Quickest IR
Quickest IR
I am looking at where/how to do my IR this year and at my various options. The problem I have is getting time off work. I can get maybe 2 weeks but then would not be able to get any time off for quite a while. All the UK schools seem to quote around 6 weeks full time and there is no way I could do this. My options so far are:
Do it part time, I have 2 young children to entertain and am also liable to get called into work weekends at very short notice so this would probably not work.
Do an accelerated FAA IR in 2 weeks and then a 2 week conversion later, this is an option I am seriously looking at. The conversion may take a bit longer but I should be able to work around that.
Go to Europe, I have been told I can do an IR in Poland in 2 weeks. It sounds too good to be true but I may look into it further.
Are there any other ways to accelerate the course?
Do it part time, I have 2 young children to entertain and am also liable to get called into work weekends at very short notice so this would probably not work.
Do an accelerated FAA IR in 2 weeks and then a 2 week conversion later, this is an option I am seriously looking at. The conversion may take a bit longer but I should be able to work around that.
Go to Europe, I have been told I can do an IR in Poland in 2 weeks. It sounds too good to be true but I may look into it further.
Are there any other ways to accelerate the course?
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Londonderry
Age: 57
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I completed the FAA IR in 2 weeks in Arizona last October. It is definitely achievable with previous instrument experience - I had the IMCR already. Would need more time to start from scratch though, and I have heard that it can be tough to get an ICAO - JAR conversion done within 2 weeks either.
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Newcastle, UK
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi,
I'm in a similar position to yourself. F-air quoted me 2 weeks (weather permitting) and aerodynamics 4 weeks.
This is my original thread about them
I'm planning on doing it in march, so weather may be an issue.
Hope that helps.
I'm in a similar position to yourself. F-air quoted me 2 weeks (weather permitting) and aerodynamics 4 weeks.
This is my original thread about them
I'm planning on doing it in march, so weather may be an issue.
Hope that helps.
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: London & Oslo
Age: 54
Posts: 238
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I seriously doubt you will be able to do an IR in 2 weeks, you have to wait at least 1 week to get a test booked.
Another factor is the weather in the UK, even if IR and in Sim, you will be stuck purely because UK does not have good enough weather to be able to believe you might get 2 weeks flying every day. Also IR requires some time to reflect on each lesson, so unless you have very much experience already I doubt you will have any chance to make it. Even the conversion will be hard to do in 2 weeks from what I have heard.
Another factor is the weather in the UK, even if IR and in Sim, you will be stuck purely because UK does not have good enough weather to be able to believe you might get 2 weeks flying every day. Also IR requires some time to reflect on each lesson, so unless you have very much experience already I doubt you will have any chance to make it. Even the conversion will be hard to do in 2 weeks from what I have heard.
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Hunched over a keyboard
Posts: 1,193
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Quickest IR? I did most of mine at over 215kt IAS. 
Ask yourself a more relevant question: do you want a quick/cheap IR or do you want one that actually gives you the training that you need?
I have seen many people who've trained in Spain and Greece really struggle when they try to renew their IR after 12 months because they really weren't taught that well to begin with.
Ask yourself a more relevant question: do you want a quick/cheap IR or do you want one that actually gives you the training that you need?
I have seen many people who've trained in Spain and Greece really struggle when they try to renew their IR after 12 months because they really weren't taught that well to begin with.
The Cooler King
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: In the Desert
Posts: 1,703
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This type of talk is simply insane.
NO SCHOOL can guarantee you an IR in a set time.
And if you fall for bull**** like that having already completed a PPL, CPL and ME then I do not want you near an airliner as your learning curve would seem to be vertical.
Contrary to the numbers and evident from statistics for accidents and screw-ups, there is no quick kill for flight training.
If you don't spend the time on practice and proper integration of skills then you will learn harsh lessons on the line (if you ever make it there) - and unfortunately, your passengers may have to pay for your half-assed training plans.
NO SCHOOL can guarantee you an IR in a set time.
And if you fall for bull**** like that having already completed a PPL, CPL and ME then I do not want you near an airliner as your learning curve would seem to be vertical.
Contrary to the numbers and evident from statistics for accidents and screw-ups, there is no quick kill for flight training.
If you don't spend the time on practice and proper integration of skills then you will learn harsh lessons on the line (if you ever make it there) - and unfortunately, your passengers may have to pay for your half-assed training plans.
Well as time off work is a problem for me its not insane, it is a major factor in deciding where and how I do my training. I do understand what your saying about the standard of training and that was the reason for my post. To get recommendations and possibly a solution I hadn't thought of.
It is not my intention to be one of those pilots that does the IR course and doesn't use it again until the revelidation is due. Even though my aim is to eventually fly commercially I will also be using it to fly my own aircraft IFR around Europe. I see the IR very much as a licence to learn and have very experienced pilots willing to mentor me and fly IFR trips with me after my training.
