wants to be a pilot how much did in total did you have to pay for the training

[@MaxPower1223]

👍

[@Jess-kd8cl]

Rip Cobalt

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Indeed..

[@Jess-kd8cl]

@@greatflyer_aviation rather sad

[@kevinnayis3399]

I have the alabeo da42 twinstar on p3d v4, with alabeo g1000, whats the difference between that and minstar g1000? Im Kinda confused hehe, is the mindstar just a more accurate version of the original g1000 you get when you buy the aircraft? Answer is very appreciated!

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Hi there! I originally tried to use Alabeo’s DA42 - it was great for learning the aircraft’s systems, but the G1000 is almost useless - it doesn’t even have ADF installed! Many of the buttons are not functional and I just couldn’t practice much on it. So I ended up using the Mindstar G1000 on the default BE58 which worked like a charm.

[@kevinnayis3399]

@@greatflyer_aviation oh alright, so the mindstar g1000 is basically like an addon that I can add to aircrafts? My flightschool uses the cessna skyhawk 172 g1000 as single engine and DA42 twinstar as multi engine, would be great to use the mindstar g1000 on both of them for realistic training, If I have understood the use of mindstar g1000 hehe

[@kevinnayis3399]

Also I havent started flying the DA42 twinstar, but I really want to learn how to fly it before I begin flying with it in the flight school, is it a good way to learn how to start up the aircraft and plan flights without the mindstar g1000? but with the alabeo DA42 g1000?

[@kevinnayis3399]

Sorry for asking so many questions my friend, is it still good practise using the standard alabeo DA42 g1000 when NOT flying IR? I do understand that if you're flying IR then u obviously need a 100% fully functioned g1000, like the mindstar, but without flying with IR is it then good practise for someone who wants to learn how the aircraft works and how to fly it before starting in flight school?

[@micheypatsa]

How do you feel now that Cobalt has shut down?

[@greatflyer_aviation]

I stayed up all night yesterday. Tracked FCB327 all the way until it landed... Memories from Cyprus Airways flashed back.

[@micheypatsa]

@@greatflyer_aviation I did as well. I hope they find a way to save the airline as they are starting meetings.

[@amineoscarmaple4345]

Upon PPL completion, would you suggest an IFR training or CPL one first? Cheers :)

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Hi Amine! Different flight schools suggest different approaches - I personally went for the IR first, and then the CPL was piece of cake, as I was already trained to fly with precision. The only downside is that you will naturally want to be looking inside, and you will need to be focused outside on your CPL skills test! Moreover, if I am not mistaken, the EASA CPL(A) instruction includes 6 hours of basic instrument flying, which is also IR(A) syllabus, so with that in mind it would make sense to start with the IR first. You may want to reach out to someone who did their CPL first and compare my view to theirs :) Best regards, D.

[@amineoscarmaple4345]

GreatFlyer thank you for your prompt reply! Fly safe:)... when things resume I mean;)

[@DiCola119]

Is it difficult to maintain altitude (+-50ft) in rough wind?

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Not any difficult when you're focused on your instruments, but very easy to bust your level when you're focused on other things, such as VOR/ADF tracking, holding, speaking to ATC, noting down a frequency or time. Scanning should be your #1 priority and you will learn this early on in your IR training :)

[@DiCola119]

@@greatflyer_aviation Thanks! I've only had my discovery flight, which was a simple circuit in somewhat choppy winds. I felt like I had no authority over the aircraft. I'm due to start flight school at the end of the year and I look forward to getting over that feeling of being utterly incompetent, haha. Congrats on your recent job placement!

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Thank you so much! Flying is much easier than you may think. What's difficult is the human resource side of things.

[@harrya9205]

I thought you were cae oxford or are you in fta?

[@greatflyer_aviation]

I did my ATPL theory at CAE and all the practical flying at FTA. Thanks for watching!

[@khaido9750]

You pass instrument rating with multi engine?

[@greatflyer_aviation]

That's correct.

[@mook03005]

How long have you been flying to get to be a forst officer?

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Hi Mark, no flying between finishing training and getting a job. I did have to wait for about 2 months however, until my CPL was issued.

[@mook03005]

@@greatflyer_aviation how long from the time you got your private pilot to first officer job?

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Well I got my PPL back in 2015 but I had to wait 1.5 years to finish school and another one for my military service, then my training took about a year then I got a job.

[@abbieamavi]

GreatFlyer could you talk about your military service? Please

[@williampalmer9828]

Im Batman..🎭🎥🎬🌎🌍🌏✈✈✈✈😊

[@exoressdelivers70]

You're cute.

[@lolilolo9916]

Είσαι γλύκας! Θα ήθελες να γνωριστούμε;; Ρουλις

[@calinutza33]

How much tons of money did you spend ? Where did you get your money ? You look very young ! Is your mother rich ? Is she divorced , single or widowed ? 😉

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Way too many personal questions there! I am undertaking modular training, my PPL cost €10.000 (Cyprus), ATPL theory was £5.500 (Oxford) and MEP/CPL/IR was £24.950 (Shoreham). Much less than the £140.000 some people pay for an MPL course.

[@tabaks]

Congratulations!

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Thank you!

[@jorgeestiels8600]

Congrats!

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Thank you!