Instrument Questions

1.     How do you teach basic instruments?

         There is only one way to make an instrument pilot proficent and that is to teach "attitude instruments".  We start out by putting ten hours in the simulator so that we clean up your eye to hand coordination.  You will stay on the simulator until you can make five hundred feet per minute climbs and descents with controlled airspeed.  You will also make standard rate turns and then plug in the descents.

2.     My instructor has me flying straight and level and then started me on approaches.  I am having trouble with the approaches especially controlling the airspeed.  What is wrong?  

        Inexperienced instructor.  Also read question one above.

3.      I can't understand holds.  I have bought every aid possible and I still cant get it.  What is the problem?

          I have a simple method.  It is a secret and if I told you I would have to . . .  ( you know the rest ).  Seriously, if you cant do it on the blackboard over and over you will never get it in the airplane. 

4.        I can hold the glideslope on the ILS approach but not the localizer.  What am I doing wrong?

           The key to holding the localizer is setting up the DG to a known reference and using the rudders as you get closer to the antenna.  In other words if the actual no wind heading is 116 degrees, once the needle is centered and you are close to the dg heading(116) rotate the dg to a known heading with a bigger mark, such as 120.   Then it is rudder control down to the DH by keeping that mark centered.  If you have to make a correction for wind, make the correction until you have the needled re-centered then rotate to 120 degrees and put it on the mark for 120 degrees.  Re-use the rudder to hold.