Getting to Grips with the IMC
Carbonfibre-based lifeform
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I feel it's unfair for you chaps to have all the fun, so I've decided to join the IMC Class of '03 myself.
It was listening to Evo at Duxford last weekend describing just how much fun it was which finally clinched it for me!
The one bit of Morse I know at the moment is . . . / - - - / . . .
Hope I don't need it!
It was listening to Evo at Duxford last weekend describing just how much fun it was which finally clinched it for me!
The one bit of Morse I know at the moment is . . . / - - - / . . .
Hope I don't need it!
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Had an IMC lesson this afternoon and for a while it all started to make sense
but a descending partial-panel turn to intercept and hold the 140 GWC radial (crosswind was a bonus 
) soon fixed that 
There's still no fuggin' chance of me flying an approach. I'm praying that the "all makes sense at 9 hours" thing applies to me too
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Well, not being one to be left out, I am also set to start IMC soon - just negotiating diary dates with the instructor at present... GERONIMO!!!!
Andy
Andy
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No: what's been discussed is to do the first 6~8 hrs as separate ~2hr lessons, then to "blitz" the later part of the course in blocks of 2~3 days.
Carbonfibre-based lifeform
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Andy,
That sounds like quite a good way to approach it.
I don't want to string it out over too long a period, but it does sound as if it's possible to have too much of a good thing early on in the course, so yours sounds like a good compromise.
Perhaps on our next visit to Le Touquet in the haze we can pick up their ILS just off Hastings, call final at 30 miles and blast on in like some others seemed to be doing the last time we went there!
That sounds like quite a good way to approach it.
I don't want to string it out over too long a period, but it does sound as if it's possible to have too much of a good thing early on in the course, so yours sounds like a good compromise.
Perhaps on our next visit to Le Touquet in the haze we can pick up their ILS just off Hastings, call final at 30 miles and blast on in like some others seemed to be doing the last time we went there!
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Just a note of support -
It is pretty formidable at first, but it does come together eventually, and lifting the foggles at 500' after successfully completing an ILS letdown, and seeing that runway (roughly) ahead of you is a fantastic feeling, it's up there with first solo, QXC and the GFT.
It is pretty formidable at first, but it does come together eventually, and lifting the foggles at 500' after successfully completing an ILS letdown, and seeing that runway (roughly) ahead of you is a fantastic feeling, it's up there with first solo, QXC and the GFT.
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FS:
Quite! 
Actually, I've been looking at Steve Levien's impressive pics of his day Trip to Rouen and am totally inspired! Hopefully, this will be a good goal after gaining IMC... but planning to do it with another IMC rated friend of mine to halve the workload! So much for the goal: now I just need to do the work and get the rating...!
KCDW: I'm looking forward to that feeling!
Perhaps on our next visit to Le Touquet in the haze we can pick up their ILS just off Hastings, call final at 30 miles and blast on in like some others seemed to be doing the last time we went there!
Actually, I've been looking at Steve Levien's impressive pics of his day Trip to Rouen and am totally inspired! Hopefully, this will be a good goal after gaining IMC... but planning to do it with another IMC rated friend of mine to halve the workload! So much for the goal: now I just need to do the work and get the rating...!
KCDW: I'm looking forward to that feeling!
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Andy,
Except of course with the IMC the magic spell wears off as soon as you leave the UK and you're back to having to look where you're going again
KCDW Thanks for the moral support - sounds as if it might come in handy!
Except of course with the IMC the magic spell wears off as soon as you leave the UK and you're back to having to look where you're going again
KCDW Thanks for the moral support - sounds as if it might come in handy!
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Erm....am i missing the point of the IMC?? I have an IMC and night and although i can use the night rating anywhere within the EU i can only use the IMC within UK airspace and the channel islands. So how did Steve (unless he is IR rated) do the day trip with out breaking a few rules ( unless he was VMC all the way!!). That feeling of the first cloud break is pretty awesome though i did it a few months back after an ILS into Bournemouth!
Tom
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I hadn't thought this was going to be too difficult until I started reading this thread.
