Hey guys,

I'm finally getting off my ass and getting my instrument rating. I have two options - train with a local school or go through one of those rapid 10 day instrument rating outfits. I see the appeal of both, does anyone have direct experience either way that can weigh in on the contrast between the two options?

I've not used one of the fast tracks but certainly understand the appeal.
Only word of caution is a buddy locally went with a fast track CFI course and it was a nightmare - plane not available, DPE not available, etc etc. He was back and forth to a remote site over the course of 6+ months. Ended up taking a checkride locally at home after enlisting a CFI who's worked with our local DPE as well. Would have been time and money ahead to just stay local.
On the flip side another guy used one and it was exactly as advertised. So - if you go fast track make sure it's well reviewed and you're appropriately prepared.

Aside from that I highly recommend Sheppard test prep, and a lot of studying - at least for me IFR was a lot to absorb.

One other piece that may or may not be relevant, I got my rating in a 172 with a simple stack. Now I fly full glass with AP - way easier to fly in the system, but also a whole lot more to learn. Hated knob twisting on the 430W, but at least it's a pretty simple device. Long way of saying avionics matter for IFR and I'm a fan of showing up for a checkride with everything you need and not an inch more, that's just extra rope to hang yourself with.

0-IFR in 10 days

Noooope

I’ve flown a ton of single pilot IFR, ice, CFI and 135 training Capt, going from 0 to cert in 10 days sounds like learning the bare bones to get the cert, I’d say if you just are going to use it for a insurance reduction or just to have it, sure.

If you’re actually going to fly IMC, hard pass

Find a local school, learn in your own ship, utilize sims beyond the mins, get as much IMC time as possible, make sure your instructor has single pilot IMC time

Depends on how you like to learn. 10 days in.row is a lot of material to compress in a short time. I did my CFI initial back in late 92 through American Flyers in San Diego. I was a lot younger and had more stamina than I have now. I don't think I could do a program like this now. I would get burned out. I will say IFR flying both hood and actual take a lot of focus. Most students are pretty tired and fatigued after about 3-4 approaches but it really depends on the student, how they like to learn, and what type of constitution for mental punishment they have.

I recently completed a mini version of a 10 day immersion program. We did 2 back to back weekends with about 15-16 hours of flying. He had taken his instrument written beforehand and already had about 30 hours of training prior to doing the training with me. He nailed his checkride and was well prepared for his ride. The days were a little long for him. We broke up the flying into morning and afternoon flights with lunch and ground instruction throughout the day. He was still pretty fried at the end of all those days.

Personally, I think finding a local instructor and trying to fly 2-3 times per week - 2 hour flights over a 3 month period of time allows better digestion of the material but that's my bias. It does give a better chance for finding actual IFR flying which is super important in the rating. I feel bad for people who are get their instrument rating in Arizona where they might not get a chance to fly hard IFR. This is super important and going solo IFR after the ticket is a real rush for most newbie IR pilots.


Josh

Having a local school is amazing, I got mine last year flying 1.5 hours south. Ground Brief, pick up instructor. 1.1, then 1.5 flying home.

Cost a lot of money and time.

I’ll add, doing much of this training at night is a wise idea

It’s more of a “IFR environment” and often less traffic so it’s easier to get approaches in

First: Getting your IFR, even if you never really use it, is invaluable. It enhances your safety immeasurably. For one, it increases your confidence on the radio with ATC. It makes an inadvertent flight into IMC event a 'situation' rather than an emergency. You gain appreciation and understanding of instrument approaches and what that means to VFR pilots (aka YOU most of the time). It enhances your understanding and use of all the IFR instruments in your airplane and gives you lots of tools to aid in navigation..even in VFR conditions. You will become intimately familiar with the GPS in your airplane. On top of that it should decrease your insurance.

I would recommend that you do it locally because that is where you fly. If you DO happen to use your IFR regularly, why NOT immerse yourself in your local IFR environment? Additionally, if you happen to rent the IFR training airplane locally you will be very familiar with it and that will make you safer when you use it. I found that repetitively doing IFR holding patterns made me a better pilot all around: Anyone can go point to point with GPS, pop-out of the clouds, and circle-to-land. It takes some skill to blindly intercept a waypoint, enter a holding pattern properly, make precise standard-rate turns...all while holding altitude, taking on the radio, and having the instructor throw in some kind of problem...all while looking only at the instrument panel.

braol wrote:First: Getting your IFR, even if you never really use it, is invaluable. It enhances your safety immeasurably. For one, it increases your confidence on the radio with ATC. It makes an inadvertent flight into IMC event a 'situation' rather than an emergency. You gain appreciation and understanding of instrument approaches and what that means to VFR pilots (aka YOU most of the time). It enhances your understanding and use of all the IFR instruments in your airplane and gives you lots of tools to aid in navigation..even in VFR conditions. You will become intimately familiar with the GPS in your airplane. On top of that it should decrease your insurance.

I would recommend that you do it locally because that is where you fly. If you DO happen to use your IFR regularly, why NOT immerse yourself in your local IFR environment? Additionally, if you happen to rent the IFR training airplane locally you will be very familiar with it and that will make you safer when you use it. I found that repetitively doing IFR holding patterns made me a better pilot all around: Anyone can go point to point with GPS, pop-out of the clouds, and circle-to-land. It takes some skill to blindly intercept a waypoint, enter a holding pattern properly, make precise standard-rate turns...all while holding altitude, taking on the radio, and having the instructor throw in some kind of problem...all while looking only at the instrument panel.

A hold should not be harder than a circle to land.



On our 6mo rides the hold is viewed as one of the freebie box checks

Train where it best fits within your available time line, what's important is the ongoing developing your skills and abilities. Striving to maintain currency so when you are forced into applying them it's all within your "comfort box".

CParker wrote:Hey guys,

I'm finally getting off my ass and getting my instrument rating. I have two options - train with a local school or go through one of those rapid 10 day instrument rating outfits. I see the appeal of both, does anyone have direct experience either way that can weigh in on the contrast between the two options?

The question you should be asking yourself is...In which environment do YOU learn best? Learning is most efficient when accomplished when the learner is READY to learn. If you adapt well to a firehose effect of information on a rigid timeline, the 10-day course may suit you. However, if you absorb at a slower pace tailored to your schedule, versus someone else's, perhaps a training program of your own design (with instructor guidance) is more appropriate.

An attempt to teach when the recipient is not ready is inefficient at best, this holds true whether a human, a dog or a horse (pretty much any creature with an advanced brain). This concept is actually one of my favorite topics with new instructor candidates.

TR

I appreciate the different perspectives, I'm thinking sticking with the local school will be the right choice for me.

+1 for Shepard. Used it for everything past private.

I passed the written and then I did my IR in 8 days. I had an outfit come to my hangar. He brought a sim and we trained everyday both on the sim and in my wagon.

Training was invaluable, esp in my own airplane.

Exam on the 9th day with a local examiner.

Was a perfect way to do it (for me)

FWIW… I had done my commercial first in an accelerated 3 day program, which was also fantastic. 2 days flying, test am day 3.

I find the droning on about having to “earn your dues” just a drag…

If your a good stick, bang it out. The exam is just a ticket to start learning… stay humble and don’t let your ego get in your way… you’ll be ok.

If your a bad stick, well….

Greg-

Check these guys out for the ground


https://groundschool.com/instrumentpilot

King is also good if you dig their humor