5/3/03 GPS Approaches - I flew 1.4 hours with my instructor today and logged 1.2 of simulated instrument time. I did a standalone GPS approach for the first time at Maquoketa, Iowa. Easy! Then I did a GPS overlay approach back at Dubuque and did the full missed approach procedure, holding at an intersection. Finally I returned to Dubuque using the NDB approach. The air was crazy and tossed me around constantly, so my palm was good and sweaty by the time it was all over! Otherwise it was a nice day and a good flight!

5/13/03 Quick Practice - In the clear, rough air today, I practiced two approaches and a DME arc with my instructor. We flew 0.9 hours with 0.7 simulated instrument time.

5/14/03 Final Stage Check Scheduled - This Friday morning, the 16th, I will take my second stage check in my instrument syllabus. It serves as a final review before the instrument checkride. Wondering how comprehensive it is? I had to block out my schedule from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.!

5/16/03 Passed Stage Check - I passed my stage check in the simulator this morning. All I have to do to get my instrument rating now is pass the checkride. First I plan to fly with my instructor this week to refresh a few skills. My checkride could be as soon as Thursday the 22nd.

5/21/03 Maneuver Review - My instructor and I went up to do slow flight, stalls, steep turns, and partial panel flying. My instrument rating checkride is scheduled for May 27th.

5/27/03 Checkride Rescheduled - The weather was fine and I was ready, but my checkride got cancelled today. It's rescheduled for this Thursday the 29th.

5/28/03 Finished Multi-Engine Ground School - I have been taking a summer multi-engine ground school at the University of Dubuque since May 12th. Tonight was the last class. Some of the class was a review of things I learned in commercial ground school, like aircraft systems. But a lot was new. Multi-engine airplanes have a few important differences from single engine airplanes; mainly, you can lose control of the aircraft if you don't do the right thing after an engine failure, and also these planes are much more complex. Two engines are not necessarily safer than one. We spent a lot of time going over the pilot's operating handbook for the Piper Seminole, which I will be training in.

5/29/03 Dotting I's and Crossing T's - This morning was supposed to be my instrument checkride, but my check pilot discovered I was missing half an hour of time from my part 141 syllabus. I did part of the oral and then flew the simulator for half an hour. Now I'm legal!

5/30/03 Passed Instrument Oral - I had about an hour and a half of oral questioning for my instrument rating this morning and passed. I was supposed to do the checkride again today, but this time there was too much of a crosswind to fly. We're supposed to fly tomorrow morning. This has been quite a process!

5/31/03 Passed Instrument Checkride! - This morning I took my instrument checkride in the simulator. After over two years of hard work, I am instrument rated!

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