I recently did my IFR cross country for my instrument rating requirement. I flew from Vero Beach to Marathon. Did the NDB approach in Marathon, and an ASR approach in Key West.
We had lunch at the Island Tiki Bar in Marathon, if you ever get a chance, GO! Get the crunchy lobster sandwhich! OMG
Anyways, was a very fun flight, and I learned a lot.
flight paths:
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N…836Z/KVRB/KMTH
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N…241Z/KEYW/KVRB
Enjoy!
After completing my commercial ground school class this week, I took and passed the written exam this morning. With a score of 95, it's the highest I've scored on any written.
I'm extremely satisfied with myself. I was feeling fairly nervous about this written. I feel that my score on this test was very representative of my career options. For some reason I placed a lot of weight on this test, and it motivated me to study harder. There were only two tests in my ground school test. I scored fairly well on both of them, but I knew I could do better.
It's also a relevant factor in being hired here at the school as a flight instructor. That put extra pressure on me to do well on this test.
Now that I have got this out of the way, I can focus on finishing my instrument rating. Now after about 4 days of solid studying of commercial material, I need to start studying instrument material again.
I hope to have this instrument rating finished in two weeks.
This week I have started doing commercial ground school. I still haven't finished my instrument flying, but I'm trying to finish while I'm in class. I only have 5 flights left in my instrument training.
The instrument training has been going really well for me. Besides having some minor issues with memory items, such as checklists, and when to do sequenced events, I'm doing really well. Most of my flights have gone fairly smoothly, with minor hiccups.
I'm currently waiting for a new instructor again. This is only about the tenth instructor I've had while training here. My current instructor is starting a program that takes up pretty much all her time. She will be instructing contract students with an airline, and will be unable to carry 'normal' students like myself.
If there is one thing that I can say nobody here likes, it would be the contract students. Basically they are treated the way you would think yourself deserves to be treated. They are given priority over other students, and they seem to be scheduled much differently. It is very aggravating to lose instructors, or scheduled time to these students.
Commercial ground school so far is a very basic review of what I learned in private pilot ground school about a year ago. I'm still waiting to be challenged in this class. I'm the type of person who can't stand listening to something over and over again. I know I've said it before, that sometimes the ground schools feel very repeated. This is still the case with commercial ground school.
I guess this is what you have to put up with at most 141 schools. Perhaps the lower flight time requirements make up for my torture in this class. I sure hope so.
I have started to do my actual IFR flying last week. It's a completely incredible experience. After a year of flight training, I'm finally doing the kind of flying professionals do! It's really exciting to be in the IFR environment, and doing all the things I have learned so much about.
I have had two flights so far, and they have gone extremely well. I haven't had any major issues yet. My instructor is pleased with my progress, and I feel like I'm making progress every day.
Currently I'm on track to be done with my instrument rating by the end of the month.
We'll see! 🙂
Earlier this week I had my step 4a oral exam, and today I completed my flight.
The oral was fairly basic, questions about BAI, instrument construction, and how they work. I don't think it lasted longer than thirty minutes, and was fairly straightforward. Due to weather I was unable to complete the flight at that time. This morning I was scheduled for the flight, and have just completed it.
The main things that I was really worried I wouldn't be able to do(specifically: compass turns, partial panel), I was rock solid on. I thought myself through each one of the situations presented, and just did it. In fact I even had it right, but said it wrong. He asked me to track inbound to an NDB, and I did the intercept calculation correctly, and started turning the proper way, but said the opposite. He asked me why I said 'right turn' but turned the correct way of left. I don't know. heh.
In the end, there were only two problems, and they were minimal. He said I fly the plane very well, and that I should do fine in IFR flying.
I'm excited, re-motivated, and have some self confidence back. Next week will be mostly ground lessons with my instructor, and some flight simulator work. Maybe by the end of the week I'll have my first IFR flight!