Accelerated Instrument Rating

Accelerated Cross-Country Instrument Training Adventure

This course is designed for the current private pilot who has logged at least 30 hours of cross-country flight time as pilot in command, of which at least 10 hours must be in an airplane. If you choose to fly with us, you will fly throughout the western United States, with possible overnight stops in New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska and the Dakotas, then back to Colorado.

Pilots who are not current or who haven't flown in a while should fly with an instructor or safety pilot prior to training with us. It is recommended (but not required) to have your instrument knowledge written test done before arriving. Pilots should be competent and proficient in all VFR procedures and flight maneuvers and be knowledgeable in areas such as airspace, weather, metars, and TAFs.

We recommend flying 10 hours within the two months preceding your IFR training.Russell Aviation believes that the best training is in actual IMC conditions, so whenever possible, you will be trained in actual IMC conditions. You will be trained not only to pass the PTS requirements, but also to be a proficient and confident Instrument Pilot. If you want to spend some time away from your home location and have a great adventure, then this is the course for you.

The day typically begins at 8:30 am and ends about 3:00 pm. Occasionally, some lessons may extend into the evening hours. We do realize that students learn much better when their basic needs are fulfilled, so we always allow more than enough time for eating, sleeping, and general relaxation. Most students add a couple of extra days to their adventure for relaxing and sightseeing.

10 day Cross Country IFR Adventure!

We can fly to several western states, including Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and the Dakotas. Once we leave the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, we enter the "western" world, practicing approaches and learning backcountry flying skills. Training stops may include Las Vegas, NM (we stay at the hotel used in the movie "No Country for Old Men"), also Santa Fe. Taos, Lake Powell, the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Mt. Rushmore, Heber City/Sundance, Telluride, Steamboat Springs, Leadville and other exciting stops. You will learn more about backcountry flying as we head back home to Colorado.

Sample IFR Adventure Course Itinerary

(NOTICE: If you do not have your instrument written exam done by the start of flight training - this itinerary may not be possible. This itinerary is an example of only one of the popular routes we can take. We have additional routes for winter as well as summer flying. These include routes to Mt. Rushmore, Jackson Hole, Montana backcountry, the New Mexico and Arizona desert and, of course, all over Colorado.)

Day 1 - Monday - ORIENTATION BEGINS - The first day begins with either a mountain flight from Denver to the Upper Arkansas Valley. Then you will spend the rest of the day learning basic instrument flying. We will spend time doing ground training to better prepare you for your instrument rating.

Day 2 - Tuesday - THE ADVENTURE BEGINS! Following a morning briefing, we start out slowly in the relaxed environment of the Rocky Mountain region as we head north to Leadville (highest airport in North America). Then it's over Independence Pass for an exciting approach into Aspen. If we have time, we will take the crew car into Aspen for lunch and then back to the airport for a flight to Rifle and Meeker, Colorado. We then head to Vernal, Utah, for a fuel stop and a quick break. We continue on to Heber City/Sundance, Utah, for the night.

Day 3 - Wednesday - We'll start the day with our departure from Sundance and continue west to shoot a couple approaches in the Salt Lake City area and then over the Great Salt Lake to Wendover for an early lunch at this famous desert town. At the end of the day you'll be in the "biggest little city," Reno, Nevada.

Day 4 - Thursday - After departing Reno, we will head south to "Viva Las Vegas." You'll be pretty busy in "vector land" as you get closer to this active city. After arriving in Las Vegas, we will retire to our hotel and call it a early night - or maybe not.

Day 5 - Friday - We'll fly back to Colorado after a few fun stops if we get an early enough start. They include the Skywalk in Peach Springs, Arizona. It just out 70 feet from the canyon rim, allowing tourists to go for a stroll with nothing between their feet and the Colorado River — 4,000 feet below. Then it's over the Grand Canyon and then on to beautiful Page, Arizona. After departing Page, it's over Lake Powell and Monument Valley to Durango or Telluride, Colorado, for the night.

Day 6 - Saturday - We head back to Buena Vista, Colorado, after an exciting day of "Rocky Mountain" flying, where you might experience a little bit of "Rocky Mountain Rubbing" as we fly over Monarch Pass. You will get to fly some of those fun high-altitude mountain approaches as we end the day.

Day 7 - Sunday - We do not provide flight training on Sundays. This is a day for the student to rest and have fun or catch up on their studies.

Day 8 - Monday - This day is spent working with equipment failures and emergencies. You will also gain more mountain and canyon flying experience, shooting several approchaes at mountian airports in Colorado.

Day 9 - Tuesday - This is your final training day. You will be preparing for your check ride in the Denver area. If at the end of the day your instructors determine that you are proficient and competent to pass your check ride, they will then sign you off and help you with all the required paperwork for the Instrument Practical Flight Test.

