What Our Customers Are Saying
We value our customer’s feedback about our proven process!
Accelerated IFR Training Reviews
Mike, I wanted to thank you and Zach for an extremely enjoyable and fun learning experience at IFR6. I think with IFR6 course you have a solid teaching course that makes learning a very difficult subject fun and interactive. The combination of ground instruction and simulator flying followed by plane flying is the perfect combination to teach a challenging topic. You are running a top notch facility with top notch instructors. Zach is an excellent instructor and is enthusiastic and good at teaching the subject. I really appreciate his tremendous support and help throughout the course. I felt Zach finds ways to motivate and finds ways to overcome stumbling blocks and enhances learning points and finds ways to engage and instruct in a friendly and easy going manner. I felt good and prepared going into the checkride. During the oral part, Don Hayes DPE told me “I was the first person to answer his question in five years”, after I answered one of his questions about approach glide slope. During the practical part he told me “ I was flying the approach textbook like”. I feel Zach gets the credit for the excellent preparation for the oral and practical part of the checkride. Don is a good and fair examiner. Overall, I enjoyed the whole experience and learned a lot in the course. I will recommend your course highly to all pilots working towards IFR rating.Shahbaz Khan, June 2023
I’m writing this review about IFR 6 on 05/30/2023 which is the same day that I passed my instrument check ride. My instructor for the program was Chris Edwards. He was an excellent instructor. The program definitely works as advertised! Shooting approaches in the simulator and having top notch instruction is the key to becoming competent. Instrument flying is all about procedures, and this type of complete immersion and repetition is the way to not only pass your checkride, but also become a safe instrument pilot. I was super hesitant about the program because the idea that 6 days would be adequate sounded crazy to me. But the truth is, you will get better and more training here in 6 days than you would in 2 months without the complete immersion. I will come back for the commercial 3 program.Matthew Robinson, May 2023
I started my program on 5/11/2023 and passed my checkride on 5/16. My instructor was Chris Edwards, and he did a phenomenal job. I would not have been ready in 5 days without him.Like many people, I have limited resources in both money and time. So once I decided to try out an intensive program for my instrument rating, I did my research and contacted many schools that provide this kind of program, including PIC, GATTS, IFR6, CRAFT… etc. I eventually selected IFR6 because of the overall positive reviews I read, and that their responses in emails or phone calls were both professional and prompt. From my past experiences, I felt that the most important elements in any flight training are the structure of the program and the quality of the instructor, and IFR6 gave me the highest confidence that they can deliver those.And they did deliver. The syllabus is very well structured, and the instruction I received from Chris was one of the best, and I have flown with 8 CFIs during my private and tailwheel trainings.For people who are considering this program, you need to do your part and come in prepared on the knowledge portion. Study the materials that Mike send you, multiple times, before you arrive. I’d also recommend that you should be reasonably proficient in VFR flying.Lastly, getting the rating only means that we met the ACS for IR on this date and time. As PIC we need to know our limitations and know what we need to do to prepare ourselves before we bring ourselves and our passengers into IMC.Blake Lin, May 2023
Just wanted to say thanks for the program and experience. Passed my “IFR4” checkride today.
Zach was an excellent instructor — he also went the extra mile on timing and logistics — and I very much enjoyed learning from and working with him. I’ll be sure to write a review and let folks on COPA know y’all are doing excellent work here in Charleston!
Rich Williams, April 2023
I was admittedly skeptical that a 6-day course would be sufficient to result in a successful instrument rating check ride but after several other attempts to get check ride ready I thought this approach was worth a shot. I couldn’t have been more wrong! The training program you have developed, and the instructors (well at least mine) you have helping students is fantastic! Not only was I ready for the check ride but I felt confident that I’d pass. Thank you so much for the service you provide.
Walter Romano, March 2023
Just wanted to thank you for my IFR6 experience. I got home late last night (Summerville, SC to New Bedford, MA) and used my shiny new instrument rating to descend through a layer in route. Zach Dodd was completely committed to getting me through, and I appreciate his tremendous effort and hours as my instructor.
Andrew Bonney, March 2023
Thanks Mike, it was a great experience. Billy was excellent.
