I simply mean after a few minutes looking out shouldn't disorient you, it wasn't not meant to scan for anything important. Common man being in clouds is fun you have too look around. On a practical note, you could be scanning outside for ice build up but that wasn't the purpose when I stated that before.

ah, got it, sorry

No worries, I am horrible with wording as you will likely find out and that certainly doesn't help.

That's completely normal. I was scared the first time I went into clouds, mostly because of the stuff I read on pilot training books where they make it seem like you will make a death spiral if you take your eyes of the instruments. It's not bad at all, you just need to get used to it. It goes away very quickly and actually becomes fun after a while as long as you're not in icing conditions!

hey, i have had this feelings most of the time when I am flying IFR, First time I almost killed my self and when the time went through i got the catch and its better now, but i am not the best. I feel disoriented once in every flight, i guess its normal for us low time pilots. All i did was trusted the instruments. It helped.

Getting Over Vertigo During Approaches
 

I didn't read through all the entries but another suggestion is get some simulator time, and maybe in a full-motion level-D simulator, but this is not necessary. One thing I've always noticed is that the simulator very nearly resembles the real thing. Shot several approaches with misses. Imagine that you are in the airplane. Imagine what it would feel like. Work on your scan, believe the instruments, and don't delay on any one instrument. Work on forming a mental picture of where you are in the approach as if you were watching a moving.

Then go out and shot night approaches somewhere REALLY dark where your peripheral can't play tricks on you.

Believing your instruments is the key. Try not to move your head and just move your eyes. If you have to move your head, move it slowly and with purpose. Are you keeping your eyes going, not focusing too much on one instrument?

You'll get past it with practice, but you have done the right thing to listen to your comfort level and not fly actual till you are ready. However, with that said, for some that is just the ticket. Get out there, believe in yourself and fly some actual, all the while remember your training.

If you need a refresher and a fresh perspective, visit PilotWorkshops.com IFR Proficiency Series. Really great stuff!

Anyway, good luck! Update us on how you are doing.

Jeff

When you get into IMC, just put your foggles on :D

Night approaches are a great idea. If you can manage to fly on a night with a new moon or with a cloud base that blocks it out, into an airport with very few lights around and nothing around the airport, it feels very similar to flying in actual. Shot the visual to an airport like that the other night. Ended up using the LOC and GS anyway cause the illusion was pretty bad.

IMHO, the best reply in the thread!

Get on the instruments early and stay on them until you get close to breaking out of IMC. Scan with your eyes and not with your head. Adjust your personal minimums until you get more comfortable and proficient.

And finally, just because you are rated doesn't mean you can't go up with a CFII (or an experienced, comfortable, current instrument-rated pilot) to ride shotgun while you get yourself more acclimated to the IMC environment. If I were you, I would be looking for every smooth, IMC day I could find (or afford) to get used to it. Avoid overly turbulent days at first, as this would most likely be counter-productive.

Stick with it, you'll get the hang of it soon enough. Just try not to get in over your head.

SemperFly

Try what I mentioned in my earlier post and see if things change. Get on the instruments a few hundred feet before the clouds and be relaxed, comfortable, and with the aircraft under good control when you enter the clouds. Stay like this only till you feel comfortable to look away and fly as normal.

You might be surprised how subconsciously we look up at things like going into a cloud simply for the fact that it is in our nature to not enjoy confinement which entry into clouds gives you this feeling. So consciously thinking about and doing this might help you out, not sure though but it certainly can't hurt. Good luck.