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Path: utzoo!decvax!decwrl!glacier!kestrel!ladkin
From: ladkin@kestrel.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.aviation
Subject: Re: Reduced hours for IFR ticket
Message-ID: <3790@kestrel.ARPA>
Date: Tue, 7-Jan-86 22:02:16 EST
Article-I.D.: kestrel.3790
Posted: Tue Jan  7 22:02:16 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 9-Jan-86 03:05:55 EST
References: <1737@cae780.UUCP>
Distribution: na
Organization: Kestrel Institute, Palo Alto, CA
Lines: 35
Keywords: IFR training

In article <1737@cae780.UUCP>, rje@cae780.UUCP (Bob Evans) writes:
> The FAA reduced the number of hours required to get an IFR ticket
> from 200 to 125 - do any of you CFIIs have any comments on this ?
> What about those of you with newly acquired IFR tickets ? Or those
> (like me) still getting ready to get it ?
> 
> Does anyone want to offer personal insight into his/her capability
> differences between 125 and 200 hours ? 
> 
I have 200 hours, mainly in an Archer, and obtained my instrument
rating as soon as I could after the rules were changed. I've
been flying for 15 months, out of Palo Alto in the San Francisco
Bay Area, and the rating is a boon! I respect the weather, I'm
never tempted to cheat, I can find airports at night in areas
I've never been to before (or, rather, ATC finds them for me),
and I believe I'm wiser and safer than I would have been without
the rating. All of which should be understood relative to my
inexperience. Getting the rating was enjoyable, hard work.
I have only 5 hours actual IMC so far, 3.5 of it from
San Diego to Oakland last Dec 29. I broke the trip into 3
legs in case the weather got worse, or I tired out. The last
two were at night, and the final 1.5 hours was solid IMC, in
light to moderate turbulence. Ordinary stuff for experienced
pilots, but as much as I would want to handle right now.
Examiners treat you alike, I would imagine, whether you have
200 hours or 125 hours. They make sure you have the proper
dose of humility in the face of mother nature, pass you if
you can fly the instruments, and ensure you've memorised
the phrase "Clouds can bite!". 
If you have the hours, go for the rating. By the time you
pass the flight test, you'll know whether you need more experience.
Three cheers (in this case) for the FAA!

Peter Ladkin
ladkin@kestrel