Rust Removal

Imagination, planning and PCs can help you polish your instrument skills without ever leaving the ground

An occasional layoff from flying isn’t that uncommon for most general aviation pilots. There are many possible reasons: weather, workload, a family or personal emergency, a job change or move from one part of the country to another, illness, or a host of other reasons beyond your control.

A layoff from VFR flying isn’t the end of the world, although your skills can certainly get rusty. A layoff from flying IFR, however, can result in a fairly rapid decline in important skills you’ll need to stay ahead of the airplane during poor weather.

What’s most important – regardless of how you got here – is recognizing that you’ve been out of the IFR cockpit for too long and want to get back. If...