According to federal regulationsa private pilot must receive “three hours of flight training in a single-engine airplane in the control and maneuvering of an airplane by reference to instruments only, including straight and level flight, constant speed climbs and descents, turns to a heading, recovery from unusual flight attitudes, radio communications and the use of navigation systems/facilities and radar services appropriate for instrument flight.

The idea behind this is that the pilot will have basic knowledge of how to control an aircraft if he loses external visual references. The most important thing to learn is this: trust the instruments, because your body will lie to you.

Instrument training begins with basic attitude flying. The pilot will be placed under a view-limiting device (VLD), such as a hood or Foggles flight training goggles, so that he cannot see the horizon out the window. They will maintain heading and altitude with reference to flight instruments, particularly the attitude indicator, altimeter, airspeed, turn coordinator, heading indicator and vertical speed indicator.

It’s a bit like looking at a box of kittens. You can’t focus on just one, because the rest will fall out of the box. Do this and you will be behind the plane.

Do this by moving only your eyes, not your head, as the latter can lead to spatial disorientation and airsickness. Fly with your fingertips, which means not gripping the yoke or stick tightly, and trim the plane gently – no sudden turns of the wheel or holding down the electric trim button.

Treat toppings like garlic. A little goes a long way, and you have to taste (see if the plane is on the plate) before adding more.

Carry a Ziploc bag on the front of your shirt just in case. This discomfort disappears within a few flights.

It’s also helpful to suck on a mint Tic Tac during the flight, as the mint helps keep your stomach calm.

Do the first lessons under VLD in VFR conditions by listening to flight monitoring.

You don’t necessarily have to have a flight plan because the instructor must look out the window to watch for traffic.

Before the lesson, review local approaches and look for landmarks near the airport or that are attached to feeder roads. Keep your ears open because this information tells you where the traffic will be.

On marginal VFR days, file an IFR flight plan that takes you in and out of clouds so you can get used to the feeling of entering a cloud and the jolt that occurs when you pass air relatively warmer (clear) to cooler air. in the cloud.

The trick to getting in and out of clouds is to ride the gauges and keep your attention on them.

If you have Microsoft Flight Simulator Or X-Planepractice your scan there. You won’t have the physical movement of the plane, so you’ll have to pay close attention to what the instruments are doing. This will help you when you get back on the plane.

Instrument flying allows you to fly into clouds, but clouds are where you find ice, so read the Terminal Area Forecast (TAF) carefully. Note the freezing level and the nearest VFR to give you an “escape” if you encounter unexpected icing and need to enter clear skies.

If you are training in a Part 61 program, you will need to have completed at least 50 hours cross-country as a pilot in command (PIC). Because instrumental skills are so perishable, you don’t want to take long breaks during training, so it will behoove you to plan to develop these hours before and/or during your instrumental training.

If training is conducted under Part 141, the 50 hours of cross-country PIC is waived, but many pilots find that they benefit from flying in airspace when following flight, as this is very similar to flying on an IFR flight plan.

Although it is not mandatory to have real time in the clouds, it can be very useful to you as it will give you extra confidence when it happens outside of the training environment.

Add instrument practice to your skills and monetary regime.

In addition to the three takeoffs and landings every 90 days, add an instrument approach. On VFR days, invite a pilot friend to be your safety pilot.