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Could this forum please elaborate more on the question of whether its better to train for your IFR in a glass panel cockpit or the 6pack. From what I gather around the net the g1000 is and as was said a very capable tool but I still have this gut suspicion that I am selling myself short if I get my instrument rating on it.

Granted that most new aircraft built today are using some type of glass panel but there are allot of operations, carriers and other GA's etc that are not. If it will make me a more knowledgeable and skillful pilot then I would switch off of the glass panel and go to the 6 pack but if I am only then mastering an archaic form of navigation then I may also be putting my energy in the wrong place.

I should say that I am looking to make a career out of flying and I believe that my skills being as transferable as possible is a good way to go. Since this is still my primary training I onyl want to do it the right way.


Any help thanks.

Hi,

This has been a recent discussion-check out the last weeks podcast:
http://www.thefinerpoints.net/podcast/ #115 Mail Call

and this forum post:
http://www.thefinerpoints.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=867

a

Yes, this post here was in response to podcast 115 and the forum post as well by Ebrendan where the conversation answer was essentially "what I will be flying in the future?"

What Im really looking for is what system (glass or 6 pack) will give me a better understanding of flying IFR. I am doing training now using a glass 172 for my instrument but I still feel that this is wrong and I may be missing out.


Anais more tips....... please!!

Cheers all.

I haven't listened to the aforementioned podcast yet, but it seems to me that some Shakespeare is in order: Much Ado About Nothing.

Whether you're looking at round or glass gauges, IFR flying is about knowing how to move the stick and rudder in relation to what the panel is telling you. Once you get a handle on that, then it transitions over to really understanding the system, working with ATC, and briefing/flying approaches.

Again, glass doesn't tell you anything different than round (well, for the most critical stuff anyway) it just presents it in a different way. So if you're learning on glass, then just fire up Microsoft Flight Sim or X-Plane and do some practice with round gauges and you'll see it's no big deal.

Soaking Pilot,

I trust that your question was answered. Let us know if you have any more.

Having listened to the podcast after writing my prior post, I realize that Jason's comments were 180 degrees different than mine. He feels there are significant differences between glass and "steam" and makes that case.

To whit, I would say that along the lines he described I do agree. Glass panels present much more ancillary information that is available to the pilot, and in most cases provide much more automation capability and more "knobology" to deal with than an old-fashioned panel. They also have nice moving maps which simplify situational awareness.

I can see how someone learning on glass could feel behind the 8-ball if confronted with steam gauges and not having access to all the cool toys to which s/he had grown accustomed. I learned on a hybrid system that had traditional gauges but a GPS to substitue ADF/DME, so it got me pretty familiar with both.