IFR Rating! Should I get it? All About the Instrument Rating InTheHangar

(Please Subscribe!) Joe Casey (also a DPE) returns to In The Hangar with his CFII son Ben to answer questions you asked about getting an IFR ticket. If you're a private pilot and thinking about whether you should get your instrument rating, this is for you! Join Christy (@PilotChristy) and Dan (@TakingOffDan) for the discussion.
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[@buckshot704]

Perhaps “accelerated course, or cram course” could replace “crash course”. Excellent presentation. It’s always a learning opportunity when the Casey’s are in the house. ❤️✈️😎👍

[@Ravenscaller]

I stopped flying after getting caught VFR on top as night fell and the ceiling deteriorated to 0 on the ground. I didn't have the money to go for the IFR ticket so I hung it up as too dangerous. We could easily have died that night. This was 50 years ago and weather forecasting was as good as today. We left Winston Salem NC about 4 PM for an hour VFR flight to Asheville. About half way we noticed clouds moving in from the West. When we checked with AVL we found that a fast moving front already had that airport marginal VFR and rapidly deteriorating so we turned back. By the time we got back to WS after dark it was clouded over also. From here it's too long a story to tell in full. With the help of ATC and a Piedmont airline pilot we diverted to Danville VA which was the last place to land in our range. We landed and as we taxied off the runway it suddenly became so foggy we could barely steer to the FBO. Flying and especially in the mountains without IFR capability is DANGEROUS.

[@evilfluff6634]

I would say instrument rating would be a good idea because sometimes things happen and you may have no choice but to land in IFR.

[@richardmourdock2719]

With all respect to the instructors here, another reason beyond holding altitude and heading, is learning to communicate. Understanding the day to day but serious phraseology, makes one much more comfortable in the left seat in busy airspace.

[@williamfahle151]

Entering routes into the GPS while holding a heading and altitude is by far the hardest part.

[@paulmorrisette1581]

Thank you for what you guys do for GA.

[@albriseno2428]

Very good video. I really didn't know my plane until I started my IFR training. If for no other reason, a pilot should get IFR training to learn to precision fly. As Joe said, you need to know how to fly a heading and at a specific altitude.

[@vincentcarbonara3589]

I'm extremely thankful for this episode. This is a question I've always pondered about. I'm thinking now I should pursue my IFR rating. It would be great to see an episode on what can you do to prepare for your instrument rating so that you're not wasting time and money on it. For example, take a sportys course on it and get the written out of the way, when can you start using a simulator versus actual flying to save money and time, etc. I kind of wish I would have known ahead of time about some of those shortcuts when I went for my private.

[@davidbaldwin1591]

Awesome guys! Enjoyed the knowledge, and the fact that you bring in the right kind of guests for the topic.

[@stevenhorney7735]

Thank you! That was a good , informative session. Looking forward to starting my IFR training in the near future.

[@jhaedtler]

very well said, We are all individuals, we all learn in different ways. I feel having an IFR is for safety first!

[@MabrysDad]

As always, great info. I’ll be listening to this again soon.

[@BraapZ]

🔥👍 Another great informative episode. Thank you Dan and Christy. 😎

[@cjsims3000]

Always enjoy the videos, keep up the good work.

[@adam-hd7kg]

I passed my ifr checkride a month ago.

[@KevinSmithAviation]

Great episode Dan and Christy. Joe is such a knowledgeable guy. Always great to sea him on the show. Keep up the great work. 🤘🇺🇸🛩️

[@leeoldershaw956]

There should never have been a pilot license without instrument proficiency after WWII.

[@FlyChuckyFly]

The instrument rating is certainly a method to improve the skills, but it's such a perishable skill. If you're not able to maintain that skill it makes it difficult to have the proficiency to use those skills.

[@thebadgerpilot]

I’m a few weeks from my private checkride. I have zero interest in flying for a living, but I plan on starting instruments next spring (and studying this winter when flying in Wisconsin can be less frequent). The challenge of learning combined with the safety benefits just seem to make sense.

[@jimbuck795]

Good luck on your checkride. 👍

[@thebadgerpilot]

@@jimbuck795 Thanks!

[@jimbuck795]

Your next video should be whether private pilots should get a commercial rating. I'm pondering that now.

