I would like to hear any opinions on getting an instrument rating just to increase my skills and to fly in "soft" IFR conditions. I have a Cessna 150 that is IFR certified and I have been working with the Gliem ground school package but have not gotten very serious yet.
What I would like to know is;
Does it become any easier as time goes along to understand ALL that new information?
Would you recommend some time with an instructor before finishing the ground portion, if so, why?
I have been working on my instrument rating now for a while, and am getting close to taking the check ride (probably another month). I also did the Gliem on-line course and used a copy of the Gliem book as well. Since the book is focused on passing the FAA test, much of the understanding doesn't really come until you start applying it in the air. As I was taking instruction, my instructor and I were reviewing the ground school materials and discussing how it applied to flight planning and the actual flight. I took the exam after about 30 hours of IFR flying, and passed the exam with a good score.
One thing to remember is that there is an oral portion to the flight exam, so we are still reviewing the material as I prepare for the flight check. I hope I can report in a month or so that I have my instrument rating.
