Pilots gather 'round - I'm going for IFR

Ugh. The Instrument rating. Which of you folks have it already and might have some advice for me?

Specifically, I would like your personal tips and tricks for things like:

  • Visualizing holding patterns
  • Intersection holds
  • NDB holds and approaches
  • How to overcome overload when things get really busy

My ability level is pretty good at this point. I can conduct most procedures already, just not very elegantly. I’m not quite ahead of things in the cockpit yet, so I’d love some help moving up to the next level. I’m planning to take the written test after New Year’s, and take a checkride by March I hope.

Also, has anyone else here received their Commercial ticket before getting rated for instruments? I had enough hours in, so I went Commercial first. How unusual is this these days?

VFR=Visually Follow Roads
IFR=I Follow Roads
:wink:

I started my instrument ticket twice , and ran out of money both times. :frowning: Never did get it.

But I did get my commercial ticket. For me, it was just a heaven-sent opportunity to get it for free (I traded some delivery trips for a multi-engine rating in a brand-new Baron 58P AND the commercial ticket. And what the hell - I was trying to build time, anyway, so I was a BIG winner on the deal!)

BTW, the last one you mentioned - trying not to get overloaded - is the hardest part, and there is no trick to making it easier, bubba. You’ve just got to get good at the individual pieces, and that takes practice and time and experience and patience. Sorry for the platitudes, but that’s what I think.

As far as NDB approaches, read the books and fly the guages, it ain’t that hard.

Except that IRL, the easy stuff IS hard!