[@RobtheAviator]

Everyone should get every rating they can in my opinion. More knowledge and skill is mo betta!

[@Aviatorpeck1957]

Thank you!

[@benderaviation]

I just passed my IFR written. Much easier than expected.

[@bikefreakstl]

Studying for mine now as well

[@oldmech619]

The FAA will ask you about the questions that you missed on the exam. The score does matter to the examiner. And that happens before your ride.

[@ammarmalhas-gmail8226]

I am not based in the US, I am looking for FAA IR Rating, what book do you study and are tested at? Thanks.

[@flogsbymm]

It makes total sense to keep going right after your private pilot if money permits! After I got my ppl, I had to take a break and just enjoy flying with friends. Those flight hours with an instructor get really expensive!

[@randykoonce990]

my story is I got my PPL at 22 in 1984 I got my Instrument last yr 2020 and Life is what kept me from doing it back to back..... but I kept going... interview someone like me and the troubles to get instrument... Sometimes doing what you want is a Pain in the But.....

[@jacksmith827]

Great Video

[@scottmillspaugh]

took me two years to get my private punched -- but I blame medical and multiple Covid delays. Great episode. IFR is next up

[@jfollas]

Christy quoting Dodgeball! That's a bold move, Cotton.

[@TakingOff]

🤣🤣🤣

[@flycory]

Haha good one

[@SmittySmithsonite]

I just thought of the sign on the court, " GO B .... DEEP!" I haven't laughed so hard at a movie in a long time! 😂🤣😂

[@clydecessna737]

ASAP! that's a no brainer.

[@kk6aw]

My 2 cents, I last flew in late 1964. It makes zero sense to me to become instrument rated if you dont have the finances, I passed my instrument written so was thinking about it. Marriage and finances got in the way. Once you are rated, that is not the end of it. You must keep training, use it or lose it. It makes sense if you own your own plane and have the finances to fly , a lot. This is one of those hands on things that is a must do.

[@williamfahle151]

Just takes an IPC to get current at any time.

[@williamfahle151]

It is cool.

[@flycory]

I really should get my instrument rating too… but waiting on weather had created loads of opportunities for fun and meeting cool people. It’s a trade off. Occasionally, I would love to get there when otherwise I couldn’t.

[@glennwatson]

Maybe you can meet people in the sky in a holding pattern?

[@williamfahle151]

Do eet

[@sethvalentine8240]

Every pilot should get the instrument. Not just to fly in the clouds, but to become a better, more precise pilot. You also get to take full advantage of all that the ATC system has to offer. Even my 17 year old son already has his instrument rating. So if a 17 year old has it, why shouldn't everyone?

[@MrCheapBoots]

Lots of reasons. Good lord

[@HelloWorldETX]

At $75 /hr (wet) you can’t beat getting your instrument rating in a well equipped glass LSA

[@Darkvirgo88xx]

I'm not a pilot I'm just a police patrol Sergeant, but I'm very intrigued with aviation and watch a lot of it. In my opinion if your going to fly you need to get ifr training, practice and stay current. There are so many plane crashes involving vfr only pilots going vfr into imc and losing control and their plane comes apart. Especially the video called blind over Bakersfield. You can hear the pilots children screaming in the radio transmission as the plane is plummeting to the ground before it starts coming apart.

[@michaeldautry]

Something like the vashon ranger is an incredible platform to learn to fly instruments. Unfortunately, you can’t legally get actual IMC in a certified LSA.

[@gcarter1062]

Working on my IFR ticket. If I had it today, we would be in route to the beach instead of watching “In the Hangar” videos.

[@TakingOff]

🤣🏖

[@glennwatson]

I been doing a lot of VFR based controlled experience lately, having started with only conducting training at a uncontrolled CTAF airport it was a big transition but finding it easier and easier lately. I imagine starting instrument flying is going to have that stumbling where are you trying to comprehend the radio phraseology for a while then it just clicks?

[@fdzaviation]

YES, GET IT!!! It is better to have at not need to use it than need to use it and not have it.

[@dalestephan6777]

It doesnt hurt you at all. Better have some ifr training than none. At least take the time a couple of hrs a year with a cfi/ ifr instructor to stay aware. You might save your life , just in case. Although if you have a good flight plan you should be able to avoid weather ( but should can happen!