Getting the rating done by a good school to a high standard and fitting it around work is the problem though, hence the post.
It is not my intention to be one of those pilots that does the IR course and doesn't use it again until the revelidation is due. Even though my aim is to eventually fly commercially I will also be using it to fly my own aircraft IFR around Europe. I see the IR very much as a licence to learn and have very experienced pilots willing to mentor me and fly IFR trips with me after my training.
Getting the rating done by a good school to a high standard and fitting it around work is the problem though, hence the post.
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Victoria
Posts: 468
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Regarding the standards of training, I believe STRONGLY, that it is up to you to put the time and effort in beforehand. Theres no point having your instructor having to demnonstrate time and again how to intercept radials, holding pattern entries, the quirks of NDBs such as dip etc. If you study your arse off beforehand, you can utilise your time in the air to great effect. I purcahsed the Oxford IMC training CBT and managed to get hold of the Jeppesen DVDs on Commercial and IFR flight. Read charts in your own time and go over your theory principles such as all the compass stuff as you will need all this during partial and limited panel. I trained in Greece and flew A319s and A320s for a UK operator out of LHR and was line checked relatively quickly. So dismissing people who have completed their IR in other JAA countries as "poorly trained" is pure BS. Just my 2 cents, take it or leave it!
Last edited by SW1; 8th Jan 2011 at 15:53.
felix
This type of talk is simply insane.
NO SCHOOL can guarantee you an IR in a set time
NO SCHOOL can guarantee you an IR in a set time
I see the IR very much as a licence to learn and have very experienced pilots willing to mentor me and fly IFR trips with me after my training.
If you can, do yourself a favour and remove the time pressure - and however you go about it, good luck
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: WALES
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have just come back from Sunstate Aviation in Florida. Absolute fantastic outfit, I managed to complete my FAA IR single engine in 2 weeks. I highly recommend them. PM me if you want to know more.
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: EGYD
Posts: 1,073
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have seen many people who've trained in Spain and Greece really struggle when they try to renew their IR after 12 months because they really weren't taught that well to begin with.
Remember these are the skills which you will be tested on during your sim check and use for the rest of your life!
Quality - not speed or price is the factor you should be considering if you consider yourself to be a professional pilot and have a shot at a right hand seat.
There's thousands of unemployed low houred pilots out there - of which what I've seen the vast majority lack the fundamental instrument skills to get anywhere close to a job.
It's worth taking the time - it doesn't matter how could the house is if the foundation is rubbish - and it is obvious when we put you in something faster (i.e sim check) and we then ask "Where did you do your IR?"
Join Date: May 2002
Location: In a nice house
Posts: 981
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
With low hours and no previous IR experience I completed the FAA IR (including tests) in 2 weeks, in California (good weather!). Yes it was hard work but it can be done. I then came back to convert it, was told I had to do 15 hours in UK plus the test. Trying to find a school to do that was much harder and took a long time to get it all done, despite my good availability. Did much of it during lunch breaks!! If you can find a school that is willing to make an IR instructor available to you full time you may have a chance, but I would say its the UK bit that could be the issue.
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Europe
Posts: 651
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I had my FAA (IR) before converting it to JAA and I can assure you that it is very unlikely you will get it done within two weeks. Any school promising that is talking ****e.
THIS !!!! is the best question around.
There's IR holders who would fly straight into a mountain even with a moving map on the MFD. And no, IR is definitely NOT a license to learn. You'll get yourself killed. I'm not being dramatic. You will.
do you want a quick/cheap IR or do you want one that actually gives you the training that you need?
There's IR holders who would fly straight into a mountain even with a moving map on the MFD. And no, IR is definitely NOT a license to learn. You'll get yourself killed. I'm not being dramatic. You will.
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: The land of chocolate and cuckoo clocks!
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Felixflyer, please read post 12 by BigGrecian as this is the nuts and bolts answer to your question. As someone involved in training both in aircraft and simulators I can assure you that you need quality, you need to be taught correctly from day 1 otherwise it will catch up with you later. You say you intend to fly commercially eventually, but mean time fly your own aircraft. This is a bonus for you as by the time you want to fly commercially you should have some experience...BUT I can assure you that if you get a commercial job that requires a type rating in a simulator AND you took a quickie route to an IR the wheels will definitely fall off the wagon! Simulator follows a syllabus that is based on you having a licence and an instrument rating (Generally), it is not to teach you any basics of instrument flying. The weather will be minimums or below and the instructor will only allow so many track miles or holds
Spend your money wisely is the only advice I can give you and be wary of marketing! And of course good luck
Spend your money wisely is the only advice I can give you and be wary of marketing! And of course good luck
