26 minutes

Thinking like an IFR pilot offers advantages, even on a short VFR flight in great weather. We’ll show you how to reduce your workload–and avoid surprises–by incorporating some simple techniques into your routine.

23 minutes

Flying VFR in complex airspace requires many of the same planning, workload management, and communication skills instrument pilots need when flying under IFR. Learn to transition busy airspace with less stress.

20 minutes

GPS Direct may be the shortest route, but it isn’t always best (even on a VFR day). Finding the best altitudes and routes on both VFR and IFR charts, and using creative GPS techniques, can make a VFR flight more comfortable.

12 minutes

IFR pilots know that using an autopilot is essential for reducing workload and focusing on the other important tasks in a flight. An autopilot is valuable for VFR flying too–if you understand how to best use it.

17 minutes

A surprising encounter with IMC can be disastrous—even for an IFR pilot. Learning an instrument scan that’s simple and deliberate can help you escape a deadly situation (and fly more precisely on every flight).

14 minutes

A seemingly simple VFR spiral climb over an airport surrounded by higher terrain or obstacles can contain hidden traps. But if you know how to find–and leverage–aspects of a published IFR Visual Climb Over Airport (VCOA) procedure, much of the work is already done for you.

14 minutes

Making a VFR departure at night is less daunting when you’re confident you’ll clear any obstructions. Consulting an IFR Obstacle Departure Procedure (ODP) while planning your departure route can make the task much easier, and give you peace of mind.

16 minutes

A typical VFR departure from the heart of the Sierra Nevadas might follow roads and lakes. An IFR Obstacle Departure Procedure (ODP) plots a more conservative route. Combining elements from both techniques gives you greater flexibility and reduced risk.

12 minutes

When making a VFR arrival at night you need a bulletproof strategy. Understanding the safe altitudes on both VFR and IFR charts, and knowing how to use technology for increased situational awareness, can help you descend with confidence.

16 minutes

If you’ve flown in the mountains before, it can be challenging to fly to an airport nestled in a valley–even on a VFR day. But borrowing elements from an IFR approach procedure makes it a more comfortable arrival, and provides known safe altitudes all the way down.

10 minutes

Flying VFR directly into the setting sun (or other reduced visibility situations) can be challenging. Using an IFR procedure for additional guidance during the descent can supplement pilotage, and ensure you arrive safely at the right altitude approaching the correct airport.

18 minutes

Attitude + Power + Configuration = Performance. The best IFR pilots know these numbers for each phase of flight, and how changing one will impact the others. But creating and using “performance profiles” improves VFR flying too. You’ll be smoother, more precise, and more consistent.

23 minutes

Departing a non-towered airport on a dark and gusty night can be challenging. But drawing on an IFR technique provides protection from the surrounding terrain and reduces the risk. Planning and preparation help ensure a safe outcome.

12 minutes

In this scenario video, a pilot without an instrument rating—but with some instrument training and knowledge of procedures—is concerned about potential traps when departing VFR at night. Would it be wiser to use a ‘bit of IFR’ to make a safe departure, or rely on pure VFR experience plus a moving map?

19 minutes

Requesting a Localizer/DME approach at the end of a flight down the California coast seems like a fun way to practice some IFR skills. That decision really pays off when VMC quickly turns into IMC due to the sun setting on final approach.

13 minutes

In this scenario video, the pilot is making a familiar short flight, but all of the previous trips were in the daytime when the hills on both sides were easy to see. Now a moonless night adds a substantial level of uncertainty. Is cockpit technology just the fix to make a safe approach in the dark?