New Guy

ChprPlt · January 31, 2007

Hello,

I'm new to the site and thought I'd say hello. I currently hold a private license and have about 165 hours (all in R22 and R44). I have my instrument check ride scheduled in less than two weeks. I'm pretty nervous about that but think I'll be ok. Once I get instrument out of the way I'll get my commercial and then CFI. I cant wait to get done with school and start my career. If anyone has any tips on instrument flying I'm all ears.

thanks,

Brandon

Edited February 1, 2007 by ChprPlt

sactown77 · February 6, 2007

Hey Brandon.

Welcome aboard! I think one of the best things you can do is get a low altitude chart, some approach plates, and make up an IFR flight. Then you can fly it in your head. Think about what radio calls you'll have to make, how youre departing and arriving, and while youre at it look up all the weather info for your flight. read as many weather charts as possible. These mock flights help to put the peices together and develop a flow. hope that helps a little. sorry no one responded sooner.

kevin

james28 · February 6, 2007

no tips or pointers from me, i'm sure you'll get plenty from others. just wanted to say high, welcome, and good luck on your check ride.

ChprPlt · February 6, 2007

Hey thanks guys! I will do the mock flights, thats a good idea. My checkride is being delayed a little so I have more time. I hate all the weather charts. Anyone know of a easy to use reference for the weather charts? My instructor suggested the test prep but it doesnt give much info.

HelliBoy · February 6, 2007

As far as the weather charts go, I'm assuming you hate them because half of them are written in heiroglyphs and the other half are in sandscrit. Everyone knows how mysterious those charts are but if you're serious about it the best thing you can do is LEARN THEM! If you can pull out a bunch of surface analysis charts and start blasting through them with an examiner he'll be so impressed the ground session will prolly end right there. There's a great AC book, I dont have it in front of me, called Aviation Weather Services.....I call it the Rosetta Stone, its what you're looking for.

joker · February 6, 2007

AC 00-45E- Aviation Weather Serviecss

Found online here Aviation Weather Services

ChprPlt · February 6, 2007

Thanks guys I have that book, I'll look at it again. It's funny none of the CFII's like to do ground on these charts. They all just call the briefer. Guess I'm in for some self study.

Edited February 6, 2007 by ChprPlt

sactown77 · February 6, 2007

Thanks guys I have that book, I'll look at it again. It's funny none of the CFII's like to do ground on these charts. They all just call the briefer. Guess I'm in for some self study.

Well if you need any help with those charts, let us know. I'd love to help ya. But yeah, "The Rosetta Stone" will be your best friend when it comes to those charts.

joker · February 7, 2007

I loved to do ground on them.

I have always been interested in the weather, charts, maps and meterology.

What is it that you find so daunting about them?

What you need to do is put yourself in the position of the person who really needs a particular weather source.

Ask yourself, why do the NOAA spend money on these...they must be useful to someone. Try to find the usefulness of each source.

Then wonder, what makes once source more useful than another. What must I know about that weather source before it can be useful to me.

1. Who collected the data?

2. When was the data collected?

3. What region does it cover?

4. What timespan does it cover?

5. What weather does it cover?

6. Is it a forecast or observation?

ALL of the above questions can be found on the chart. Learn how to answer the questions by looking at the chart, and you'll be sorted.

There easy!

I have always trusted my own interpretation of a chart rather than other sources. The briefer for me is just a double check of whatever interpretation I come up with.

Joker

My favourite was the Lifted / K index chart! Somewhere I have an idiots guide to the lifted and K indexes which I wrote. Maybe I'll try to dig it up!

Edited February 7, 2007 by joker

ChprPlt · February 7, 2007

Joker thanks for the tips. I think that it's all they symbols etc that make it confusing. That and the fact I recently found out I need to know how to use them all when my class didnt cover that! I will check out that book and hopefully it will all come together.

thanks

Edited February 7, 2007 by ChprPlt

ChprPlt · February 26, 2007

Hey guys just wanted to give you an update. I took my Instrument check ride Saturday and passed! The DPE hit me hard on weather. Thanks for the suggestion to read AC 00-45E- Aviation Weather Services book. It has a lot of good info in it and helped me understand the weather charts. I didnt fly as well as I would have liked but was within PTS standards. So glad I got this one past me!!

RotorWeed · February 26, 2007

Hey guys just wanted to give you an update. I took my Instrument check ride Saturday and passed! The DPE hit me hard on weather. Thanks for the suggestion to read AC 00-45E- Aviation Weather Services book. It has a lot of good info in it and helped me understand the weather charts. I didnt fly as well as I would have liked but was within PTS standards. So glad I got this one past me!!

Congrats!

What school are you flying at?

RDW

ChprPlt · February 26, 2007

I'm at SSH. I know everyone hates them but I havent had any major issues with them.

Autorotator · April 30, 2007

My tip is get it out of the way as quickly as possible. Instrument is painful and expensice. Commercial, CFI, and CFII are a cakewalk afterwords (except for those lesson plans, yuck!) One peice of advise is to take both your Instrument and CFII written exams out of the way at the same time if you are planning on getting you II (which is pretty much the norm nowadays) otherwise you will be cursing yourself. Good luck!

I'm dumb. I posted before I read the whole thread. Congratulations.

Edited April 30, 2007 by Autorotator