Now I'm scared witless of my next IMC lesson!
Steer clear of Redhill in IMC y'all
Hersh
Now I'm scared witless of my next IMC lesson!
Steer clear of Redhill in IMC y'all
Hersh
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Don't be scared, it's not that bad. The only thing that bothered me was when we couldn't get a radar service from anywhere when in actual IMC. It's a big sky and you do what you can to get out of IMC, but with see and avoid being drummed in to you from day one of your PPL it made me feel uncomfortable.
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Ref. Steve and Rouen, I'd assume the guys has an IR: no idea, I just admire his photos!
And yes, I know the IMC rating is UK only... but I am thinking ahead to the day when I have more
Andy
And yes, I know the IMC rating is UK only... but I am thinking ahead to the day when I have more
Andy
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A beautiful CAVOK day and I'm up there wearing foggles
Still, it's getting better - I spent most of today's lesson ahead of the aeroplane rather than behind it, delt with my instructors surprise 'ATC instructions' (usually at moments of high workload) and managed to find my way round Goodwood's VOR letdown OK. Had an easy entry and avoided the hold, but was very satisfying to lift up the foggles and see the runway where it should be. Finally feel like i'm getting somewhere
How are the rest of the learner-IMCers getting on?
Still, it's getting better - I spent most of today's lesson ahead of the aeroplane rather than behind it, delt with my instructors surprise 'ATC instructions' (usually at moments of high workload) and managed to find my way round Goodwood's VOR letdown OK. Had an easy entry and avoided the hold, but was very satisfying to lift up the foggles and see the runway where it should be. Finally feel like i'm getting somewhere
How are the rest of the learner-IMCers getting on?
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Thinking ahead
The problem with the IMC is, once you've got it, keeping it up. (This is a problem that seems to increase with age.)
After I got my IMC, I flew 'on top' and in cloud fairly often, and thoroughly enjoyed the privelege, but did not (need to) do one instrument approach. The IMC lapsed last June and even though I miss having the IMC, it seems just as difficult to get sorted on the revalidation. Seeing those Rouen pictures might just get me motivated to sort it out this time.
After I got my IMC, I flew 'on top' and in cloud fairly often, and thoroughly enjoyed the privelege, but did not (need to) do one instrument approach. The IMC lapsed last June and even though I miss having the IMC, it seems just as difficult to get sorted on the revalidation. Seeing those Rouen pictures might just get me motivated to sort it out this time.
Why do it if it's not fun?
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Evo, glad you're enjoying it!
My rating's progressing well, too - did my first ILS's last weekend. Everything was starting to fall into place - until my instructor made me talk to ATC, first of all for the SAR at Farnborough, then the missed approach and back round for a radar-vectored turn onto the ILS. Suddenly, the fact that I had to go where I was told, and not where I'd planned to go, meant that I was completely unprepared, didn't know what checks I was supposed to do when, and barely knew where I was!
That aside, I'm really enjoying the whole experience, especially getting my brain to really work hard in the cockpit. The only bit I don't like, as you say, is when my instructor tells me what a beautiful day it is, and I'm stuck under the foggles - I'd much rather do every lesson in real IMC!
Jayemm, that is definitely an issue. Especially since my regular aircraft isn't cleared for flight in IMC. Because of that, I plan on renting a club aircraft every month or two, taking a safety pilot with me, and doing an entire flight on instruments. If I can find real IMC for these flights, that's even better.
FFF
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My rating's progressing well, too - did my first ILS's last weekend. Everything was starting to fall into place - until my instructor made me talk to ATC, first of all for the SAR at Farnborough, then the missed approach and back round for a radar-vectored turn onto the ILS. Suddenly, the fact that I had to go where I was told, and not where I'd planned to go, meant that I was completely unprepared, didn't know what checks I was supposed to do when, and barely knew where I was!
That aside, I'm really enjoying the whole experience, especially getting my brain to really work hard in the cockpit. The only bit I don't like, as you say, is when my instructor tells me what a beautiful day it is, and I'm stuck under the foggles - I'd much rather do every lesson in real IMC!
