The Right Stuff -Close contact instument flying

[BombsGone]

You can pick the clouds where you might loose sight of lead if only for a second or two. Any reasonably well developed cumulous cloud will normally do it. Quite common really. As stated earlier stratus is less an issue unless it has significant vertical extent with rain.

[Centaurus]

Superb hands-on skills and sound judgement for their years.

Are we talking about manual raw data instrument flying skills or about superb monitoring of autopilot, skills? Big difference in jet transports especially as most of the major airlines frown on manual flying.

[Checkboard]

I fly in the UK with direct-to-right-seat cadets in the 737 all of the time, and in all honestly they are pretty good. Generally dedicated to the job, keen to pick up knowledge, spot on with SOPs and tech knowledge. the only differences you see are gusty landings (safe, but lack a bit of polish - which is more of a time on type issue than an underlying problem) and dealing with "unusual" operations - the ones which only come up every thousand hours or so.

[remoak]

Are we talking about manual raw data instrument flying skills or about superb monitoring of autopilot, skills? Big difference in jet transports especially as most of the major airlines frown on manual flying.

Both. Can't speak for the British Airways or Easy 737 cadets, but the ones we had on the 146 were encouraged to fly manual approaches when practical, especially when up in the Scottish Islands where NDB approaches still existed at the time. They got to fly in some really foul weather too, and as we did some very short legs (Jersey to Guernsey - 21 miles), got to do low-level (500 to 2000', depending on the skipper) hand-flown sectors too. And if you were using the autopilot, the one in the 146 definitely had to be "monitored" very closely indeed, quirky beast that it is!

[desmotronic]

So checkboard what you are saying is that they are 'generally' pretty good as long as nothing unusual happpens and its not gusty ... hardly confidence inspiring.

dunno what this has to do with formation in imc

[Checkboard]

No, I am saying you can't tell the difference from their 3000 hour brethren, except for gusty landings or unusual situations - and in these you can see the low experience, but their performance is still entirely acceptable.

[desmotronic]

acceptable adjective /əkˈsept.ə.bl ̩/ adj
• satisfactory and able to be agreed to or approved of

• just good enough, but not very good

From the cambridge dictionary, thanks for clearing that up.

[hugh_jorgan]

Jet pilot video

YouTube - Jet Pilot music video

an oldie but a goodie.

[Ex Douglas Driver]

Pairs ILS to DA (in 2.5nm radar trail)

[BombsGone]

Hugh, great song that, I was always a fan of iceman the latter years from Saturday night live.

[Cougar]

I am with Sanddune and BG on this one. IMC form is crazy stuff in a PC9, and yet they let studs do it. I remember initiating a loss of contact when I was in a 3 ship on the wing, and went from seeing the whole plane, to just seeing the port wingtip light. Bit hard to fly form when you have only a point source to fly off!!

But no, the instructor took over and told me to hang in there. New pair of jocks after that!! All whilst bouncing around in light turb. Not cool!

[Captain Sand Dune]

IMC form is crazy stuff in a PC9, and yet they let studs do it.

Not solo students though!
Remember doing a formation camp in Albany where most of the rides were done IMC. The lost contact procedure was also taught in IMC. Kept you on your toes!