Comments on: Readers Poll – Are you IFR rated ?

By: PlasticPilot.net Readers Poll - Glass-cockpit ?

PlasticPilot.net Readers Poll - Glass-cockpit ? — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 18:02:56 +0000

[...] you want to take part in other polls, visit Are you IFR rated ? and Are you a faithful pilot [...]

By: Ross Younger

Ross Younger — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 09:10:14 +0000

I recently added the IMC rating to my PPL (allows IFR in IMC in airspace classes DEFG, only here in the UK). It was a lot of fun to get and very worthwhile given the British weather. However I don’t see myself getting the full IR any time soon; it’s ridiculously expensive, there’s no nearby FTO who offers it, and I don’t currently have access to a full airways-equipped aircraft (although I do know where to hire one near to me, it’s also ludicrously expensive). The theory is pretty painful, too, as the study options are aimed at those taking the full ATPL course. Plus, I don’t currently fly enough to make good use of an IR, which is largely because of money!

By: Doug

Doug — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 21:07:05 +0000

i’ve had my PPSEL for about 8 months and am working on my instrument rating now (2 or 3 more sim lessons in the Frasca 142). the main reasons that i’m working on the IRA is for safety, additional experience and something an instructor in wilmington, NC said to me last dec, “it will make you a more precise pilot”.

By: Are you IFR Rated ? Surprises in the results

Are you IFR Rated ? Surprises in the results — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 18:00:24 +0000

[...] not IFR rated because, because weather where I fly is too good”. Two commenters answered my “Are you IFR rated ?” readers poll this way, and to be fair this surprised me. I always lived in places where clouds are frequent all [...]

By: Adam Smith

Adam Smith — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:37:03 +0000

Student Pilot going for my private checkride in 3 days. I would like to go right into my IFR as soon as I get my ticket but I don’t think it will happen due to proximity to airport/time/cost in that order.

By: Julien

Julien — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 11:12:32 +0000

Same as JB. Weather here in Brisbane, Australia, is just too good, no need for an instrument rating if the only flying you’re doing is private flying. The only days when conditions are IMC you really do not want to be out there in a small airplane anyway, IFR or not, because you’re most likely to come across sub-tropical thunderstorms.

That being said, I think I’ll eventually tr to get an Instrument Rating, but of course I need my PPL first Checkride booked for October 22nd. All keep your plastic fingers crossed for me

By: Tryphon

Tryphon — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 09:12:12 +0000

I’m not IFR rated because I’m not PPL yet. Not even my first solo after 25hours. I find it extremely difficult to learn to fly VFR, so I doubt I’ll ever be skilled enough qualify IFR.

By: Jess Sightler

Jess Sightler — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 05:43:36 +0000

I’m not IFR rated, and the first two (time, money) are the culprits. I fly in the southeastern US, and it could be useful here at times. I suspect that it will happen one day, though… but that its probably quite a way off.

By: Francois

Francois — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 20:22:41 +0000

I am IFR rated because it is the only possible way to use one’s pilot rating for professional use. In the 17 years I have been IFR rated, I have done hundreds of business and personal trips and 1800 hours with the following statistics:
- Trips cancelled for weather reasons: 1
- Trips cancelled for other reasons (technical): 1
- Trips delayed by up to 4 hours for weather reasons: 2
- Trips delayed by up to 4 hours for other reasons (technical): 2
- Landing at alternate destination due to weather: 2
- Landing at alternate destination due to a technical problem: 1
- In-flight emergency (loss of 1 engine on a twin) : 1 (landed at destination, no sweat)

It’s not too bad a statistics, isn’t it? My airline travel statistics (counting all reasons including strikes) are much much worse.

Finally, my bags have been lost/misdirect by airlines (with higher frequency in the last years, courtesy of TSA) uncountable times. It never happened with private flights!

Do it, it’s worth it!

François

By: jb

jb — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 17:15:06 +0000

I am NOT IFR rated (but I indeed did an introductory course to the IR)

Most of the reasons you mention apply in my case (time, money) but I also would add a new one: good weather (in Spain) makes the IR ticket less appealing to PPL’s…