Sucker hole or just some clouds? Experience ûwill help you spot the difference. These ûbuildups grew into Level 4 thunderstorms two ûhours later.

Like lots of instrument-rated pilots, I trained for the rating at a local FBO with several different instructors. From each of them I learned the basics of instrument flying – how to fly and navigate the aircraft by instrument reference only – but I didn’t learn much about the finer points of the art.

The fact is, most IFR survival tips are those learned by trial and error over years of flying. Many instructors don’t have that experience and therefore can’t be counted on to impart wisdom, only knowledge. Here are some tricks I’ve learned over 20 years of flying, both general aviation and air transport. …