savingthisone
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IFS at P'cola
- Thread starter savingthisone
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I waited about 2 months to start IFS. You'll either go to Eglin AFB or Destin Airport if you are a pilot. There is a SLIM chance you could get Pensacola Airport, but it's slim to none. They usually just send the NFOs there. Eglin has a formal ground school, whereas Destin has a self-taught school. I went to Destin and I absolutely loved it. I'm currently getting my Private Pilot License through them. The drive SUCKS, but you get $3000 of flight time for free, so it's worth it. IFS is a great program and you WILL have fun...unless you don't like flying...in that case, get out of here 
Haven't ever flown out of Destin (did a cubic f**kton of touch and goes there though
), but I figured I'd put in a plug for Eglin AFB. I'm glad I did my training there; they have on retired Air Force instructor who you'll hear horror stories about as soon as you think about going there. Basically he's acquired a "reputation" because he's not afraid to get you out there at 5 o'clock in the morning, and he'll have you flying 5-6 days a week, weather permitting. That said, they ask for volunteers to fly with this guy and I'm glad I did. Parts of IFS were a stone cold bear after driving 3hrs out of my day to Eglin and back but I wouldn't want to have learned to fly from anybody else. I soloed in 1 week and was done with IFS in 2 and a half. Most people take 3 times that long. Flying every day steepens the learning curve, and I think you get a more realistic picture of how Primary is going to be flying at a towered airport (Destin is non-towered), talking to controllers, etc. Plus Eglin is smack in the middle of some screwy airspace restrictions so you get a little better headwork too. My $.02.
About Destin being uncontrolled...yeah, that's correct if you're within a couple miles of the airport. However, since it falls directly under the FAR Part 93 area that Eglin owns, if you are not staying in the traffic pattern at Destin, you MUST contact Eglin Clearance before departure for hand-off to Eglin Approach Control when you leave the Destin pattern. Destin Airport also gets VERY VERY busy during peak times (holidays, weekends, etc). The pattern can be very tight during those times, especially when you get JACKASS Learjet pilots that think they own the world. Regardless, the airspace surrounding Eglin/Destin is quite hectic and complex. You will learn a lot and it'll increase the pucker-factor. I flew 5 days a week, but didn't finish IFS until about 35 days because weather really screwed up a lot of my flights. Regardless, you'll have a great experience at either one. Nittany and I both enjoyed our stays.
I'll put in my plug for Eglin right now. I loved it. Nothing like doing pattern work with F-15's and C-130's. I think it gives you a better feel for a military environment since it is an AFB with a decent amount of operations. Plus all the airspace restrictions around it. The main path out is a live fire missile shoot area. Nothing dangerous, but something you have to be aware of and plan on, etc. And I volunteered for Mr. Miles, the retired military guy. He is awesome. I did maneuvers that alot of the other guys never did. I also got out there to fly at 0500 every morning and finished IFS in 16.5 days. Its definately a program worth doing, and it does seem to help slightly now that Im in Primary.
Elder
US Coast Guard C-130 Demonstration Team
I did Eglin and loved it. Eglin is fun, has some of it's own "course rules", which hopefully will help when I get to Whiting. Destin is a whacked airport. I've had people start to roll when I was mid-field on a touch and go, have had people land without calling the airport (although pretty sure not all planes have to), people cutting into the pattern at odd places, etc.. can be dangerous.
Of course, I had a couple of "close calls" at Eglin with the junior controllers.. nothing like being told one thing by one controller, knowing they are wrong as you see that commericial commuter coming at you, to have her boss come on and tell you to do something else, while you hear the tower's collision alarm going off in the back ground. The good thing was, both myself and the pilot in the other plane did see each other and could have taken appropriate action.. but dunno.. Eglin was just fun.. chasing F-16's, vectoring through Restricted areas to get to Defuniak, etc.. fun fun stuff.
Drive does suck from Milton. About 60 minutes exact.
Miles, one of the retired Air Force officers, is a tad too gung ho for me. He's all about the $$$ - no thanks.
