INSTRUMENT FLIGHT
| Instruments are used to give the fair weather pilot a more
precise awareness of flight conditions. When flying in clouds, it is nearly impossible for
the senses to tell where you are or even which way is up or down. When instruments are the
sole means of navigation a flight must be flown under a different set of rules known as
"Instrument Flight Rules" or IFR. This involves careful preflight planning and
lots of practice. An Instrument Rating is usually the next logical step after obtaining a Private Pilot Certificate. Being restricted to flight in fair weather can be frustrating especially if you are in a location where bad weather is the norm. Since most planes don't have radar, you might wonder how is it possible to tell where you are going? And how do you know if the way is clear? The answer is simple; You must first notify Air Traffic Control and tell where you will be at any given moment during the flight. Filing an "Instrument Flight Plan" does this. If your flight plan is approved, you can be fairly certain nothing will be allowed to enter your flight path. To future safety during instrument flight, it is monitored every step of the way by air traffic Controllers. The Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) follows every airplane precisely using computers; two-way radio communications and ground based radar. To do this one must first plan the trip using navigational maps and weather information. Then flying the plane precisely the way it was planned without deviation. Interpreting the readings of the various instruments and constantly making the little corrections necessary to keep on course does this. It can be a challenge!
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