Day 10 - Wednesday - If you have been signed off and all your paperwork is in order, then you will be taking your Practical Flight Test today.

10-Day Instrument Training Adventure

The hour requirements and associated costs are based on the average training time to complete the course and pass the FAA Instrument Practical Test. Your actual time to completion will vary. All prices are subject to change without notice.

What is included in the Instrument Adventure Course fee:

Up to 10 days of flight and ground instruction
Mountain and Canyon flight training
Access to our DVD flight training collection

What is not included and additional costs:

Lodging our location: You will be responsible for your lodging while in the Arkansas Valley area. Lodging typically runs from $65-$75 per night for a nice motel/hotel. If you prefer a bed & breakfast type of lodging, they run from $65-$120 per night in the Arkansas Valley area. Lodging is higher in the mid-summer months. While on the cross-country adventure, you are responsible for your lodging plus the instructor's lodging. We will work with each student to stay within their budget for lodging.

Lodging and travel cost to come to your location: If your training is done at your location, then you will be responsible for the instructor's travel costs and lodging while at your location. If you decide to do our cross-county adventure from your location, you are responsible for your lodging plus the instructors lodging. You will need to provide the instructor with a rental car while at your location.

Additional costs: Students are also responsible for rental cars, taxis, tips, landings fees, charts, maps, and their meals. Lodging is not provided in the course price for student. Students may be are responsible for instructor's lodging when not at aircraft base (KANK). The check ride fee of $400.00 - 425.00 is paid directly to the examiner by the student and is not included in the course fee.

If you have not taken your instrument written exam, plan on arriving a day earlier and taking the written on that day. If you are not ready for the exam on the day you arrive for training, you will need to make arrangements with Russell Aviation to arrive a few days earlier to prepare you for the written test at additional cost of $465.00 per day for 1-2 days of additional training.

Student Requirements

PLEASE NOTE: We may take students that do not have the written done and who have less than 8 hours of instrument time, but you will incur extra cost and time. Please contact us before you send in your deposit if you do not meet the requirements listed below.

Private Pilot rating or better and 5 hours flown in the last two months

30 hours CROSS-COUNTRY time
5 hours of instrument hood time or simulator time
(You should have 3 or more hours from your private pilot training - you can use a safety pilot to build the required hours)

What to bring:

A view limiting device (hood or foggles)
Logbook, medical and pilot's license
Headset
Kneeboard (iPad is prefered)
Highlighter
Notebook computer or iPad (not required, but very helpful)
Flight Computer & Plotter, or tools that you use for flight planning
Written test results with an 85% or better grade (with 10 days' notice we can help you with the exam)
Valid United States passport or certified birth certificate

You should be proficient in basic VFR operations, including:

VFR radio communication
normal and crosswind landings
slow flight
steep turns
stalls
using Performance charts
familiarity with VFR weather minimums
VOR navigation

What should I expect during training?

You will gain knowledge and have fun in a safe environment while training with Russell Aviation. The more you know prior to flight training, the easier it will be.

You should expect to spend 6-8 hours a day with one of our instructors, and on taking your checkride the day after we finish training. Also, plan on 2-3 hours of studying each night.

Make sure your aircraft and all your avionics are working properly, plus all you logbooks are in order for and IFR checkride. To finish in the allotted time doesn't allow for much unscheduled maintance or inoperative equipment.

During training you will probably be overwhelmed with the amount of information being presented to you. It is normal to feel overloaded during the first few days but it will come together before your checkride. Remember, We are one of the best IFR flight training companies and well qualified to get you ready so don't engage in destructive self critique, just work on mastering the material presented.

Russell Aviation now offers VIP training in owner supplied aircraft.

PLEASE NOTE: We may take students that do not have the written completed and who have less than 8 hours of instrument time, but you will incur extra cost and time. Please contact us before you send in your deposit if you do not meet the requirements listed below.

Requirements:
Private Pilot rating or better and 5 hours flown in the last two months
30 hours CROSS-COUNTRY time
5 hours of instrument hood time or simulator time
(You should have 3 or more hours from your private pilot training - you can use a safety pilot to build the required hours)

Estimate Cost for Training In Your Aircraft - Our Location are Yours

Description	Price per Day	Cost
10 Days of Flight and Ground Instruction	$425.00	$4,250.00
Instructor Expenses		$600.00
Price does not include aircraft	Total Fee:	$4,850.00

Deposit and Payment: A $1,500 deposit is required with the flight training application. The remaining course fee is due 45 days before training. If trainnig date is within the 45 days then full payment is required with flight training application.

If you would like a video filmed during your training, we can provide two NFlightcam cameras for the aircraft. Additional cost is: $15.00 per flight hour filmed. Below you will find an example of some of the filming we have done for our around the world flight using these cameras.