Jayemm, that is definitely an issue. Especially since my regular aircraft isn't cleared for flight in IMC. Because of that, I plan on renting a club aircraft every month or two, taking a safety pilot with me, and doing an entire flight on instruments. If I can find real IMC for these flights, that's even better.
FFF
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I've rather stalled at the moment due to high (salaried)workload and some family stuff. Hoping to fly this weekend, but not doing any more IMC lessons till the one after - when hopefully I'll get to do some more night, this time at Southend! 
Definately need to find some time to do more studying though!
Definately need to find some time to do more studying though!
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Well, for the record, my progress report is that I've done IMC lesson 1 (!), just a recap on ijstrument appreciation from the PPL plus half an hour or so's just flying around to regain the feel for being on instruments... so not much to report really: its all ahead of me and I can't wait! I have to though due to some scheduling difficulties I won't be doing lessons two and three unitl later in May...
Andy
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Andy wrote:
Sorry I came to this a bit late. The pilot in question (ermm me, in fact
) does have an IR and the weather on the way back (see the later photos) also required an aircraft approved for known icing, as you may gather. It was bone-numbingly cold both on the ground, and aloft. Definitely a night where you wished you had a first officer to send out to do the walkaround, and Steve wasn't playing ball
The trip was just as fun as it looks and Rouen is a destination to be recommended whatever the weather. Alex, the lovely young lady ATCO there is very helpful, owns her own Vintage Nord aircraft (http://www.nord3400.com), and is someone we have come to know very well over the last year or so.
Steve is an ace photographer, and as a result of he and I flying extensively together, I have a very high quality photographic record of the vast majority of my flights. He may be open to offers if you want a similar service...
Ref. Steve and Rouen, I'd assume the guys has an IR: no idea, I just admire his photos!
Sorry I came to this a bit late. The pilot in question (ermm me, in fact
) does have an IR and the weather on the way back (see the later photos) also required an aircraft approved for known icing, as you may gather. It was bone-numbingly cold both on the ground, and aloft. Definitely a night where you wished you had a first officer to send out to do the walkaround, and Steve wasn't playing ball The trip was just as fun as it looks and Rouen is a destination to be recommended whatever the weather. Alex, the lovely young lady ATCO there is very helpful, owns her own Vintage Nord aircraft (http://www.nord3400.com), and is someone we have come to know very well over the last year or so.
Steve is an ace photographer, and as a result of he and I flying extensively together, I have a very high quality photographic record of the vast majority of my flights. He may be open to offers if you want a similar service...
Last edited by 2Donkeys; 18th Apr 2003 at 15:20.
Stick with the IMC rating training guys, it's worth it in the long run. Honest!!!
Here's a typical good reason. A week ago we took a pair of ac to France for lunch. Hazy vis. on departure, but within SVFR limits for an IMC rating holder in our Class D airspace. Most of the way to Petersfield we were over 8/8 cloud well below - again, no problem for an IMC rating holder, but not permitted for a plain vanilla PPL. Then the Wx improved near Goodwood and we were VFR all the way to Deauville for a very pleasant lobster luncheon. Back home later and there was a fair bit of cloud on the coast and over Southern England - but good enough for a pairs visual landing when we got back.
In fact I'm so keen on people doing the IMC rating that I never charge an Examiner's fee for conducting their IMC rating Skill Tests! Or re-validations!!
Here's a typical good reason. A week ago we took a pair of ac to France for lunch. Hazy vis. on departure, but within SVFR limits for an IMC rating holder in our Class D airspace. Most of the way to Petersfield we were over 8/8 cloud well below - again, no problem for an IMC rating holder, but not permitted for a plain vanilla PPL. Then the Wx improved near Goodwood and we were VFR all the way to Deauville for a very pleasant lobster luncheon. Back home later and there was a fair bit of cloud on the coast and over Southern England - but good enough for a pairs visual landing when we got back.
In fact I'm so keen on people doing the IMC rating that I never charge an Examiner's fee for conducting their IMC rating Skill Tests! Or re-validations!!
