is it cheaper to convert to a group 1 from a group 3 instrument rating..considering you keep your group 3 valid and actually use it? i'm askign this because i see all these flight schools advertise 20 or some odd large number of twin hours for the multi ifr.
cheers
group 3 to group 1.......cheaper?
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av8tor_assrope
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group 3 to group 1.......cheaper?
I want to die like my grandfather did, peacefully in his sleep. Not screaming in terror like his passengers...
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Right Seat Captain
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Agreed. A sim is way cheaper than the airplane, and it's a lot better learning environment - you can stop, look at the trace, and the instructor can draw on the blackboard, then back to the sim to try again.
You don't need a full-motion sim, either. You can learn a heckuva lot about flying an NDB approach with a crosswind with a PC, too. Frankly, the instructor skill is a lot more important than which sim you're using.
You don't need a full-motion sim, either. You can learn a heckuva lot about flying an NDB approach with a crosswind with a PC, too. Frankly, the instructor skill is a lot more important than which sim you're using.
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Flying Low
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- Location: Northern Ontario...why change now?
When I did my initial IFR I started in an ATC810 sim (basically a black box with a panel and controls). This was used to get the IFR procedures down cold. Once that was done I moved into a 172RG for a few hours. Now I was practicing the procedures while flying an airplane with retractable gear and a constant speed prop. Finally I flew the Seminole. This was very cost effective as by the time I got to the twin I could fly the plane while doing all the IFR procedures; the only addition was the engine out/engine fire drills while flying IFR.
"The ability to ditch an airplane in the Hudson does not qualify a pilot for a pay raise. The ability to get the pilots, with this ability, to work for 30% or 40% pay cuts qualifies those in management for millions in bonuses."
If you are worried about $$ DO YOUR HOMEWORK! and spend a few hundred hrs on a good uncertified sim at your home, splurge and get some good controles, as for an app I am personally a big fan of X-plane, but there are others out there, I would stay away from MS, not very good for IFR I find.... THEN after you know 100% what you are doing, then jump in a certified sim with an instructor; THEN touch the plane...
PS I think you can buy the elite software for like $200 (Its also on ISO hunt), it works with most contorls, OR you could buy their stuff too, hell if you allready have a good PC $5000 and you have a certifiable sim, (other than you need to have an FTU)
PS I think you can buy the elite software for like $200 (Its also on ISO hunt), it works with most contorls, OR you could buy their stuff too, hell if you allready have a good PC $5000 and you have a certifiable sim, (other than you need to have an FTU)
I suppose getting back to the original question of whether it's better to get a group 3 first, then get the group 1 it all depends on the individual. I assume that you will have access to a decent flight simulator so that would not be an issue here.
For those of us who aren't rocket scientists (the vast majority of pilots I've known aren't), perhaps using a familiar platform (single engine) might be a better intermediate step. Things go by pretty quickly when you're trying to wrap your head around which hold entry to do or when to let the gear down on your first ILS.
The next step could be doing a multi ride, and then concentrate on the group 1 instrument rating. In the end, this route would probably cost you a little more money over the long run, but it does break down the steps a bit better.
I did my multi first, then the group 1 (I'm admitedly no rocket scientist so I chose this route). Perhaps I should have done a group 3 first, but I didn't because money was an issue for me during my training. If you have no problem getting your head around a new airplane and simultaneously learning IFR procedures, then definitely go for it. Doing it all in one shot would save you some money.
For those of us who aren't rocket scientists (the vast majority of pilots I've known aren't), perhaps using a familiar platform (single engine) might be a better intermediate step. Things go by pretty quickly when you're trying to wrap your head around which hold entry to do or when to let the gear down on your first ILS.
The next step could be doing a multi ride, and then concentrate on the group 1 instrument rating. In the end, this route would probably cost you a little more money over the long run, but it does break down the steps a bit better.
I did my multi first, then the group 1 (I'm admitedly no rocket scientist so I chose this route). Perhaps I should have done a group 3 first, but I didn't because money was an issue for me during my training. If you have no problem getting your head around a new airplane and simultaneously learning IFR procedures, then definitely go for it. Doing it all in one shot would save you some money.
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av8tor_assrope
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StepOnTheBall
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It may be a good idea to spend 5-10 hours in a sim with an instructor, just to make sure that when you practice for a 'few hundred hours' by yourself, you know 100% what you are doing, rather than spending an extra 10-?? hours in the sim afterwards undoing all of the bad habits you taught yourself.Walker wrote:spend a few hundred hrs on a good uncertified sim at your home, splurge and get some good controles, as for an app I am personally a big fan of X-plane, but there are others out there, I would stay away from MS, not very good for IFR I find.... THEN after you know 100% what you are doing, then jump in a certified sim with an instructor; THEN touch the plane...
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StepOnTheBall
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It may be a good idea to spend 5-10 hours in a sim with an instructor, just to make sure that when you practice for a 'few hundred hours' by yourself, you know 100% what you are doing, rather than spending an extra 10-?? hours in the sim afterwards undoing all of the bad habits you taught yourself.Walker wrote:spend a few hundred hrs on a good uncertified sim at your home, splurge and get some good controles, as for an app I am personally a big fan of X-plane, but there are others out there, I would stay away from MS, not very good for IFR I find.... THEN after you know 100% what you are doing, then jump in a certified sim with an instructor; THEN touch the plane...
If you have the means with which to keep your Multi IFR current, do the Multi IFR, otherwise stick with single IFR. It'll only take a flight test to convert to Multi IFR if you should require it.
