Geared toward already instrument-rated pilots, PilotWorkshops’ new Real World IFR video program features simulator scenarios and real flights from start to finish and offers practical tips for flying and dealing with air traffic control in actual instrument conditions.
“This is a very unique training program. For one thing, the flights are all end to end, there is no pausing there’s no repositioning, and unlike most other programs there’s actually full ATC in every flight we present in this program,” said Keith Smith, founder and developer of PilotEdge and the instrument-rated pilot who leads participants through the filmed flights.
The program includes seven flight scenarios and a ground school that can be watched all at once or divided into modules that range from five to 31 minutes.
The flight scenarios are broken into three sections: a preflight brief, the flight, and a debrief. Four of the scenarios feature actual flights in a Lancair 360 that range from an easy IFR flight to a graduation flight to New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. Three scenarios are performed in a simulator with a virtual A36 Bonanza and PilotEdge ATC commands and include a challenging en route phase, a nontowered obstacle departure procedure, and a standard instrument departure from Los Angeles International Airport. Between the actual and simulated flights, the course covers precision and nonprecision approaches, vectors to final, full approaches, and operations from towered and nontowered airports. It also places pilots in high-workload environments, shows how the iPad with ForeFlight can be integrated on IFR flights, and presents systems failures that could cause urgent situations in flight.
Because the scenarios are designed to help pilots fly better in the IFR system, they don’t offer perfect flights but instead show an actual flight or simulation with Smith’s mistakes as they happen. During a debrief session, Smith explains his mistakes and discusses what he could have been done better.
“Flying in the system is a very dynamic experience. It’s very rare to get exactly the same flight twice in a row. Every IFR flight is different, so we’ve made sure to capture the spirit of that as part of this program,” said Smith.
PilotWorkshops founder Mark Robidoux said, “This program has been over a year in development and is based on feedback and input from a wide range of aviation experts, CFIIs, curriculum developers and customers.” Completing the program qualifies participants for six credits in the FAA’s Wings program.
PilotWorkshops, an AOPA Premier Partner, is offering pilots an introductory price of $149 through Saturday, March 21. The normal price is $246.
Alyssa J. Miller
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