TOP

IFR: A Structured Approach

  • 16 Customer Reviews

Reviews for IFR: A Structured Approach

Sort By:
Filter By:
  • Verified Purchase

One of the best aviation books I've purchased!

  • By Mooney Bruce from Denver CO USA on Friday, December 12, 2008
  • Pros: The whole book is a, "Pro."
  • Cons: I wish the book was twice the length it is!!
  • Review: This book fills in the gaps created during instrument training. During instrument training a student is more concerned with being able to fly the airplane with instruments and pass the test. During training there are only a few cross country flights required. By the time you finish obtaining the instrument rating the student is well versed in ILS, NDB and VOR approaches, holds and the other required flying skills. Howver, there is still a lot to learn about instrument cross country flying and applying what was learned in training. This book answers all those nagging little questions that go through your mind during training. It takes you on a flight, in IMC, in California and visits three airports. In addition to explaining exactly what you should be doing before you ever start, it goes into great detail about the actual flight and applicable procedures. Intermittently the author calls a "time-out" and goes into graphic detail about the background of why there are certain procedures performed at certain points during IMC flight. This has been orated before in other reviews but I will, once again, make the statement. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who has completed their instrument rating and is still a little tentative about actually flying in the IMC environment. GREAT BOOK!!!
  • Was this review helpful to you? Yes No 1 Other people found this review helpful.

  • By A Customer from chicago on Thursday, February 01, 2007
  • Review: I really enjoyed the clear presentation of IFR skills and procedures. His suggestions for IFR flying are high on my todo list.
  • Was this review helpful to you? Yes No 0 Other people found this review helpful.

  • By Ron H. Ayanzen from Scottsdale, AZ on Tuesday, March 06, 2007
  • Pros: Excellent intro into the complexities of IFR flying.
  • Cons: All pictures are B&W - when a color reference is made, such as 'Blueline', you can't tell where it is because there are no color pictures/plates.
  • Review: This is a MUST read if you are starting to learn IFR! Although it is suitable and applicable for all general aviation aircraft, it is exceptionally valuable reading for those who are starting their IFR training in a Beech Bonanza or Baron. This product has EXCEEDED my expectations and I highly recommend it for anyone learning IFR.
  • Was this review helpful to you? Yes No 0 Other people found this review helpful.

I have bought several copies because I keep giving them away

  • By Peter from Bend OR USA on Monday, April 07, 2008
  • Pros: Simple, easy-to-implement instrument procedures, Realistic cross-country scenario, Detailed explanation of the IFR system.
  • Cons:
  • Review: I own all of John Eckalbar's books. He is my favorite aviation author. His books are perfect for the pilot who wants to understand flying "to the next level." IFR: A Structured Approach changed my flying permanently. Until I read this book, my instrument flying was sloppy and unpredictable, and I am a CFII! Dr. Eckalbar's systematic approach to instrument flying is straightforward and easy to adopt. The book uses an actual long IFR cross-country flight in a Baron as an engaging, fun theme to hold all the pieces together. Beyond the subject of flying in a structured manner, this book also goes into detail about how the IFR system really works. This is need-to-know information that can't be found rolled up in one place anywhere else. The treatment on departure procedures is second to none and a must read for all my students. Buy this book! Read it and read it again!
  • Was this review helpful to you? Yes No 0 Other people found this review helpful.
  • Verified Purchase

Excellent Book

  • By A Customer from Lutherville MD USA on Monday, August 11, 2008
  • Review: Very good refresher for me 1 year out from IFR training.
  • Was this review helpful to you? Yes No 0 Other people found this review helpful.
  • Verified Purchase

  • By William from Portsmouth RI USA on Thursday, November 27, 2014
  • Review: best book on practical instrument flying
  • Was this review helpful to you? Yes No 0 Other people found this review helpful.
  • Verified Purchase

  • By on Friday, March 20, 2015
  • Review: Excellent!
  • Was this review helpful to you? Yes No 0 Other people found this review helpful.
  • Verified Purchase

A must read for any serious Pilot

  • By Glen from Richardson TX USA on Wednesday, April 15, 2015
  • Pros: Precision flying training at it's best.
  • Cons:
  • Review: It has been the most informative flying book read to date.
  • Was this review helpful to you? Yes No 0 Other people found this review helpful.
  • Verified Purchase