Braxton Wade, March 2023
Hi Michael, just wanted to write to let you know I had a great week at IFR6. Zach was excellent to work with, extremely thorough, and a true professional. Thank you,
Adam Gordon, February 2023
Had such an incredibly positive experience during IFR6 that I came back and did Com3 (commercial 3 day). Once again I came prepared after a good deal of studying. Zach Dodd patiently coached me through the commercial maneuvers and polished the diamond to a sparkle. I write this today as a commercial pilot after confidently passing my checkride. Many thanks to Michael, Zach, and the entire team who made themselves available when I had questions. Keep up the great work!
Paul Case, November 2022
I came to IFR6 with a story that seems very common. I struggled to progress my instrument training at home due to scheduling conflicts, work travel, the CFII leaving the school, TFRs, etc. I knew that the best path for me was to dedicate time to training and to distance myself from distractions. The IFR6 Program let me schedule a week of dedicated time focused on the objective. I came in prepared from the pre-read study materials but with the minimum hours prerequisites so we focused on making the most of each day. Kirk tailored the training to my weak areas and used practical examples to hammer points home in both the sim and the plane. I told him I felt like I hit the lottery getting paired up with him. It all resulted in a successful checkride on day 7. I very much appreciated being able to use the same (rental) aircraft all week. It was an added level of comfort knowing I was going to be using the same aircraft throughout the training and checkride.
Kenneth Miller, October 2022
I simply cannot say enough good things about Michael, CFII Zach Dodd, and the IFR6 program. This morning I became an Instrument rated pilot after 6 days and a hurricane. It was NOT stress free and I came well prepared, do not think this will be easy. It is not. Zack then coached me through what was missing, prepared me for the checkride and we got it done. I leave here a confident, competent, and proficient instrument rated pilot.
Paul Case, October 2022
Mike, thank you, Kirk and the IFR6 program for getting me across the finish line! I came in not really believing simulator practice would be helpful and totally changed my mind. Kirk was an awesome instructor and gave me a lot of practical advice.
Judy Volkar, September 2022
Once again, thank you, and it was a pleasure to fly with you guys. The whole experience was great and Kevin is a great instructor. He is friendly, laid back and knows his stuff inside and out !! The week was intense and I felt exhausted at the end of each day, but it was all very much worthy at the end ! I loved the experience and will definitely consider coming back for my commercial when I build the hours to do that.
Jose Alessandro Vasconcelos, July 2022
First let me say that I am not one to write reviews. I am the guy that thinks they are all rigged or “paid” actors. As I say this, I find myself complied to write a review for IFR6. I am still not sure how they are able to take students from all background levels and prepare them for check rides in 6 days, but THEY CAN AND DO EVERY WEEK!!! I think we can all agree that most good things start at the top and there is no exception when it comes to Mike McCurdy (Founder). I had 20-50 questions about the school, pass rate, approach, instructors, weather, DPE, and Mike answered them all with patience and left me feeling confident in spending 9k to get going. I was paired up with the world-famous Kirk Bray. Kirk is like the Mr. Miyagi of flight training. Kirk has an interactive way of teaching you what you need to know and can take the most complex topics and translates into ducks and bunnies’ language which all will be able to process!!
If you are on the fence…….DO IT. You will be in great hands, and I am confident that you too will walk away with your IFR ticket!!!Greg Thomas, July 2022
Michael, Thanks for a great IFR 6 experience. The course was very organized and things really came together on day 5/6 and I was ready for my check ride as advertised. I came in with just about 9 hours of IFR instruction (plus about 5 safety pilot time under foggles) and was able to complete my instrument rating in 6 days. Ricky was great to work with and his calm demeanor and patience helped the process. I would recommend the program to anyone who needs immersion to really get it all to “gel” for them. Being away from home for a week allowed me to soak up the skills without the distractions of home, and the passage of too much time between lessons.
Michael Rose, June 2022
I never believed that one could get an instrument rating in 6 days so I came to IFR6 accepting the idea of a probable failed checkride. I thought that whatever the outcome, I would learn a lot and that justified the trip to CHS from so far away. The IFR6 syllabus and the professionalism and experience of Kirk made this happen!
