Site Map Home Advantages FAQ Elite Sim FAA Accreditation Aircraft Models King Air Training Video Clips Cost Comparison For Private Pilot Initial Instrument Currency and IPC Proficiency Package IFR Tips and Tricks Multi-Engine Training Interview Prep Part 135 Training GPS Training Autopilot Training Meet Our Customers Meet Linda Dowdy Meet Steve Thibault Meet the Other Instructors Link to RC Avionics Link to Aviation Enhancements Link to Wings of Mercy MN Link to NAFI The Master CFI Program Our Location Contact Us

You work hard obtaining the instrument rating, but then you find passing the checkride is only half the battle. Now you face the task of keeping those hard-earned skills polished and ready for use. This becomes especially difficult if you don't regularly fly in IMC conditions and shoot approaches. You can elect to do it with a safety pilot (see currency and IPCs). However every pilot is different, and going out periodically with a safety pilot may not keep you as sharp as you would like. Recognizing this is a continuing problem, we came up with the idea of offering the progressive IPC. The idea is based on the concept often used for inspections on large aircraft. Instead of doing the annual inspection once a year, these aircraft are often maintained with a progressive annual inspection. A number of smaller inspections are done throughout the year, the sum of which is equal to one large annual inspection. The progressive IPC is based on the same idea. You agree to come in for two to three hours of training every month. Each session will include some ground plus a healthy dose of sim work. Each session, both ground and sim, will focus on one or two items required by an IPC, and really work on those skills in detail. At the end of six months, you have a fresh IPC and even better, some serious work in keeping your skills sharp. The FAA is very specific as to what the content of an IPC must be. Holding procedures Unusual attitude recovery Intercepting and tracking radials DME arcs Non-precision approaches Precision approaches Missed approach procedures Circling approach (done in the AATD via timing procedures) Landing from a straight-in or circling approach (done in the AATD via timing) Multi-engine - turns, climbs and descents with one engine inoperative Multi-engine - instrument approach with one engine inoperative Approach without use of primary flight instrument indicators (partial panel) Breaking down the required tasks into six sessions allows the pilot to work on proficiency in depth. The progressive IPC has proven to be an effective way for the serious pilot to maintain the skills needed to safely fly in the ATC environment.