'An Oldie But Goodie' Stands Up To Test Of time

"Chicago O’Hare IFR," used by thousands of pilots to learn IFR communications, has been updated, re-mastered and made available on audio CD. This program puts you in the left seat of Sporty’s Aztec for a round trip flight from Sporty’s homebase in Batavia, Ohio (near Cincinnati) to Chicago O’Hare, the world’s busiest airport. In addition to all actual pilot/controller exchanges, you get clear explanations and sound IFR tips from an experienced pilot. You will follow the entire flight, including the preflight planning and telephoned arrival and departure reservations.

We might note that we spent a surprisingly enjoyable trip, on the road, with this CD for company. Rather than being as boring as it might initially sound, the CD was a delightful way to peek in on another pilots' procedures and thoughts about a trip that few GA pilots might attempt these days (more so now than when the original recordings were made). While the trip is an old one (the flight it portrays was actually made in the 1980s), the methodical presentation and helpful narrative made for an enjoyable exercise that emphasized proper procedures as well as tight communications conduct. While many pilots see flight into and out of O'Hare as something akin to black magic (and to be avoided like the plague), the presentation showed the trip for what it is -- a proper way to use a demanding bit of airspace and an airport without undue fear or complexity.

The Sportys CD was an informative and quite useful guide to proper radio procedure and the conduct of an IFR flight through middle America. It was also quite an enjoyable process. There isn't a pilot coming up the ranks who wouldn't benefit from hearing such a flight from start to finish. Better yet; most flyyers can directly benefit from the insights contained in the narrative that are interspersed throughout the flight, explaining certain aspects of the communication and decision making process.

FMI: Chicago O'Hare IFR (Audio CD)