rickair7777

Shouldn't be a big issue, as long as you do a little recreational flying (with maybe some XC, or at least do XC planning on paper). IR will build on PPL skills, so you just need to keep those minimally fresh.

A321neo

Thank you! I appreciate your response.

TiredSoul

Do NOT borrow money from friends.
Can you dedicate $600-$700/month to keep flying? That’s 4-5 hrs a month.
Not just random drilling holes in the sky.
Make it count and practice everything.
Manuevers, landings, radio navigation.
If you absolutely have to in order to save for your Instrument then go down to 2 hrs a month but make it 4 short flights rather then 1 longer one and only practice landings as that’s a skill which is easily lost.
During your Private your CFI can emphasize the radio navigation a little more in preparation for your IR.

A321neo

Oh ok great! That makes a lot of sense and I’ll take your advice on not borrowing from friends then.
I could probably do the 2 hours a month and depending on overtime worked I can probably alternate doing 2 hours one month and 4-6 the other.

Pilsung

Just one more suggestion to add to the others good advice- once you get your PVT, try as much as possible every flight to fly to an airport > 50nm away to practice your T/O&L’s as you’ll need 50hrs of PIC XC for the Instrument rating...
...you can practice slow flight and maneuvers enroute to and from, and get the added benefit of logging the entire flight as PIC XC.

A321neo

Thank you for the advice, I’ll keep that in mind too.

I truly appreciate everyone’s help and advice.
I’ll keep you posted on my progress.

TiredSoul

Standby one.
Its 50hrs of XC time by Instrument checkride time not to start the training.
Otherwise correct but he can still time build XC time while he has started his IR.
I would recommend saving for 30-35 hrs XC and doing it in one block with a safety pilot or your IR instructor towards the end of your Instrument training.
Do a 5 day, 4 states and 20 airports kinda thing with multiple approaches.
Here’s the deal, try and spend the money once.
You need the XC time anyway, might as well do it as instrument training as the learning value is much higher.
Far too often Instrument training is only done locally with the same ILS approach 20 times over.

Neo, no offense but details can be hard to explain because you don’t really know what we’re talking about yet.
I used to do this for a living for a long time and it can sometimes even be difficult to explain to an instructor what you’re trying to get them to do.

Anyway, you can teach a lot of things during the Private pilot training that will be of benefit for the Instrument without it being overbearing to a primary student.
Teach the principles of bearing to and bearing from the station ( is you are Northeast of the airport the airport is to the Southwest of you kinda thing), VOR (radio navigation beacon) tracking to and from the practice area, constant speed climbs and descents and constant rate climbs and descents and partial panel.
Flying around the practice area is perfect for partial panel principles.
Outside reference point and only altimeter and RPM for practicing steep turns.
So many things an engaged instructor can do that will be a tremendous time saver during your IR.

*disclaimer, I used to be Chief Flight Instructor for a 61/141 school.

Pilsung

Tired Soul- I agree with you, but since he appears to be cash-strapped, I’m simply suggesting that once PVT is complete he gets a bit of VFR PIC XC time- maybe 10 to 20 hours- rather than mere T/O&L’s at the home airport to maintain currency until he’s ready for Instrument training- make every hour count towards the next step... nobody I know needed all 50 XC hours to be hood time to be ready for their instrument check ride... this is what I recommend to my students...

TiredSoul

They don’t need to but it helps a tremendous amount for them to get the “bigger picture” of IFR flying.
Also since the OP intends to go to CPL/CFI there is no substitute for (additional) experience.
I’m daydreaming a little here but if I could do one more 0-CFI student I would take them on a coast to coast 50hr cross country and do all the required IFR training on the way.
Groundschool in hotels and FBO’s on the way.
Couple of 2-3 day stops for some ‘local’ cross countries and approach work.
By the time we get back student will have the 50hr PIC XC and be ready for the IR-checkride.



*Neo, point is there are many options and most of them make sense.
Which one is the best fit for you depends on a lot of factors that we don’t know.
Your learning style, how much time you can spend on this and what your local options are.
If a better option is a 2hr drive away you need to adapt a little just as an example.

A321neo

Thank you guys for all the information.
And yeah this is the scenario that could happen, I get my private this year, then won’t have the around 10K I see it costs on average to get the IR, so let’s say I can save the money and have it by summer ‘21 after 6+ months and I can only do 2 hours of flying a week.
Best case scenario I can save enough to do IR and CPL back to back but in case I can’t I’ll keep it one step at a time but wanted to know if you guys think it’s bad or doable.
I have seen that like some of you guys mentioned, I can share renting a plane with someone and build time, then use that to practice instruments.
Then again, get CFI and find a job if things really workout in a best case scenario.