Gawler found that 83 percent of instrument checkride applicants in his geographic area pass the first time. But among those who failed, the leading causes were, in order, the NDB approach, the ILS approach, the VOR approach, en route procedures, and finally, emergency procedures including partial-panel work. The school also gives multiengine and commercial training, as well as instrument refresher courses, but it is best known for its 10-day instrument course. Officials agreed to share a few secrets they have learned over the years. Erik C. Lunde, operations manager and an instructor, said that compass turns are good for demonstrations, but not for in-flight emergencies.
Compass turns require knowledge of that instrument's little quirks.
The training company warns in its textbook The Instrument Flight Training Manual that all compasses vary in the amount of error they exhibit. The problems PIC instructors see come from students who don't have confidence in the timed turn and who roll out too early or too late because they have not been timing. Some students won't let the compass settle down before making course adjustments. They end up making S-turns along a radial. Use the aircraft clock on large turns.