Instrument Pilot
The Instrument Pilot course is divided into three stages. Stage one introduces the basic skills of attitude instrument flying. Stage two introduces the pilot to flying "instrument approaches" to various airports. Stage three ties it all together by flying cross-country flights and gaining further experience. Instrument flying in the Northwest provides the student with a higher level of competency due to the experience gained in flying in "actual" clouds verses "simulated" cloud conditions.
Stage 1
- Principles of instrument flight
- Instrument navigation systems
- Air traffic control system functions
- Instrument flight charts
- Precise airplane attitude control
by instrument reference
Stage 2
- Procedures for IFR departure, enroute
and arrival operations - Holding patterns
- Various IFR approaches
- Circling/missed approach procedures
- Full and partial panel techniques
Stage 3
- Analyze weather information,
conditions, and trends - IFR flight planning and emergency
procedures - IFR cross-country procedures
- Greater understanding of the decision-
making process