AOPA Pilot Magazine
Instrument Insights
Whether you're a VFR pilot, a student taking instrument training, or just need help preparing for that next instrument proficiency check, the 1998 “Instrument Insights” series in AOPA Pilot will provide valuable tips and a great way to review.
The emphasis is on practical techniques you may find useful. The advice is based on advice drawn from the personal experiences of instrument-rated pilots on our staff. Each part in the series contains definitions of instrument terms, so even the VFR pilot will understand the valuable techniques that can improve any type of flying you do. —The Editors
January, Balancing the Juggling Act, Getting the right attitude, by Thomas A. Horne
Piloting an airplane has been likened to a kind of elaborate juggling act. To do it safely, you have to do many things at once — keep an eye out for other traffic, keep track of groundspeed and fuel consumption, monitor the instrument panel, and watch out for signs of adverse weather, to name but a few important tasks. This ability to effectively divide your attention is one of the major benefits of learning to fly.
February, Is Currency Any Easier?, How to work with the new regulations, by Alton K. Marsh
Out of instrument currency again? Chances are you and your fellow instrument-rated pilots have never been heard to say, “Gosh, it sure is easy and fun to maintain instrument currency.” But it has to be done, and as painlessly and inexpensively as possible. After all, the goal is to have a flying budget left over for the personal flights, while still maintaining a safe level of skill. Unfortunately, instrument flying is a mental skill, and mental skills atrophy quickly.
March, Advance Planning, IFR charts are good for VFR, too, by Peter A. Bedell
One of the advantages of becoming a proficient instrument pilot is the satisfaction of performing a smooth, error-free flight in conditions that are anything but perfect. As any good pilot — IFR or VFR — knows, a flight like this won't come off without a hitch in the absence of good flight planning. Because they are flown in visual conditions, VFR flights generally require less flight planning (except in those cases where airspace wreaks havoc on your VFR route). Therefore, the thought of obtaining a set of IFR charts is pointless, right? Not exactly.
April, Missed approaches and holding, Making the best of a no-see-um approach and the dreaded hold, by Marc E. Cook
Instrument approaches are begun with the intent of following the needles down toward the runway and, sometime before decision height, discovering the shimmering lights of the airport environment beckoning. Most of us — save for those in training and the odd few who commence an approach in conditions that clearly won't result in a landing — never really intend to miss the approach; that is, the optimists in all of us chant a silent mantra, "That runway will show up at some point before DH."
May, Precision Approaches, Riding the rails to 200 and a half, by Thomas A. Horne
Instrument pilots generally agree: If ceilings and visibilities are heading downhill, then a letdown through the clag on a precision instrument approach is the only way to fly. Precision approaches are those with vertical guidance, and they include Instrument Landing System (ILS) and Precision Approach Radar (PAR) approach procedures. PARs involve controllers essentially talking pilots down to minimums.
June, Nonprecision approaches, How to focus more attention on the procedure and less on the airplane, by Alton K. Marsh
Nonprecision approaches can result in an accumulation of errors if not flown precisely. Descent planning alone can double a pilot's work load. Here are some ways to reduce distractions.
July, Precise but flexible flying, The practicals of alternates and minimums, by Peter A. Bedell
As VFR pilots we are dealt engine failures, communication failures, and other "emergencies" to test our ability to make safe piloting decisions. As instrument pilots we're taught to fly by the books and stick to the plan. But, as we all know, even the best-laid plans get changed by unforeseen circumstances. Often the unforeseen circumstances involve weather.
August, Tricks of the Trade, Finding flexibility on IFR flights, by Thomas A. Horne
To many, flying IFR may seem like an exercise in passive compliance within a complex maze of strict, unwavering rules. However, that’s not really true. The Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) and the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) provide instrument pilots a number of time- and fuel-saving methods of working the system to their advantage. Here’s a look at some of the more useful.
September, Partial-panel emergencies, Vacuum pump failure is a pop quiz on rusty instrument skills, by Alton K. Marsh
VFR and IFR pilots alike can experience partial-panel emergencies. Traditionally, a partial-panel emergency results from failure of the aircraft's vacuum pump and the subsequent loss of the attitude indicator and heading indicator.
October, Too quiet in the cockpit, Nothing to say, lots to do, by Marc E. Cook
Imagine yourself in the clag. You have the weather well mapped out, thanks to onboard storm-avoidance gear and a good preflight briefing. The air is surprisingly smooth, and there’s no ice. The engine plays along, a familiar drone ahead of the windshield. The autopilot is flying the airplane with uncharacteristic smoothness. All is well in the land of IFR flying.
November, Weather on the fly, In-flight briefing options, by Thomas A. Horne
The last time you checked the weather, the flight service station briefer mentioned that a front was heading for your proposed route of flight. It shouldn’t affect you, the briefer said, hinting strongly that low clouds and visibilities will move in hours after you’ve landed.
December, Secrets for staying alive, Gradual immersion, common sense, and practice, by Thomas A. Horne
For the past eleven issues "Instrument Insights" has been implying, directly or indirectly, the value of being proficient at flying on instruments or, even better, earning the instrument rating. That idea is true, as far as it goes, but there’s a whole lot more to safe instrument flying than simply having a piece of paper in your wallet. Any kind of flying involves a combination of pilot knowledge, skill, and judgment; but with instrument flying, good judgment is of absolute paramount importance. You may know all about ILS approaches, for example, and be able to fly one with great precision, but if you’re low on fuel, passed up an airport with better weather, and are now shooting an ILS to minimums at an airport surrounded by high terrain, you flunk the judgment test.
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