Many thanks and I hope to come back soon for my commercial!Mohib Pirbay, May 2022
I am so grateful for this program, it has given me opportunities that I would never have had experienced anywhere else. What sets this program apart from the rest is that the pilot is the top priority all the time. I had to switch to multiple airplanes due to several reasons, but there was never any conflict in me having a plane to fly. The instructor made sure that I was consistently content and understood what was assigned before me, and I was definitely prepared for the checkride at the end of the 6 days. My confidence has risen greatly ever since I started here, and I can officially look forward to my future as a pilot.
Nate Vega, May 2022
Thank you for making it happen!
The program is solid and Harrison is a great CFI
See you (hopefully) in about a year for my commercial!
Slim Bouricha, April 2022
IFR6 was a fantastic way for me to get immersed in the training and get not only competent, but comfortable with instrument flying. The course is structured in a way that it feels intense, but not rushed. I worked with Zach Dodd, who did a fantastic job as an instructor. Calm and levelheaded, with a commanding grasp of instrument fundamentals, and a practical way of teaching them. The simulator was a great enhancement of the training – in one day we did 7-8 approaches in the sim which would be very difficult to accomplish in a day’s flying in the aircraft. Learning the fundamentals and skills in the simulator and then translating them to the aircraft is an excellent way to learn, and when I got behind the controls, everything already felt familiar. If you’re looking for a course that gets you the training, knowledge, and experience you need to be a competent and confident instrument pilot, look no further.
Ian McMillan, March 2022
Words can’t express my gratitude to the entire team, but especially Kevin. You’ve got a real rock star instructor in the making there.
Rob Hohmann, March 2022
Mike, Just wanted to say that your course was what I needed and was looking for to push me through the Instrument rating process. You have a great program and Zach Dodd was a great instructor for me. I will be back for the commercial ride sometime in the next year.
Ron Tyson, March 2022
Michael- I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate the program you offer. You have done an excellent job putting the curriculum together. I learned a lot and Elexis did a great job. I think she really honed in on my weak points quickly and worked very hard to get me past them. She is an excellent instructor and worked very hard to keep me on track for progress.
Allan Fogle, March 2022
Mike, I want to say how impressed I was with IFR6 and the program that you guys have created. I have been a private pilot for 20 years with the goal to get my IFR certification but life happens. With IFR6, it made my dream become a reality as trying to obtain the certification by flying once a week with an instructor was just not practical with my busy schedule.
Kirk Bray was very professional and a heck of an instructor. The way he handled the training was a class act and it made learning so much easier in such a short period of time. You guys have created an awesome platform with the ability to use the flight simulator as a training tool that can give immediate feedback to what you are doing at that moment. I would highly recommend IFR6 to anyone that wants to get their IFR certification.George McLaughlin, February 2022
Chai was great to work with and adjusted his schedule to keep my training first and foremost. You are losing a very patient and understanding instructor when he goes to the airlines. I would encourage any prospective students to not wait or delay any longer, as I had done. I recently purchased a plane and needed to get my IFR rating completed for insurance purposes, as soon as possible. I had been working with my local instructor, but it just seemed like only doing one or two lessons a week was not very beneficial for me. It was no fault of the instructor it was that I needed to be able to focus on the task at hand and learn from repetition.
You were able to fit me into an opening in the schedule and Chai took it from there. We trained in the simulator and then repeated it in the airplane, exactly the repetitions that I needed. The training was very straightforward, demanding and rewarding. Chai does a great job in both the simulator and the plane of explaining what we were doing and whey we were doing it. I am very pleased with the training and look forward to fulfilling my commercial rating through your company.
Jason Evans, January 2022
Michael, I want to thank IFR6 and especially my instructor Zach Dodd for the great training last week. Zack sure had the knack for pushing me as far as I could go but not over the edge. I have retired airline pilot friends that told me that a 74 year old man could not pass an IFR check ride. Zach and I proved them wrong. After 6 days of training with Zach in the Sim and in the Aircraft , the check ride was actually pretty easy.
