Banner tow to RJ FO ... keeping current
 

I'm a career changer with 1000TT/100 actual in various light singles. Towing banners this summer, and hoping to head toward a regional come fall.

Any thoughts on how best to keep my IFR skills polished and what particular skills are needed? I'm used to the GA IPC gotchas being partial panel, and circling approaches and what not, but I'm not sure that's the "IFR current" type stuff that's relevant for 121 training.

Find a sim where the plane can go 250kts. Get used to flying around that speed. Worst case scenario, find a sim with a Cessna 182 or faster and fly approaches as fast as you can go (140-180kts).

PM sent. Was in the same position as you and can def offer advice

Do some instrument training in a glass airplane. Practice ILS, GPS, and VOR approaches. Partial panel stuff is irrelevant.

Once you get comfortable, use flight sim software to fly something fast to get used to the speed. That will NOT teach you to fly a jet, but may help you get used to the pace of instrument ops in a jet. OK to use autopilot for that.

Thanks - sounds like a flight sim will be potentially more relevant (not to mention cheaper) than real time in a single.

Yea, that's where the training is, in a giant flight sim. Other than the standard steep turns and single engine flying that you have to demonstrate there's not a whole lot of actual flying skills needed during the training. 90% of the time you're just playing a video game on the cockpit displays, flying the panel so to speak. It's all IFR flying, I would practice all kinds of approaches and definitely look into YouTube videos on how to fly using the FMS.

Smart guy!

I am happy to see that you understand the value of staying current!

(It will pay off, and you will have a much easier time in training.)

For me the biggest gottcha from banner towing was the lack of working IFR and ATC. The next big hurdle was the speed at which things happen in an RJ. It is all over comeable (new word), it just takes work. All the above advice is good!

Yeah, forget partial panel. What you need to be is comfortable flying IMC as fast as you can, (AP on is the norm).
Thinking far ahead of the airplane, and only slowing to configure at 2000' AGL, (for our A/C), is where you need to be.

FYI: entering the class B at 240, and 210 on downwind, then everybody spaced/slowed to 180~170 until the FAF is the norm. (I'm thinking of LAX here, for example.)

As a former sim instructor at a regional, the biggest skills I saw lacking in new hires were basic attitude instrument flying especially on one engine.

One of the maneuvers you will be required to demonstrate throughout training and on the type ride is a hand flown single-engine ILS down to minimums. This was the #1 failed maneuver I saw. #2 was V1 cut, and #3 was single-engine go-around. Applicants failed these maneuvers for much the same reason: lack of proficiency at hand flying on instruments with an engine out.

Practice hand flying on one engine. Climbs, descents, turns. Practice speed and configuration changes. Anything that gets you moving those thrust levers around and requires you to maintain aircraft control and coordination will be helpful.

I wouldn't sweat things too much as long as you're getting some flying in over the summer. I've gone through two 121 training programs, and for the most part they will teach you everything you need to know, how to fly "their way" and close to everyone in both classes passed...the ones that didn't really didnt put in the study effort or we're doing their own thing during ground school.

That being said, my advice would be to grab a few hours in a glass cockpit if you're lacking in that kind of experience-focus on approaches and go to busier airports to practice comms . I'd only invest in a few flights until you feel comfortable training your eyes on glass displays...

If you have a computer you could also practice some approaches on FSX if you can still find a copy (old program) only focusing on glass displays/shooting approaches...might give you a tiny boost.

Lastly, if you're really motivated, pick up some books and start learning the basic jet systems and going over IFR material..just don't beat yourself up too much. Good luck!

250 till a 10 mile final, then 200 to the FAF, dude ;)

(Edit: this works better at uncontrolled or Class D fields) ;)