Instrument flying has a way of making you feel like a 4-year-old. Back then you were afraid of being alone at night because you truly believed that monsters existed. As an adult in an airplane, likely you are—or were at one time— afraid of being in the clouds. We are fearful of what we can’t see. And when it comes to blindness, flying through a cloud is no different than being in a dark closet.
It doesn’t have to be this way. Done properly, flying through the clouds, fog, rain, or almost any other weather that obscures your vision outside the cockpit can be quite safe. With the right tools, tactics, and training, you can easily overcome any fear and learn to become confident in the clouds. Here are 10 ways to get there.
1. Train like you fly.
Here’s an open secret: The vast majority of instrument training is done in visual conditions. This wouldn’t be such a big deal if view-limiting devices weren’t so poor at actually limiting your vision. But they are. You might be perfect flying by reference to instruments with a hood or Foggles, but that is no substitute for actually getting into a cloud. If you’re working on an instrument rating or thinking of working on one, push your instructor to get you time in the clouds. You can get an instrument-rated safety pilot to act as pilot in command and take you in the clouds, as well.
2. Fly lots of cross-country.
If, after completing the private certificate, you have any inclination of getting an instrument rating, make every possible flight a cross-country. Not only is the cross-country time required to get the rating, the exercise of planning and flying to other airports is great practice. Instrument flying almost always consists of flying between two airports, and anything you can do to put your mind at ease when it comes time to fly in the clouds is worth it.
3. Know your systems.
The last thing you want to be doing in the clouds is learning how to use a GPS or autopilot. Learn how to use these tools on the ground or on nice days. The same goes for checking out in a glass-equipped airplane. Start with the nice days and work your way up.
4. File on every flight.
If you consider that instrument flying is broken down into two tasks—the procedures and the basic attitude instrument flying—taking away angst from one leads to the ability to concentrate on the other. Make it a habit to file an IFR flight plan on burger runs, beach trips, training flights, and at every other possible opportunity. This is especially true on nice, crystal-clear days. When you get to your destination, fly the approach, even if you’re not wearing a view-limiting device. Many instrument pilots are just as concerned about the procedures as the clouds. Don’t be one of them.
5. Earn the rating, use the rating.
When you spend thousands of dollars to earn an instrument rating, don’t waste another few thousand having to retrain yourself because you let your skills atrophy. It’s not only a waste of money, it will also breed fear of the clouds. Instead, make it a point to file and get in the clouds soon after you get your rating, and continue to do it at every possible opportunity. Intensive courses are of particular concern here—while the learning can be fantastic, it will go away quickly if not properly reinforced. Take a safety pilot if necessary, but make sure you fly often in the first year after you earn the rating.
6. Set personal limits.
If you know you feel comfortable flying an ILS down to 1,000 feet above the ground, but you’re unsure about your skills beyond that, simply don’t fly on a day when that could happen. In other words, set personal weather minimums and stick to them. Your minimums likely exist at a comfort point. All you have to do to remain confident is not go past them. Doing so is not a license to be complacent, however—it’s too easy to leave your personal minimums the same for years on end. Reevaluate them often and adjust them as you gain confidence.
7. Learn all you can about weather.
Often the most difficult part of an instrument flight isn’t the flying itself, but deciding whether you can go in the first place. Are thunderstorms hiding in those clouds? What’s the chance of picking up ice? Is the airport going to get fogged in before you can start the approach? Meteorology is never an exact science, but the more you know about it, the better your preflight analysis is going to be—and feeling confident that you know what you’re about to get into greatly reduces the worry. If you can afford it, an in-cockpit datalink with weather depiction doesn’t hurt, either.
8. Work your way up.
There are days on end when nice, puffy clouds form at a comfortable altitude, especially in the summer. Take advantage of those days to file and fly through them. Going in and out of the clouds can be a good challenge for someone who’s not entirely comfortable, but it’s also quite safe. With a high base you won’t have to worry about shooting an approach, and there are plenty of breaks to give you a rest. Days with thin overcast layers are perfect as well. Climbing or descending through layers is a great confidence builder, and may give you an opportunity to shoot an approach where you break out high. Conditions like this may also allow you to navigate on top in visual conditions, which helps teach instrument-based situational awareness. Read cloud tops reports, pilot reports, or a Skew-T Log-P diagram to get a better idea of when you may encounter this type of cloud layer.
9. Sweat in the sim.
It’s well documented that simulation has a beneficial impact on training. Spending quality time in a simulator with a CFII or on your own can work wonders. Considering that airline pilots usually don’t touch the airplane until there is a load of passengers goes to show just how good sim sessions can be. Desktop or full-motion, the platform doesn’t matter—make the sessions as hard as you can, and flying the airplane will seem much easier. Aside from building cloud confidence, you can practice difficult procedures, work on emergency response techniques, and generally do things you would never do in an airplane—like zero-zero takeoffs and landings.
10. Phone a friend.
If all else fails, hire a CFII. Even if your chosen instructor does nothing else but occupy a seat, you will feel more confident with an experienced CFII on board the airplane. To get the most of the session, tell the CFII why you want him to go along, and insist that he do nothing except help out in the event you start to do something unsafe. Assuming he remains quiet, doesn’t touch anything, and simply observes, you won’t be using a crutch. A thorough debrief afterward can help you with continued learning, and make sure you got your money’s worth.
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