Excellent. Very helpful practical. Ether than my instrument training

  • By John P. from Waterloo IL USA on Friday, October 11, 2019
  • Review: Exceeded my expectations
  • Was this review helpful to you? Yes No 0 Other people found this review helpful.
  • Verified Purchase

  • By Thomas from Davis CA USA on Wednesday, February 11, 2009
  • Pros: Well-written
  • Cons:
  • Review: Excellent review of instrument flying principles. The author's style is readable and compelling. His narrative style keeps the reader interested. I learned more than I would like to admit.
  • Was this review helpful to you? Yes No 0 Other people found this review helpful.
  • Verified Purchase

Very comprehensive; very technical; lots to practice

  • By Gerry from Toronto, Ontario on Sunday, September 12, 2010
  • Pros: Good illustrations to support the technical concepts; good use of examples.
  • Cons: Perhaps inclusion of a few more anecdotes would lighten the reading. This is a tough book to read from front to back. I needed to take each chunk of info and go practice.
  • Review: Mr. Eckalbar is very informed and experienced so can pack a lot of information into a topic or a chapter. This will be excellent material to polish up skills and precision for an experience IFR pilot. I'm brand new IFR so this was like "drinking from a firehose". Lots of important knowledge about systems and procedures; lots of procedures to practice.
  • Was this review helpful to you? Yes No 1 Other people found this review helpful.
  • Verified Purchase

  • By Brian from Chapel Hill, NC on Sunday, November 04, 2007
  • Review: This is a great book for those who have just received their IFR ticket and want to read about how the system works. However, the setting is based on flying on the west coast and as with most flying some things are a little different depending on what part of the country you are in, but overall it gives you a good general sense of what to do and when to do it.
  • Was this review helpful to you? Yes No 0 Other people found this review helpful.
  • Verified Purchase

Provides excellent foundation for safe, single-pilot IFR

  • By A Customer from Heber City, UT, USA on Monday, April 27, 2009
  • Pros: Very informative and expertly tailored for the single pilot in any IFR situation.
  • Cons: A bit long on narrative. Could use more concise summaries.
  • Review: This is a book I wish I had read during my early IFR training. Every few pages, I come across an idea that came to me only after many hours in the cockpit. It will be a real accelerator for new IFR pilots and a great resource for those seasoned pilots looking to improve their technique. If the author is reading this: My only suggestion to improve the book would be to add a concise summary of tips with each chapter to help those of us who want a quick refresher of key points. This would make the book much easier to grasp and integrate into your personal flying system.
  • Was this review helpful to you? Yes No 0 Other people found this review helpful.

Good book... as advertised

  • By btvdan from Vermont on Saturday, October 24, 2009
  • Pros: Perfect follow-on to FAA IFR text, as advertised, excelent writing
  • Cons: no practical weather analysis strategy
  • Review: This book is an excellent companion to some of the standard Instrument text books availabe (like the FAA or Jeppesen books). It is well writen and the content seems to be completely as advertised. It ties the theory together with the practice in a way that many instructors just never do (no offence... I have the greatest respect for my instructors). I don`t give 5 stars because I think it could have some practical weather and risk management information as well. The author makes it clear, though, that discussion of in depth weather analysis are beyond the scope of the book. Most of the discussion is built relative to flying the Barron. Don`t let that scare you, though. The procedures for the Barron are more complex... so, it will be ovious what applies and what does not apply to a simpler aircraft.
  • Was this review helpful to you? Yes No 0 Other people found this review helpful.

GREAT BOOK, but Mr. Eckalbar...

  • By Arsenio Delgado Sr. from Tucson, AZ on Friday, October 10, 2008
  • Review: Just perusing the book,I wonder why you use the phrase,"...climbing to ten point five." (Ch.6, pg 94, 'On Top' section). The AIM specifically states: 4-2-9. Altitudes and Flight Levels a. Up to but not including 18,000 feet MSL, state the separate digits of the thousands plus the hundreds if appropriate. EXAMPLE- 1. 12,000 one two thousand 2. 12,500 one two thousand five hundred Also, some color photos would help see 'blue line' and other stuff better... Good book overall, though.
  • Was this review helpful to you? Yes No 0 Other people found this review helpful.
  • Verified Purchase

WAY TOO COMPLICATED

  • By A Customer from Collierville TN USA on Wednesday, June 01, 2011
  • Review: Not an easy book to wade through.
  • Was this review helpful to you? Yes No 1 Other people found this review helpful.