PilotEdge and IMC Club collaborate on IFR Proficiency Center at AirVenture

OSHKOSH — PilotEdge and IMC Club are collaborating on the newly-launched IFR Pilot Proficiency Center at AirVenture 2014. Pilots can experience a series of carefully crafted IFR flights, specifically designed to get them flying “in the system,” while exposing them to increasingly challenging tasks.

“We’re exciting to be working with PilotEdge at the IFR Proficiency Center,” said Radek Wyrzykowski, founder of IMC Club. “They are able to provide a critical piece of the puzzle when it comes to simulating IFR flight, which is the interaction with Air Traffic Control.”

The one-hour sequence culminates in a brief but challenging end-to-end flight to a nearby airport in low IFR conditions. This includes picking up an IFR clearance and taxiing at a busy ad unfamiliar airport, tasks that are often overlooked in simulator-based training.

PilotEdge uses real people to deliver Air Traffic Control services to a wide range of flight simulators, including the Redbird TD2 devices that are used at the IFR Proficiency Center.

“Instrument flight doesn’t happen in a vacuum,” said Keith Smith, PilotEdge founder. “Pilots will divide their attention between flying the airplane, listening for their tail number among all the chatter, working with ATC and maintaining a high level of situational awareness — just like real flying.”

The IMC Club, through its worldwide chapters, provides organized “hangar flying” and focuses on building proficiency in instrument flying. The IMC Clubs concept is to bring together IFR-rated pilots who fly in the real-world “actual IMC” and provide them an opportunity to share stories, network with the larger pilot community, and gain insights and tips for their IFR flying. All stories and scenarios produced by the club for use during chapter meetings are real and are based on submissions from their members.