Originally Posted by IO540
There is a big body of opinion among the traditional VFR scene that there is no place for this in PPL training - even though if you fly something slightly more complex than a C150 you will be operating by numbers if doing it properly.
Another thing is that a student who has been doing "technical" flying like this is likely to have a much better understanding of the plane and the systems in it. Plus superior situational awareness resulting from instrument navigation. But, again, instructors don't like people who "run before they can walk". I was constantly accused of this, when looking at planes to fly IFR as soon as I started PPL training (because it was so obvious that VFR is of very limited use for going places).
There are instructors who are willing to take on board a challenging student like that and have some fun, while most others will regard him as a smart-ar*e who is way ahead of himself.
In the longer run, decent instrument flight capability (whether or not legalised in the form of the IMC Rating or an IR) is essential for VFR flight, due to frequent poor visibility in haze or rain. Or at night...
Hear, hear ! 100% correct IO540
