3 COMMON Mistakes made by instrument PILOTS flying under IFR - flight training video for aviators

In this video I show you three common mistakes made by instrument pilots. If you avoid these mistakes while flying airplanes IFR, you'll be way ahead of the game, a much safer pilot, and a much better aviator!

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— — — — — — — — — —
📝 Contents
0:00 - Intro
0:36 - The top 3 mistakes
0:51 - 1. Climbing After A Level Off
3:16 - 2. Turning When Looking Down
5:05 - 3. Not Rolling Out On Intercepts
6:03 - Wrap up
— — — — — — — — — —

[smorrow]

This tip on leveling off is excellent! You described exactly what I have been doing wrong, flown with several instructors and no one has said this. I'm going to put this into practice if the weather ever straightens out. Finally got my pp at 63 and working on my instrument.

[angleofattack]

APT -- AParTment. The apartment is UPSTAIRS. When leveling off at the apartment (cruise altitude) it's ATTITUDE, POWER, TRIM, in that order. Jason is 100% right. Students do this all the time. I find myself reminding them constantly.

[SuperEddietv]

Heading to the aircraft in a few to argue with my instructor about pulling power to level Great points!!

[darylreimer]

Everyone should know APT to level, I agree, don’t look down in a turn. Ram mounts have terrific iPad holders for the yoke.

[joshh]

1 and 2 are just as important to VFR as to IFR.
DEFINITELY going to pay attention to these, especially the first one!

Thanks for all the great content, I've learned a lot from you, just need to get a grip on timing my flare!

[arthouston]

Good advice. I was taught, and passed onto my students, "pitch, power, trim." When I started flying the 35, I realized how helpful that is, because that thing climbs like a homesick angel. Taking off out of HPN you are pointed toward the ocean, and you have to take off, turn to your heading, hit your assigned attitude AND keep it at 200 knots...all at once. Getting the power under control is crucial, and that huge elevator surface requires trim all the time. So, by pushing the nose over in a 172 and relieving yoke pressure with the trim wheel, and reducing power a little, I was able to accelerate well and hit the number without a lot of extra work. My tip for IFR pilots is that if you don't do IFR frequently (like several times a week, in "actual") you should have someone along who can work the radio (and gear/flaps if equipped) and can take the yoke if you get a case of the Leans. Imagine.. if that doc who drilled it in a few days ago had another pilot with him, he would still be alive, and his 340 would still be in pristine condition. Always be safe and proficient. It is job one.

[Seneca]

Good reminder on levelling off. I was always taught to go very positive on the controls and let the aircraft accelerate up cruise speed before trimming. Can always add a little gradually to reduce the pressure as you pick up speed. I only power back as I near my intended cruise...had some great instructors! Go up to the APT (attitude power trim) and down to PAT the dog (power attitude trim)

Another awesome video!

[yvc]

Great tips! On the last one, it might be driven by a lack of proper wind correction on the holding, but the tip applies for any intercept! Thanks, Jason!

[midlifeflyer]

Love the "let go of the yoke." I combine that with a "3 second rule." Don't leave the flight instruments for more than 3 seconds at a time.

[MarkHeckler]

Great points (well stated) as always Jason, thanks for sharing them!

[Spray-N-Pray]

I'm 3 lessons into instrument and I can vouch for the pulling on the yoke when looking down. I will practice letting go of the yoke on a look down (for the fuel selector). I have been making better use of flows, so I'm not sitting there with my finger ticking off the items on the checklist. It is a backup/double check for the flow now, so hopefully less look downs.

[pssryan]

Great tips Jason! Putting this to use next week for my IPC!

[adventuresofkundi]

Top video. Thanks to yt for putting this on my recommendation column.💪🏿

[aviatort]

Great video, I’m about to pick up my instrument training this week after a few years break due to life throwing curve balls. Some great tips here and I appreciate it!!!

[johnathancorgan]

It's controversial, as in I was taught to do this by one CFI and another said I should never do it, but I've found it useful when transitioning to level off to add a small amount of down trim at the start. This relieves some of the control pressure that begins building as the aircraft speeds up to cruise, and makes it easier to stay within 50 ft of the target altitude. Then once cruise is achieved (and power reduced), adjust trim as necessary for the final speed. Works for me, anyway.

[seanmcerlean]

Three very good points Jason.
I was taught to level off leaving the power on until you get your cruise speed before bringing back the power & then trimming.
The turn thing i think we have all done that, i know i have.

[graff]

Good tips. No 1 is very basic though and comes back to the earliest phases of VFR training.

[ScottWoodland]

Pitch, Power, Trim...it is what I was taught, and what I teach now. It takes some time to get that cadence down (a couple of hundred hours for a slow learner like me :) ), but best thing ever. Had not ever thought about, or been taught the idea of looking down can cause a turn even though I know we turn to where we look. The obvious "doh" moment for me -- of course spatial disorientation. Thanks for sharing this video

[msqmox]

Enrolling in my instrument today. Definitely guilty of 1 and 2. Thanks, JM!

[jaykay]

#1 THANK YOU! so much this. When I took on two PPL’s they both pulled power and I asked them why. They said their former instructor taught them that. They also took 5min to finally trim and level off the plane. I Demo’d. they replicated. Problem solved. It’s a real pet peeve of mine