My instructor was Dan Winnie. Retired Air Force Enlisted.. flew in back of 130's for many many years. Recently a CFI, but you'd never know it. I learned things from him other students out at Eglin didn't get to. Eexpected you to read and perform, but overall a very easy going guy, and I'd go with him again if given the choice. Laura when have been too distracting.
No, you don't get a license out of IFS. You only get 24-25 hours from IFS. I could be wrong, but I think a PPL needs 40 hours? For Student Pilots, not needed. All you need do to is finish military flight training, take a small test and whammo, PPL. For NFO's, may want to continue to get your license, especially if you end up getting stashed between IFS and API.
IFS is a lot of fun.. I think the most fun I had was short and soft field landings. Flying into and out of the dirt is a blast. I sucked at it, but was still fun!
Of course, I had a couple of "close calls" at Eglin with the junior controllers.. nothing like being told one thing by one controller, knowing they are wrong as you see that commericial commuter coming at you, to have her boss come on and tell you to do something else, while you hear the tower's collision alarm going off in the back ground. The good thing was, both myself and the pilot in the other plane did see each other and could have taken appropriate action.. but dunno.. Eglin was just fun.. chasing F-16's, vectoring through Restricted areas to get to Defuniak, etc.. fun fun stuff.
Drive does suck from Milton. About 60 minutes exact.
Miles, one of the retired Air Force officers, is a tad too gung ho for me. He's all about the $$$ - no thanks.
My instructor was Dan Winnie. Retired Air Force Enlisted.. flew in back of 130's for many many years. Recently a CFI, but you'd never know it. I learned things from him other students out at Eglin didn't get to. Eexpected you to read and perform, but overall a very easy going guy, and I'd go with him again if given the choice. Laura when have been too distracting.
No, you don't get a license out of IFS. You only get 24-25 hours from IFS. I could be wrong, but I think a PPL needs 40 hours? For Student Pilots, not needed. All you need do to is finish military flight training, take a small test and whammo, PPL. For NFO's, may want to continue to get your license, especially if you end up getting stashed between IFS and API.
IFS is a lot of fun.. I think the most fun I had was short and soft field landings. Flying into and out of the dirt is a blast. I sucked at it, but was still fun!
For those wanting to continue past IFS and get a PPL. I am doing that right now. Under FAR Part 141, which the IFS program falls under, you need 35 hours at MINIMUM to obtain a license. I stress minimum because most people do NOT make 35 hours, they usually hit 50. It will cost you around $1500 extra to obtain your license at the minimum hours. I have 2 flights left before I'm ready for my checkride. If you have the cash, it's definitely worth doing...nothing like the freedom of taking up an aircraft...sorry guys, you can wait 2 years for yours, I don't want to.
If you fly Eglin or you fly Destin, you'll be in the same airspace and have to deal with all the same crap (restricted airspace, live fire exercises, etc). It's a lot of fun once you get used to it. Destin does get a bit freaky at times, but then again, MOST of the airports out there are uncontrolled, it's good practice. Then again, no military airports are...but it's good for your civilian experience.
If you fly Eglin or you fly Destin, you'll be in the same airspace and have to deal with all the same crap (restricted airspace, live fire exercises, etc). It's a lot of fun once you get used to it. Destin does get a bit freaky at times, but then again, MOST of the airports out there are uncontrolled, it's good practice. Then again, no military airports are...but it's good for your civilian experience.
Does anyone know if there is a cutt off for doing IFS? By this I mean, do only individuals with no flight time get to do IFS? I have maybe 40hrs that I accumulated from age 13-18, but I have not flown on a routine basis for 4-5 yrs and do not have a license. Would I be able to IFS or would I go directly to API? Anyone know?
I would imagine in a case like Bart27 the command would probably send him to IFS...but you never know.
Another thing to consider for when you get ppl is how much experience you think you will need to fly in the weather conditions forecast for the day of. When I took my ppl test I had a squal line blow up 15 to 20 miles north of my destination of where I was taking my ppl oral exam The conditions forecast were scattered clouds at 6000 to 8000 ft. No rain, thunderstorms or cumulonimbus activity for that day, 7 to 10 miles visibility. The storm blew up and headed south. Within about 50 minutes the storm was over the airport. All this convective activity occured between the time when I took off til the time I landed. I was barely able to land and hangar the plane before the 45-50 mph winds, rain and hail hit. The AWOS at the airport did not change the conditions at the airport until the storm was almost petered out. I had around 50+ hours when this all happened. If I had the minimum hours required to get a license who knows what the outcome might have been.
