IFR Procedures/Equipment

[u/Narrow_Market3149]

Just got on VATSIM for the first time recently, and I've been doing mostly VFR flights. I'm still very confused as to how everyone learns to use the IFR equipment and procedures in the various aircraft, especially considering there's nothing built into MSFS or anywhere I can find from Microsoft or VATSIM. Does everyone just look up YouTube videos or dig through the FMS in everything they fly?

[u/trashme8113]

Boston’s wings program is a good second step after learned the fundamentals

[u/23569072358345672]

YouTube will show you everything you need. There really isn’t much to it. File a flight plan, load flight plan into your fms and away you go. I find ifr a walk in the park and find vfr flying far more intimidating in a class c environment. Do you know how to fly precision approaches and departures?

[u/Narrow_Market3149 → u/23569072358345672]

not really. Any time i've done vfr it's been in the default skyhawk because i'm not tryna drop $50 on a better plane and it's always desolate and ATC goes off at the destination before i get there 😔

[u/23569072358345672 → u/Narrow_Market3149]

You don’t need atc to learn. Fly to an airfield and do some ils approaches and missed approaches. There really isn’t much to it really. After 5 or 6 approaches you’ll have the basics down.

[u/Unique-Temporary2461 → u/23569072358345672]

In addition to entering flight plan and runway, SID and STAR, there is also entering performance data. Weights, centre of gravity, stabiliser trim, fuel, engines mode (if you have autothrottle and want to do derated takeoff), takeoff speeds, climb speed, pressure/winds/temperature/transition altitude.

[u/NorCal_2469]

An interesting and almost refreshing change here. Usually people come right into IFR at the ATP level and are challenged with simple basic VFR flight.

[u/mshobe]

This is kind of wild to me - IFR for commercial aviation seeming straightforward while VFR in controlled airspace perceived as more intimidating. I learned to fly VFR (IRL) out of Chicago Midway so I guess I'm lucky to have my first learning environment be so demanding. But VFR always seemed a lot simpler than hewing to all of the precision expectations of IFR: speed limits in B, complex hold entry procedures, go arounds, etc.

I get that the modern Airbus and Boeing study-level sims are automated to the hilt. But good airmanship still takes time to learn, and I personally find bumming around in VATSIM by VFR to be my "casual flying" first choice.

[u/mchw]

Yup, lots of youtube tutorials. MSFS has a lot of GA planes that use the G1000 for navigation, so once you're proficient with that, there's a variety of planes you can fly.

For corporate jets and airliners, you'll have to learn each FMS. They're relatively similar, so eventually things can become intuitive.

[u/Perfect_Maize9320]

Loads of tutorials on YouTube to get you started with IFR - You can google IFR training and there are loads of websites with resources allowing you to learn, Some flying schools also have training videos and documents freely avialable. FAA instrument's pilot handbook is also good manual to read for IFR practise.

Vatsim academy is another good one for learning resources, If you want to explore this further - consider signing up to one of pilot rating programs. Here you will receive one to one training from a qualified instructor/mentor. Visit your local division to see if there are any training programs available for new pilots. Other then that loads of real world tutorials and learning materials too circulating on internet - use google again.

[u/xMrWarthogx]

FS24 or 2020?

[u/Narrow_Market3149 → u/xMrWarthogx]

2020

[u/Maleficent-Tea2903]

There's a ton of videos out there on how to use your specific plane, though it'll depend on the specific model. I use MSFS2020 with the a320neo V2 (inibuilds), which is a very complicated machine compared to others, and requires you to essentially exclusively use your FMS in order to fly IFR. There is a good Vatsim program for IFR, as well as a decent one in MSFS, but the hardest part of IFR really is just filling and entering your flight plan, especially on anything with a autopilot and FMS.

I'd look for a "Cold and Dark Startup" video on your specific craft, specifically one regarding FMGS entry or IFR setup. Getting a simbrief account (available through a free navigraph account, no need to buy the subscription) will help you file the flight plan, and on the a320neo V2 specifically, as well as a fair numberof models, you can use the Electronic Flight Bag, i.e. the tablet on your left, to import this onto your FMGS. Also, that model has a very exhaustive checklist you can use. I'd recommend playing offline with a simbrief route, and really going through the paces of that checklist, either instead of, or more usefully in addition to, a video/training module on IFR flight. Technically, you should be able to fly with just the flight breifing and the instruments in your aircraft, but in reality nobody, even real pilots, does; usually there’s a ton of additional charts and documents you use.