I started the IFR phase 3 weeks ago withs 2 days of grounsdchool followed by the first 6 sims. What can I say about it except that there is a massive gap between VFR and IFR training. At the beginning I was struggling about the sequencing of what to do and when... Now it's getting better, but there are still a lot of stuffs to do. It's really hard, but in the mean time very interesting...Basically I'm enjoying it!
I'm really happy to do the IFR before the CPL, because as we need to be more precise with the checks, the paperwork and the actual flying of the aeroplane, I think it's a good way to reach the CPL standards.
The first sim has been design to get familiar with the Garmin 1000. No more conventional instruments, we can now watch the last episode of Game of Thrones on these two screens while flying!
 |
| DA42 cockpit fitted with G1000 |
So far, we learnt how to fly a SID, a STAR, a VORDME approach and a RNAV approach, adding on each flight something new like the checks, the radio calls...
The Standard Instrument Departure, or SID, is basically as we can guess, a published standard departure using a navaid. We can also see wich climb gradient we will have to use to stay clear of terrain... In Hamilton, the TAYLA 2 and BUDEN 1 departure are the most commonly used as they correspond to the active runway QFU, 176° and 356°, so we have to fly straight when airborne.
 |
| Hamilton SID |
The VORDME and the RNAV approaches are pretty similar except that they use differents nav aids. In the first case it's a VOR and a DME and in the second case it's the GPS. All the approaches seem similar because obviously they've got the same aim, make the aircraft descending while clearing you from the ground and obstacles such as mountains, hills...
Because they are non precision approaches, they take you down to a certain altitude, the MDA (Minimun Descent Altitude) where you should be able to see the runway to finish the approach visually...
If you're not you shouldn't go below this published altitude and initiate the Missed approach procedure (basically the IFR name for a go around, but following a specified track up to a certain altitude)
A STAR, or STandard ARrival, is the transition between the en route phase of the flight and the final approach. It's only a sequence of waypoints you have to fly by or fly through. I only practiced a RNAV STAR, and in this case the hardest part of it was to load it on the G1000 while flying the aircraft...
 |
| Rnav STAR for 18L |
I still have a lot to learn, but I really like IFR. I don't know wich one I prefer between VFR and IFR, because there are too many differences, but when I remove the hood in flight to fly the aircraft visually for few minutes, it's like holidays...