Cascade07 From Australia, joined Jun 2004, 12 posts, RR: 0 Posted (4 years 7 months 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 646 times:
As a private pilot who will most likely never fly commercially, but would like to go as close as possible to it as I can, which instrument rating does everyone suggest as the best to do some reading up on.....the Private IFR or the full on Command Instrument Rating?
I have just recently completed my PPL theory and am keen to keep up the studying and thought an instrument rating was an obvious next step.
Inbound From Trinidad And Tobago, joined Sep 2001, 661 posts, RR: 1 Reply 1, posted (4 years 7 months 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 396 times:
what are the specifics of a Private and/or Command IR?
I would suggest the command IFR assuming it's the more detailed rating.
An instrument rating is not something to be taken lightly and the more indept training and understanding you get, the better.
I'm also assuming the Private IFR is possibly for smaller aircraft such as single engines. While this may be more of a benefit to you (financially) since you said you do not intend to go commercial, very few small planes are certified for flight into instrument conditions and you may hardly ever file IFR in these planes and stick to it...can you see yourself venturing out in IFR conditions in a small plane and flying down to minimums on the approach?
more than likely you'll fly on a day where you depart IFR, but arrive under visual approach with that private ifr.
Cascade07 From Australia, joined Jun 2004, 12 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (4 years 7 months 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 360 times:
Hey Inbound, thanks for the reply...
I am not sure what the specific differences are between the Private and Command ratings here in Australia, but I believe the private rating lets you start with the basics and then build on them later on by adding FPA's, or flight procedure authorisations (NDB, VOR, ILS, etc), where as the command rating covers the whole lot in the one course....however I may stand corrected.
In terms of "Would I be venturing out in IFR conditions in a small plane", at this stage probably not and would most likely not be anywhere near minimums. However as my flying experience builds it is always possible.
An instrument rating is not something to be taken lightly and the more indept training and understanding you get, the better.
..I couldn't agree more, I see it as a real challenge. I think that while I may never fly commercially (I left my decision to start learning to fly far too late to make a career out of it), I can at least aim to be the best pilot I can...as far as my bank account will allow anyway!!
I think it will be a case of "Command Instrument Rating here I come".
Sponsor Message: 
From Australia, joined Jun 2004, 12 posts, 
From Trinidad And Tobago, joined Sep 2001, 661 posts, 
Printer friendly format
