The Problem With Instrument Flying

Let’s face it, flying IFR in GA airplanes is hard - especially single pilot. And most of us don’t fly professionally...so we don’t get nearly enough practice or training. Instrument pilots of all experience levels need to continually learn and develop their skills in order to maintain a safe level of proficiency.

But the problem is that many instrument pilots find it difficult to stay sharp because they can’t fly as often as they would like or have to stop flying for extended periods of time.

Many other pilots did all the hard work to get their rating, but still don’t feel comfortable flying in the IFR system. They lack the confidence needed to build experience and reach the next level or proficiency.

Focused Scenarios That Build Confidence

There is no substitute for actual flying experience – pilots that train and fly regularly are typically confident and proficient. While we can't put you in an airplane, we can do the next best thing by immersing you in the mental aspects of IFR flying.

IFR Mastery is a continuing series of online, scenario-based workshops. Each month, we provide a challenging real-world IFR scenario that tests your knowledge and hones your decision making skills.

It's more than reading another article or watching another video. IFR Mastery delivers a powerful way to keep your head in the game and gain valuable experience from the comfort of your computer.

The best part of IFR Mastery is you will get maximum return for the time you invest! Because you are actively engaged, you will learn and retain the lessons in far less time. And because it’s fun, you will want to do it more often.

"IFR Mastery" Scenario-Based Training

"When it comes to exercising IFR thinking, the program that I was most impressed with was the IFR Mastery Series from PilotWorkshops." "PilotWorkshop’s IFR Mastery Series hits a sweet-spot mix of material to do on your own schedule and interactively - especially if you spend time in the discussion groups." - Jeff Van West, Editor - IFR Magazine (Feb. 2012)

IFR Mastery offers a structured approach that makes learning fun and highly effective. The scenarios follow a format that is simple and straight-forward.

 Step 1  - Watch the Scenario Overview Video:

The first step is to watch a short video that sets the stage for your IFR scenario.

You will get a full briefing of the situation and a detailed explanation of all the factors you must consider.

 Step 2  - Evaluate Your Options:

Here, you will study additional resources to further assess the situation and choose your course of action.

The resources are specific to each scenario and may include weather data, aircraft specific information, performance charts, IFR enroute charts, approach plates, airport information and other relevant data.

 Step 3  - Make Your Choice:

You will be given a list of options for how to best manage the situation. Select your choice using a live polling feature on our website. This way, you can get instant feedback and compare your choice with other pilots.

 Step 4  - Learn From Our Instructors:

After making your selection, you will watch the instructor's analysis video and hear which option they chose.

They will provide step-by-step instruction for each scenario and offer a technically detailed explanation of their process for completing each flight.

 Step 5  - Visit The Hangar:

This is our members-only discussion forum. After going through the workshops, you will enjoy spending time in the Hangar.

You can read the forum posts where pilots share a story or ask the instructors a question. There are lots of valuable discussions that come out of these scenarios and you are free to join them if you wish.

This is also the place where you can listen to the roundtable audio where all our instructors get together and further dissect each scenario.

Finally, you can access the monthly IFR quiz to see how much you learned...and don't forget to read the lively discussions that the quizzes are sure to instigate.