What Comes After Your
Instrument Rating?O.K. so you finally passed
your instrument checkride - now what?
You might remember the examiner telling you that your newly minted
ticket was a license to learn, but you were so relieved after finally achieving
your goal, you nodded and agreed without really thinking about how you would
continue the learning process. There's
two ways to do this of course. One way
is to just launch into the clouds and see if experience teaches you. Experience, as it turns out is a good but
very harsh teacher. First you get the
punishment, then the lesson. This of
course assumes that you survive the punishment.
Fortunately there's a better
way. What your examiner was really
trying to tell you is that you need a plan to become a safe and proficient
instrument pilot. Not just a general
idea of gradually getting instrument experience, but a specific plan over at
least the next 12 months to conduct specific flights resulting in greater
proficiency and confidence in the clouds.
I advise instrument students to conduct their post checkride flights in
the following order of weather conditions; VMC to VMC, then IMC to VMC, then
finally VMC into IMC. That's all fine as
far as it goes, but usually that IS as far as it goes, resulting in a haphazard
series of flights without a specific order or specific objectives.
So here is a suggested plan
to guide you through the first year after your rating. It involves specific flights twice per month
with either a safety pilot or CFII. Also
included are two IPC's at certain points to help you avoid practicing bad
habits. Altogether, you will spend 4
hours per month, so 48 over the 12 month period. After this, I think you will agree that you
will have more confidence and proficiency - without the punishment!
Click
here and select "Post Instrument Rating Proficiency Plan"