[@brookskd87]

Student who trains in a Cirrus for instrument rating who shall remain nameless. I feel bad that Christy has to teach Bryan instrument flying.

[@twentyrothmans7308]

I'd hate to try to teach Bryan *anything* :-)

[@GaryMCurran]

I'm not an active pilot, but I really did appreciate this video. Christy, Instrument instruction in a Cirrus? BrYan! I bet you were proud when he passed, though. Then, of course, you did call him out. Instrument flight plan on a VMC day. I've watched Kristopher (Baron Pilot) cancel IFR because he couldn't get OUT of the airport (in South Florida) and fly VFR most of the way. Of course, trying to pick up an IFR clearance at the last second to get into a Bravo, or anywhere else where the weather is low is an iffy situation to begin with. But, let's say it's VMC point to point. What's the difference, really, between IFR and VFR flight following? Yes, I know that VFR flight following is at the convenience of the controller and his or her workload, but if that's happening, you probably should be going IFR anyway. If I was flying again, believe me, I would have an Instrument rating, I think it's that important, but I wonder if there are times that it's more of a burden to fly IFR than it is to fly VFR. I also know that it's a personal preference and goes along with your comfort level and abilities. But, I'm curious as to what you and Dan think about this, and any other Instrument rated pilot who might respond.

[@TakingOff]

So valid questions. I too have been in situation where I couldn’t get out of TEB, so I departed VFR and simply picked up the clearance in the air. Totally legal if VMC. I did not cancel as that would have meant the pop up. However, I have asked for pop up ifr clearance multiple times and have never been turned down. Differences between flying IFR vs FF on VMC days: The biggest is who is responsible for separation. ATC is making to calls on IFR plan. You are for FF. Generally speaking, I will do flight following on VMC days, mostly because of things like active MOAs, they will drop me way low to get through or send me way far around if instrument.

[@williamfahle151]

I find it easier to fly IFR in VMC than to fly VFR. They tell you where to go, and keep you out of airspace trouble.

[@jimbuck795]

I passed my IFR checkride August 27th.

[@frankrosenbloom]

Congrats. I passed my IFR checkride on August 31st at age 65 after 4 years as a VFR pilot. I used to be able to fly only about 50% of the time I wanted to, and it already has enabled me to take three trips I would not have been able to take before. I figure I'll be up to about 80% mission capable now (Cessna 182 with no de-ice capability). I feel the rating has made me a much better pilot. Next will be a commercial rating, just to keep getting better, as long as my health holds out. After all, I am 65.

[@jimbuck795]

@@frankrosenbloom Congrats!

[@SkyBaum]

I got mine in helicopters, I’d love ❤️ to do a fixed wing (IFR) transition when the funds are available 😃 #SkyBaum

[@markr.1984]

I got my private license in the year 2000 and then started Instrument training in 2001. Had to quit for a few days right after the terrorist attack on Sept. 11th but got back up. IFR flights were the first to be allowed to fly again. But really, I didn't like my instructor all that much and for me, IFR training took the fun out of flying for me. I just thought it was tiresome and grueling. So I quit IFR training at about 20 hours. Then quit flying for good about a year after that as I just though it was too expensive overall. But basically, IFR training with that hood on was just not very fun for me anyway!!!

[@JuanMartinezHernandez]

Hi Dan and Christy, is it possible for you to cover the current situation at Reid-Hillview (KRHV), where sales of LL100 have stopped as the city of San Jose wants to close the airport based on false claims of lead contamination, lame excuse to cover up the greedy Real Estate developers and corrupted politicians who can't wait to develop the land into housing. I ask you to work on this extremely important GA issue that threatens the rights of pilots because you can reach a very wide audience and need to expose how far greed and corruption can destroy our basic rights. Thanks in advance

[@stillrocknthissideofthedir141]

Another of your videos down :O) one question as you may remember my plan to buy the turbo 210 (soon I hope mopst likely in feb.) I was planning to use it for my insrument training instead of a rental airplane. What are your feelings on that?

[@TakingOff]

Nice, only 392 more videos to go. If you can afford it, then sure. But the 210 is a lot more expensive to operate than IfR cert 172. And I wouldn’t do pattern work in it, which really doesn’t happen with IFR anyway.