Shelby Gunter, January 2022
I was absolutely amazed at the skill, dedication and customized instruction technique that my IFR6 instructor Bettina displayed during our 6 days together preparing for my instrument check ride. I could not have done this without her. Thank you Bettina and IFR6!Ryan Bliss, January 2022
Your program was fantastic!!Professionally run and well organised the syllabus hits hard on all the important aspects and the perfect amount of time is slotted for it to be achieved. Harrison is a fantastic instructor he has a great energy while being very cool calm and collective. Also he was very respectful of my aeroplane and accommodating and willing to help with anything I needed throughout the week. I wish him all the best and future success.Big thank you to all of you again!!I look forward to coming to see you for my commercial!!Ben Wright, December 2021
I have owned White Hawk Aviation for nearly 22 years. We are primarily a maintenance shop with a small flight school. I could not do my IFR training with my own people because there is way too many distractions and I’d never get done. So I started looking for somewhere to get my rating done quickly that was far enough away, and close enough if needed. I’ve been privileged to know countless instructors. Some good ones, some less than desirable. I showed up at your facility in a Navion. A plane very few know anything about. Throwing an instructor in a plane he knows nothing about with a pilot he’s never met or flown with was going to be quite an interesting experiment in my opinion. What happened next was such wonderful experience.
Chai Smith happens to be one of those people you instantly connect with. His insatiable curiosity and need to learn was only shadowed by his infectious personality and wonderful ability to teach. And teach well. I had such a good time with him. His sense of humor was very relaxing in this difficult and intense course. He was patient, tolerant and professional. He thinks outside the box when needed. He genuinely cared about whether I was getting it or not. Very well spoken and very intelligent. This is someone who has to do well in life. He deserves it. I’m proud to have his signature in my log book. It really means a lot to me to know that he has done well and that he knows the difference he has made in my life of aviation.
Kevin Woodside, November 2021
Thanks for getting me together with Bettina to finish up my training. She’s one in a million for sure but she did what was needed for me to get past this IR checkride.Rick Turriff, November 2021
Kirk was amazing and has a wealth of information. I’m flying home tomorrow filing my first IFR flight plan.Dale Heppe, November 2021
I would like to thank IFR6 and especially Indy for the help and training to get me ready for my checkride. Having the simulator and all the in flight time really makes you confident getting ready for the test.Terry Freeman, September 2021
The IFR6 program is an amazing program and even better instructors. Chai Smith was my instructor and he helped me out and told me what to do differently where my weaknesses lied. He gave me great tips on how to prepare for my oral and my flight portion which helped me pass it all. If I was to rate him out of 10 stars then I’d give a 10 out of 10. Definitely a great person and even better instructor!Connor Rowan, August 2021
Hey Mike, I’ve seen a lot of training environments in my career of 10 years as a Corporate Pilot and 20 years as a Airline Pilot. I must tell you I am very Impressed with your program. This is the first training program I seen designed like Flight Safety and Airline training programs, but for the Instrument Student. It just makes since to include the Redbird Training Sims along with the flight instruction. I first saw your program on an AOPA video and it was very much worth the time and expense for my son. I will also say I was very impressed with Connor’s instructor Chai Smith. He was very knowledgeable, had a great attitude and helped Connor with his training. I would very much recommend your IFR6 program to pilots wanting to add an IFR rating.Brian Rowan, August 2021
I, like many pilots I know, have been working on my IFR certificate for about a year. The training was not consistent enough to be really meaningful. Part was because I would get busy, or my CFI would get busy, or our schedules would not match up. I did accomplish my 250 NM cross country with 3 approaches and had around 40 hours of actual or simulated IFR, but I was far from being competent or comfortable flying in IFR conditions. Your program is, in my opinion, the only way to learn and get competent and comfortable flying in IFR conditions and flying in the IFR system. I believe that the immersion style of learning is the best way to get the skills and habits solidified to make a safe Instrument pilot. Between my plane and the sim, I logged over 30 hours of instrument flying with a fantastic instructor critiquing and helping me find my way to gently controlling my Bonanza while flying by the instruments. We also found the appropriate power and configuration settings that make it easier to fly an approach in my aircraft. In the end, I was very prepared for a successful check ride. If you want to get comfortable and competent, I highly suggest the IFR6 program.Don Gatlin, July 2021
