Sender: <marv@lancaironline.net> (Marvin Kaye)
To: lml@lancaironline.net
Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2003 13:10:12 -0400
Message-ID: <redirect-2631742@logan.com>
Disposition-Notification-To: Brent Regan <brent@regandesigns.com>
From: Brent Regan <brent@regandesigns.com>
User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.0.2) Gecko/20021120 Netscape/7.01
MIME-Version: 1.0
Subject: Re: IV-P IFR traning
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Jeff writes:

<<
As an designated pilot examiner, if I had an applicant who wanted to 
take his instrument checkride in a complex aircraft-- well more power to 
him. He just doesn't get any slack if he forgets to put the gear down at 
the marker, or neglects to put in the prop for the go around. Its still 
a bust. And yes, I have seen these things happen, personally. The 
checkride is hard enough-- why make it harder?
 >>

Because LIFE IS HARD.  A wise man will elect to be tested under the most 
demanding conditions, not the easiest.

Having  completed IFR training in my IV-P, I took my instrument 
checkrides in my IV-P AND a rented C172. In truth the C172 was only used 
for the NDB portion of the test and the examiner did inquire why we 
didn't just use the C172 for the entire test.  I replied that the 
objective was to test my competence, not to simply "get a rating".

My experience is that airmanship in a IV is VERY proportional to "time 
in the seat" and the degree to which accuracy is demanded. IMHO if you 
plan to fly IMC in a IV you MUST train in it OR practice until you can 
really demonstrate competency (to the same limits as the examination). 
IFR flying is a cerebral exercise and if you have to concentrate on 
aircraft stability you have less "processor power" to dedicate to 
situational awareness. Practice transfers some of the aircraft control 
from your conscious brain to the "seat of you pants".

I remember the same effect when I was endurance road racing. After a 
certain number of laps at a particular track you stopped thinking about 
apexes, shift points and late braking and started concentrating on 
tactics and lap intervals. IFR training is the perfect time to practice 
your skills. Why waste it on only practicing the IFR skills and not the 
piloting skills as well?

If you want to improve then make things more difficult, don't whimp out. 
Sure, it may be a little more frustrating for you and the instructor but 
when you get it you will really get it and not just think you have 
gotten it because you lowered the bar.

Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

Regards
Brent Regan