Originally Posted by Keygrip
You shouldn't need a "hood" on lesson 1 - and certainly no IMC conditions.
Agreed - Surely the first lesson should be without the hood and definitely in VMC to be able to show the relationship between the visible horizon and the artificial one.
Can't agree enough with the positives of procedural training on MSFS or a FNPT but be prepared to be bumped about when in the real muck. Learn to fly the aircraft in IMC before going to the FS.
I always introduce the student to Spatial Disorientation on Day 1. Not trying to teach my grannie to suck eggs but for the sake of those who don't know - Take control (FI), close eyes (student) and (FI) place a/c into a gentle, banked, clmbing turn, slowly increasing the bank and climb angles over approx 1 minute. Keep eyes closed (student) and tell me what the aircraft is doing - (FI) set a/c straight and level and the student will invariably tell you the aircraft is diving to the right/left. FI tell Student to look at instruments - hey?? - now look outside - what the?? Now, if you were in IMC and you'd believed the 'seat of your pants' you'd have recovered from a descending turn; reduce power, roll wings level, pull out of dive which would have actually placed you into a climbing turn with reduced power - 1 x stall in cloud which is not a good position to be in. Try it - you will learn to trust the instruments.
I've only had bad SD for real twice but on both occasions if I hadn't trusted the instruments I could have wound up in serious trouble.