Another thing to consider for when you get ppl is how much experience you think you will need to fly in the weather conditions forecast for the day of. When I took my ppl test I had a squal line blow up 15 to 20 miles north of my destination of where I was taking my ppl oral exam The conditions forecast were scattered clouds at 6000 to 8000 ft. No rain, thunderstorms or cumulonimbus activity for that day, 7 to 10 miles visibility. The storm blew up and headed south. Within about 50 minutes the storm was over the airport. All this convective activity occured between the time when I took off til the time I landed. I was barely able to land and hangar the plane before the 45-50 mph winds, rain and hail hit. The AWOS at the airport did not change the conditions at the airport until the storm was almost petered out. I had around 50+ hours when this all happened. If I had the minimum hours required to get a license who knows what the outcome might have been.
At what point in the whole process is an individual asked how much flight time they have? Also, when do you find out whether your going to IFS or straight to API? Do you merely sit around waiting to hear after graduating from OCS or are you given a stash job to keep you busy? Any info out there would be great.
quickandsure
Registered User
Bart i think in the door, the go/nogo on IFS is the solo cross country. If you have logged your solo cross country for you PPL you do not do IFS.
IFS is before API. Hear some are given stash jobs, other just wait around doing not much.
IFS is serious. You can flunk out of your flight training by making less than 85 on the written test in IFS. Not absolute, as I think you can appeal, for reason, but the screening part was to find early on those that would likely attrit down the road.
IFS is before API. Hear some are given stash jobs, other just wait around doing not much.
IFS is serious. You can flunk out of your flight training by making less than 85 on the written test in IFS. Not absolute, as I think you can appeal, for reason, but the screening part was to find early on those that would likely attrit down the road.
If you are a SNA, you WILL go to IFS. It is mandatory. For SNFOs, you will go if they feel like sending you. It's a different program though, focusing more on instrument procedures.
I can't remember if it's plain old soloing or solo cross country that will get you exempt from IFS. If you have a PPL you won't go either. I came in with 15.5 hours that I accumulated in Jr. High and High School. I never soloed.
If you fail IFS requirements, you are done as an SNA.
Orthaj, you need to rethink what you said. No private pilot will fly into a squall line, in fact, probably 99% of pilots won't fly into a squall line. It was YOUR error of choosing to go up that day, as well as the check-ride examiner.
I can't remember if it's plain old soloing or solo cross country that will get you exempt from IFS. If you have a PPL you won't go either. I came in with 15.5 hours that I accumulated in Jr. High and High School. I never soloed.
If you fail IFS requirements, you are done as an SNA.
Orthaj, you need to rethink what you said. No private pilot will fly into a squall line, in fact, probably 99% of pilots won't fly into a squall line. It was YOUR error of choosing to go up that day, as well as the check-ride examiner.
Actually, wasn't the cutoff for the written test 80%? And some ground schools (mine included) let you take the FAA computer test, multiple times, although it's not an official written test. That said, though, they made it abundantly clear in our indoc brief that the program is designed to find out those who can't hack it. The instructors know it, too. So it's not designed to just let you screw around on the Navy's dollar either.
I do have to put my plug in for Miles, too, now that he's been mentioned by name.
Wouldn't have wanted to start flying any other way. Cuts down on the stomach butterflies to hear his training is helping you out in Primary, lowflier. Hope it'll do the same for me.
Orthaj, you do have me beat on hours, and I obviously wasn't in the cockpit with you, but superior pilots use their superior judgement to avoid getting into situations where they have to use their superior skills. Methinks I would have diverted had I been in your shoes. . .
I do have to put my plug in for Miles, too, now that he's been mentioned by name.
Orthaj, you do have me beat on hours, and I obviously wasn't in the cockpit with you, but superior pilots use their superior judgement to avoid getting into situations where they have to use their superior skills. Methinks I would have diverted had I been in your shoes. . .
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