The Feds Want Our Heads in the Clouds

There's a reason the private pilot certificate requires three hours of instrument training. No, it's not to humiliate you with foggles on. It's because of the risk of continued VFR into IMC.

Per AOPA:

• Accidents caused by unintentionally flying into the clouds have an 86 percent fatality rate.
• A third of those accidents involve instrument-rated pilots.

The big danger is spatial disorientation. When a pilot unknowingly wanders into IMC: 

• On average, they'll lose control in under three minutes.
• But sometimes it's as quick as 20 seconds. 

The best solution is avoidance. But if you ever find yourself unexpectedly in the soup, you'll be glad you brushed up on these skills. 

Basic turns

• Practice them to cardinal headings.
• Reference the magnetic compass and the heading indicator or horizontal situation indicator.
• Use only the rudders to perform the turn.

Airspeed and altitude

• Fly straight and level for one minute.
• Crosscheck airspeed and altitude with the attitude indicator. All three instruments should be motionless.

Compass turns

• Practice timed compass turns to cardinal headings.
• At a standard rate, a 180° turn takes 60 seconds.

Climbs

• Climb at Vy to a selected altitude.
• Level off.
• Return to cruise speed before you reduce power and re-trim.

The airplane will drift left when you add full power. Pitch up to 5° on the attitude indicator before adding full power and right rudder to climb.

Descents

• Establish the airplane on a heading and reduce the engine power.
• Pitch the airplane to get it below the horizon on the attitude indicator.
• Descend at 200 to 500 feet per minute.
• Level off at the desired altitude and return to cruise flight.

Unusual attitudes

• Nose-high — add full power, push the nose to the horizon, and level the wings with roll.
• Nose-low — reduce power, roll the wings level, and raise the nose to the horizon. 

Perform these maneuvers in one-minute intervals to avoid over-working yourself.