IREX Training - advice required

[Iflyjad]

Hi all,

I have a PPL and am thinking of doing an Instrument Rating. As a first step, I would like to complete the IREX theory and pass the exam. As I work full time and only fly for pleasure, it is difficult for me to attend a full time ground course.

Can anyone advise me on the self study courses that are available. Are these worth doing or should I really be attending a full time ground school. Also has anyone had experience with the IFR DVD's available from Sporty's and King Schools. I guess these would be FAA specific rather than CASA, but I suspect that most of the material would be applicable in Australia.

Thank you in advance for any advice.

[mcgrath50]

I personally wouldn't use other countries texts for IFR (or Air Law) as there are quite a few things that Australia has (or doesn't have) that differs from ICAO and if you are using American texts, ICAO and FAA differ a bit as well.

I like Bob Tait as a starting point, other people hate him. Search the forum for everyones opinions, it has been discussed many times and make up your mind which textbook to use.

I found IREX was essentially 2 things, Air Law and instrument reading. So know how to read and use VORs and NDBs and then know the IFR Air Law (eg; ENR 1.1/1.5 + a few other areas in the CAOs, CARs and AIP). Oh plus the BOM weather manual, which you will get 1 or 2 questions from!

If you are self studying IREX I would at least book in an hour or two with an instructor every few weeks to go over questions that will come up as some of the regs are a bit 'fiddly' when you first read them.

Obviously this is my personal opinion and may not work for you!

[WannaBeBiggles]

The IREX teaches you next to nothing about how to fly the actual approaches, it's mainly theoretical stuff like mcgrath mentioned.

Things like knowing all the particulars around recency and alternate requirements is a major part of the IREX and is not straight forward (but what about Australian air law is!?)

Worry about the flying portion once you pass the IREX.

Plus I doubt any of the FAA texts would have anything about NDB's :E

[Allovertheshow]

I am in the process of converting an ICOA ATPL to Australia, passed the CPL law and about to start on the IREX with Bob Tait's guide.
Can anybody recommend how long I should self study for the IREX?

Cheers

[Tinstaafl]

Don't use any US based text, DVD or online course. USA has approaches & procedures that aren't used in Oz, Oz has approaches & procedures that aren't used in the US. Oz is PANS-OPS based, US uses TERPS. Rules, regs & procedures are like chalk & cheese between the two.

It's not that hard to study without attending a course. That's how I did it using Dyson-Holland's texts for the (then) two exams. Admittedly that was nearly 25 years ago but NDBs haven't changed much and there are only so many rules.

[Adsie]

Iflyjad

I have a PPl and used the MECIR to build hours while I was getting the rating.

Once you have a MECIR, it commits you to keep the rating currency.

I used Bob Tait, a current AIP - CAR and CAO to study and I passed first go.

Good luck

[Digaf]

Read Bob Taits IREX book 5 times, regardless of how painful, when you can understand and teach the subject to your teddy bear / monkey or little brother then the exam should be a piece of piss. Dont pay anyone to teach you, not worth it, unless your struggling and the monkey cant work out the difference between a radial and a banana. Oh and dont get too caught up on the orientation stuff in the front of the book, not a big part of the exam and will make more sense to you in the actual aircraft.....Have fun

[bentleg]

I was PPL and did it with the Aviation Theory Centre "Command Instument Rating" book.

As you do each chapter do the test at the end faithfully, re-read the chapter and redo the test until you get an OK mark. If you struggle on any issue, discuss with a rated pilot or an instructor - should not need to do this much however. When you can pass the trial exam at the end then sit for IREX. I passed first go.

Having said that, it's a solid, searching exam and requires serious study effort (or it did for me).

[Lasiorhinus]

Leave the Aviation Theory Centre green book well alone - that is a book suited to the theory behind instrument flight, and actually flying the aircraft. It is not in any way an appropriate document to teach you to pass the IREX exam.
Yes, the ATC book covers everything, but it is presented in such a way that leaves you no idea which things are crucial, and which are just supplementary information.
Use Bob Tait, or one of the well known theory instructors around the country, to get you through the exam, and the ATC book for help with the actual instrument flying.


bentleg, with all due respect, the reason you needed so much extra work for the exam was that you were using the wrong textbook. The practise questions in ATC are not at all similar to the ones you'll get in the real exam, whereas in the BT books they prepare you very very well indeed.

[Iflyjad]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. I am going to try the Bob Tait self study method and hopefully get through. Thanks again to all for the advice.

[The Green Goblin]

I got through with the bob tait book and an AIP in 3 days. I had little choice as I had a window while I was down from Kununurra and had to start the MECIR training.

Bob Tait got me an 80% pass first go. I was pretty happy with it considering the time I put in.

Having said that, my knowledge was very lacking and I didn't understand operational IFR. It took the rating and a couple of years and renewals to get very comfortable with operating under the IFR.

Bob Tait will get you through, but it won't teach you how to be an IFR Pilot. The only thing that will do that, will be lots of revision of the documents with suitable mentors (not know it all Slingair Pilots for instance :P) Most of that knowledge you pick up in your first multi crew job flying with very experienced Pilots