Usefulness of Instrument Rating if all I want to do is fly VFR for fun?

[franknyc]

What's the use of getting my instrument rating if all I want to do is fly VFR for fun or maybe buy my own r22 and flight instruct?

[arotrhd]

Maybe a better question might relate to what personal minimums you launch and recover with, and, ultimately, what/where you want to go (literally and figuratively). I mean NOBODY has ever crashed due to poor wx or scud running (can that really be done in a helo?), RIGHT?. Also, the instrument rating will help you get and keep students through a higher level...Pvt->CFII..., vs sending them to an instrument instructor to finish the required time (read training & earning continuity).

 

As much as I like to take to the air, my personal minimums for "fun" VFR flights increased considerably after earning the instrument rating. $.03.

 

-WATCH FOR THE WIRES-

[delorean]

Get it.....it may just save your life someday and in the meantime may save you some $$$ on insurance. The average life time for a non-instrument trained helicopter pilot is less than 25 seconds from the time they enter IMC to the time they hit the ground (about 2 minutes for airplanes I believe.)

 

99% of civilian helicopter pilots will probably never fly IFR, but almost everyone with a off-shore or EMS job has to have the rating--just in case. All IFR-certified helicopters have autopilots which do all the work for you, so the training is probably harder than the flying later on.

 

Now that I think about it, you don't really need to get the actual rating......just get a minimum of 10-20 hrs of hood training like unusual attitude recovery, gps navigation, PAR/ASR approaches, etc. But if you want to be an instructor or professional pilot, get the rating cuz you'll need it.

 

Practice in the helicopter and area you'll be flying in. Work out a procedure including a safe altitude to climb to, who to call, then have an approach programmed into your GPS that you'll be able to bring up quickly.

 

If you're planning to instruct, a CFII and an instrument equipped ship will get you more students.

[Tenacious T]

Now that I think about it, you don't really need to get the actual rating......just get a minimum of 10-20 hrs of hood training like unusual attitude recovery, gps navigation, PAR/ASR approaches, etc.

 

 

Probably better off to just get the rating, at least then you'll have motivation to stay current. Any skills you learned initially would probably fade fairly quickly without a periodic refresher.

[apiaguy]

I think the instrument rating is the most worthless amount of training done nowadays for helicopter ops...

unless you are going for the career path that uses (or requires) it.

instrument training or not... if you go IMC in a helicopter not autopilot equipped you're screwed!

Just don't do that! stay away... fly within the regs... I know that mean clear of clouds as a min. for heli ops in alot of airspace... but it isn't worth treading there.

 

Unfortunately the FAA disagrees and wants everybody on an IFR flight plan for safety. They have required basic instrument training at the private level now for about 10 years.

 

Yes the instrument ticket introduces you to a whole new world of aviation that is interesting and important.... but not for most (99%) current heli ops.

[Gomer Pylot]

I have a lot of hours in IMC in helicopters without an autopilot. You're not screwed, you just need to know what you're doing. IMO the main benefit of an IFR rating is that it makes you a more precise pilot. You learn to control the aircraft with precision, maintain altitude and heading, and in general be smooth and accurate, whether in IMC or VMC. You need to learn to have a smooth control touch, and flying instruments helps with that. Even if you never go into the clouds, you will benefit from learning to, and smoothness often correlates with not exceeding limitations during flight.

[apiaguy]

I agree with your post...

 

I can't help but wonder if the instrument training would be better served at a later point in ones training... say after 500 hours or so... just my opinion

[svtcobra66]

If you're going all the way to a commercial rating, it makes a lot more sense to get an IFR rating than aimlessly fly around to build the required 150 hours.

[Mike Murphy]

If you have any interest in instructing, I think it is well worth your while to get an instrument rating. You will need a commercial or ATP to instruct so you might as well have the instrument to go along with it. I flew helos in the Navy for 20 years, spent a lot of time in IMC and have never flown a helicopter with an autopilot. Stabilization systems certainly help but you do not need an autopilot to safely fly a helo in IMC.

 

Mike