Recommended aircraft:
slow piston (Cessna Skyhawk, Piper Warrior)
,
fast piston (Beech Baron, Piper Seneca)
With the VFR ratings out of the way, you can now start your IFR ratings. This first IFR rating involves a simple flight from KSNA to KSNA, with
vectors for the ILS RWY 19R approach. This is the IFR equivalent of pattern work.
Pilots are often unsure what route to file in cases like this. The most prudent strategy would be to file a route, such that in the event of lost comms, you have a route that is flyable without reliance on radar vectors. In our case, the ILS 19R approach at KSNA is flyable from the nearby SLI VOR. So, let's file that.
Once we get airborne, if all goes well, we'll likely receive vectors to the final approach course in any case, but still, it's good to file a non-radar flyable route, so you can easily fly WITHOUT ATC, either flying offline, or when VATSIM ATC isn't online. The 'full' approach, flyable without ATC vectors, is the subject of the I-6 rating. For this rating, though, you can count on ATC to get you onto that final approach course.
Good luck on your first approach! You're IFR now, so be sure to listen closely to ATC. If you're given a heading, altitude, or speed instruction, do your best to adhere as closely as possible with the restrictions.
Joe on Jan 13 00:43
Passed my I1 today with Keith's help. Nice training tool as I am starting real world Lessons. I still love the Heavys, but really did not graspe the smaller planes until I started my real lessons. Thank you Keith, and ZLA.
Ron on Oct 20, 09 13:52
My first IFR test with Mr. Shez Ansari, LA CTR. First off, what a nice guy to have in your headset in IFR weather. And, for my I-01 examination, I definitely had weather that req'd IFR...which added to my nervousness for this exam. However, like my other examiners, Shez had a calming yet firm demeanor. Although Shez was scheduled to log off soon after I began my flight, he remained online so I could complete my rating!
Thanks Shez!
Ron N43598