[@justplanefred]

I feel like from history I am bad at learning from a text book and don't do written tests well... I learn better hands on. I guess the idea is get the written passed and you should be good. I also feel like IFR is really important even if you never truly need it rather than to need that at least in theory to get down somewhere and not having the rating nor the weather or experience to get down safely. Maybe with help you will get down safely. Plus I'm sure it happens to many people that wether is forecasted to be good and you extend you're vacation to the last minute and you get up ready to fly home and your socked in with fog. Maybe it will burn off in an hour maybe it hangs around for quite a while...

[@stephenstead7270]

Flying is fun but it something you got to do more than once a week other wise you are wasting your money you got to fly twice a week of more other you will not get off the ground on your own It takes time and money i know a few lad starting to fly three times a week now they have the PPL But don.t fly some do it just to say iv did it know such thing as a private pilot Licence. look it up you see what you get Good luck to all out their who flying now

[@thebadgerpilot]

Love how at 6:28 you low-key didn’t reference Just Plane Silly by name… payback for him never letting Dan say “Taking Off” ? Lol

[@TakingOff]

Of course! 😜

[@rustusandroid]

Good stuff. It does astound me that theoretically, one could get an IFR rating and never actually fly in IFR.

[@TakingOff]

I know right?? But the more I talk to fellow pilots, the more I find a lot do this. Also, I flew in a helicopter with a pilot who was an instrument instructor, and had zero actual IMC time

[@rustusandroid]

@@TakingOff Seems crazy. I just don't think much of anything can prepare you for that moment when there is solid white all around you, and you feel that you are pitching up and to the left, but your instruments are telling you NOPE your all good. That moment when you have to consciously ignore what you feel and trust your instruments is something that should be a prerequisite, and ideally it happens when there is a qualified instructor with you. Just my two cents.

[@krishansen9674]

I bought Beechcraft debonair had to overhaul the engine. My plan is to fly it around this winter and then start working hard on getting my IFR. I wanted to be a safer pilot and I want to travel long distance with it.

[@williamfahle151]

If you go any distance at all, you will find weather. How far do you want to uber if weather closes in?

[@krishansen9674]

Very true and this plane goes a lot faster then a trainer.

[@sct913]

Here's a question. Why isn't basic IFR a requirement for getting a GA license in the first place? Not a private pilot myself, but as an lifelong aviation fan, I keep reading and hearing of accidents where VFR pilots get into trouble because they end up in IFR conditions. Seems to me making some sort of IFR training a requirement for any GA ticket whould be a safety benefit.

[@MrCheapBoots]

Because all you’re hearing about is accidents, not the thousands who do it vfr and uneventfully. Media and marketing systems work the same skewed way - selective/biased case samples

[@sct913]

​@@MrCheapBootsWith respect, numerous NTSB reports and studies identfying VFR filght into IMC conditions with non-instrumented rated pilots as a proximate or contributing cause to a large number of GA accidents would disagree with you.

[@MrCheapBoots]

@@sct913 you missed the point entirely and went back to talk about accidents that no one is disputing

[@sct913]

@@MrCheapBoots I get your point. In your opinion, VFR pilots shouldn't be required to take even basic IFR training. Wh respect, you are totally missing my point, namely that VFR pilots without instrument training are clearly (pardon the pun) flying into IMC conditions on a regular basis. And for the 'undisputed' documented instances, how many more undocumented instances have there been. Even elementary IFR training should be a requirement for any GA pilot, regardless of whether they choose to intentionally fly in IFR conditions or not.

[@williamfahle151]

Rudimentary IMC training is required for VFR private pilot ticket. The other thing that causes GA accidents is running out of gas. So, some people are dumb.

[@timskiff9422]

Sounds like a sales pitch, talking down lesser ratings and lighter air craft.

[@Hedgeflexlfz]

Can you even call yourself a pilot if you are not instrument rated lol.

[@2Greenlid]

So If you don’t drive a race car at you still a driver ?

[@2Greenlid]

Are you…

[@jnick1909]

@MooneyPilotThere are different licenses for pilots though 😂😂😂. Which is why you can't fly in IMC as a private pilot and you are legally required to check valid sources of weather before you go on cross countries...

[@riod43]

Yoga pants huh... Might as well interview pilots with neck tattoos and flip flops about minimum maneuvering speed.

[@2Greenlid]

What ? I like her tights…you wear a suit to fly??