Video Tip: Getting Started in Your Instrument Training

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Adding an instrument rating will greatly expand the utility of your Private certificate and allow you to fly on days when the visibility is low and the cloud layers are close to the ground. In this tip, we'll explain the steps you'll need to follow to earn your instrument rating and the new procedures and knowledge you'll learn along the way.

The Foundation of IFR Flying: Basic Attitude Instrument Skills

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Remeber that IFR flying is built on the unglamorous basics. Hold heading, altitude, and airspeed precisely, and you’ll have the bandwidth to manage everything else—ATC calls, avionics, charts, and approaches.

Instrument Maneuver Spotlight: Flight Deck Check—Flight Instruments

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Before an IFR flight, the cockpit setup and check for flight instruments is more than just a box to check—it’s your first line of defense against in-flight surprises or emergencies. This systematic preflight review verifies that each required instrument is not only present and functional, but operating within acceptable limits.
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Practical IFR: Making Avionics Sing

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I’m an unabashed geek when it comes to avionics. My flight instruction career has lived in parallel to one in technical education and writing. It also started less than a year after Garmin introduced the original GNS 430, so maybe it was destiny that my niche would be avionics training and IFR training.

IFR Quiz: Regulations for Instrument Flight Rules

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Can you answer all these regulations questions and stay legal in the IFR system?

Too Much Info: How to Focus IFR Thinking

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If you weren’t ahead of the airplane, you were the obstacle. It was that high-stress, fast-paced, and constantly changing environment that cemented the most important lesson I’ve learned in all my years of flying: The most important systems for flying IFR safely and confidently are built on the ground, long before you ever climb into the cockpit to test them.

Video Tip: Instrument Scanning Technique

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A smooth and efficient scan is the foundation of instrument flying. In this segment, we’ll explore how to prioritize the attitude indicator, interpret supporting instruments, and adjust your scan technique based on cockpit layout and flight conditions. Whether flying steam gauges or glass, learning to slow down and get the full message from each instrument is key to becoming a precise, confident IFR pilot.

How to Transition to IFR flying with an Instrument Rating

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If you’re a Private Pilot ready to take your skills to the next level, there’s no better way than earning your Instrument Rating. It’s a game changer—not just for your flying confidence, but for the freedom and utility it unlocks. You’ll no longer be bound by VFR weather minimums.

Ask the IFR Expert: When is an IFR Alternate Required?

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Even when it’s not required by regulation, I almost always file an alternate airport when planning IFR flights—especially for cross-country trips. Why? Because weather isn’t the only thing that can throw a wrench in your plan. Runway closures, fuel availability, equipment outages, and unforecast changes can all make your destination unavailable.