Blog: My IPC Journey Continues

My ongoing road to recurrency has seen a few twists and potholes.

To recap my journey, I’m an instrument-rated private pilot and former owner of a 1954 V-tail Bonanza – and before that, a two-seat Grumman AA1-B. My flying has been spotty for the past decade or so, and I resolved around the end of last year to get back into the game. The immediate goal was to first get comfortable in the left seat again, then work toward an instrument proficiency check (IPC). The ultimate goal is feeling safe flying IFR trips – some short, some long – in reasonable weather.


This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.avweb.com/insider/some-health-issues-and-an-exciting-new-airplane-enters-the-picture

He told me, if the purchase goes through, he hopes to be able to notch
his complex-aircraft signoff in time for a trip to Boston with his son this
weekend.

Blogpost aside, please don’t do this to your CFIs.

I don’t really understand CAFlyer’s remark about “not doing this to your CFIs”. Advancing a pilot’s capabilities is what they do for a living. Anyway, I applaud Mark Phelp’s efforts to get back in the saddle of improving his skills. Mark, if the Class 3 represents a barrier for you, you might consider a Basic Med. I’ve been flying my Comanche 250 with that for several years now, and find it much easier to deal with at the age of 80.

I appreciate the concern, but Gus works with a few different CFIs and I’m confident he would never pressure any of them to pencil-whip a sign-off. If he’s not ready, he postpones the trip and studies and trains some more.

As a CFI it’s not that uncommon to have someone call you on a Tuesday with an airplane new to them, and they have an aggressive timeline in mind to make a big trip. Training is my job sure but the situation as described creates a form of get-there-itis and sign-off pressure which are both counter to safety. That’s what I was attempting to convey.

Mark: Well done! Somerset Airport is a particularly excellent operation: I should know as I moved a few blocks away from it when we were in NJ. (We parked our Cardinal there for a while…) They have one of the best people around and Mark is a lucky guy. …or smart.

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