After completing my private 3 years ago and never seeming to get enough instructor time to get my IFR, I decided the only way it was going to happen was to take a week off from work and get it done. I researched COPA, talked to several CSIPs and ended up with IFR6. I was a little hesitant because it didn’t look on the surface that they had a lot of Cirrus specific instructors. Well, was I wrong! Kirk spent the whole week showing me better ways to use my SR22. Very impressed with the whole organization, I watched the other instructors interact with clients and they do a great job, very professional. The whole staff is committed to doing whatever they need to get the job done. Only two pieces of advice, Charleston is hot in the summer (bring shorts) and be very proactive with Atlantic (they are not the best Atlantic FBO).Don Morin, July 2021
IFR6 is more than just getting an instrument rating in 6 days, it’s learning everything thoroughly with the best instrument instructors out there. I worked with Kirk who is a brilliant flight instructor and CFII. He made sure I was comfortable in every aspect of the curriculum by check ride day. We even went out for lunch each day and chatted about our lessons and flying. The simulator is challenging, but very helpful in training. The simulator made flying the actual plane a lot easier in IMC. Best of all, I was very comfortable come check ride day and flew home through real IMC on a IFR flight plan! If you’re looking for the best instrument instruction out there and to finish it all in 1 week – I definitely recommend this program!Sagar Patel, July 2021
IFR6 is a very complete IFR training program. I felt ready for the checkride and more importantly, prepared to fly IFR back home! The instructors are willing to put in as much time as you need and customized my curriculum to concentrate on the areas where I needed the most help!Chase Scarbrough, June 2021
Just wanted to say thanks for putting on a solid program. Don is an amazing DPE, I want to do all my checkrides with him!Daniel Sarkis, May 2021
Many thanks to Zach at IFR6. After some intense training, my instrument skills started to come together quickly. The training format was logical and complete. Each day builds on the next and in no time I was passing my check ride. After successfully completing IFR6 I have flown in actual IMC and just complete my first IMC circling approach. In the past two days I’ve filed 5 IFR plans and can write clearances down without issue. A few weeks ago it was a challenge for me. IFR6 and Zach taught me holds, all the approaches and writing down clearances to the point where I can can continue to hone my skills with a solid foundation. I’d recommend IFR6 to anyone.Tim Williams, May 2021
Mike, I just want to say that my experience at IFR6 was terrific. It is clear that a considerable amount of effort was put into the process of IFR training. My instructor, Ricky, was excellent. He is very professional, capable and calm. Although I lost the use of my airplane for a day during the training, he got me ready. I passed my check ride and the next day flew single pilot IFR home. I will be back when it is time for commercial certificate. Many thanks. Brian Roberts, May 2021
IFR6 was exactly what I was looking for to complete my Instrument Rating. The course flows in a way that sets you up for success, and Chai is one of the best instructors I’ve ever worked with. You have truly figured out the best way to accomplish IFR Training. I will be recommending you to anyone looking to earn an Instrument Rating.T. Dalton, April 2021
To all future IFR pilots- IFR6 is a great way to get there. I struggled for many years to get this ticket. I finally realized that I needed to go to school full time and immerse myself in getting this ticket. I had a great instructor in Chai Smith who kept everything positive during the day. In the evening I would go back to my hotel room and study for the oral part of the flight test. Flying, studying full time for six days. It worked and I flew home IFR!B. Holby, March 2021
IFR6 is a successful business that understands its customers and how to meet and exceed customer expectations while operating safely at all times! All of the background scheduling was expertly accomplished making time in Sim and Aircraft very efficiently focused. I arrived in CHS with 25 hours of logged instrument time, and left with about 55 hours and an instrument ticket.
Having read the reviews on this page, I can state that I agree whole heartedly with all of the common themes. I had come back to flying a few years back after 20+ years away, and recognized I needed to attain an instrument rating to be safe while flying in the Northeast. Working with local instruction was fine, but schedules for aircraft and instructor got in the way of efficient learning. That is where Mike McCurdy’s program shines with the seamless use of Redbird simulators combined with a dedicated aircraft and instructor and a structured curriculum that builds skills.
I consider Mike and instructor Will Tucker new friends. They took the time to know my skill level and needs and helped build capability and confidence. Weather was severe clear but there was enough turbulence on several mornings to be able to have strong echoes of Will’s voice in my headset telling me to fight for the heading, airspeed and altitude. I spoke with several other students and instructors while there and was impressed with the professionalism of all of the IFR6 crew. I can’t recommend IFR6 enough for anyone that wants to take their flying to the next level.
RJ Ham, March 2021
The IFR6 program was everything I had hoped for and more. I completed my written test over a year ago and “life” kept getting in the way of any consistency in my instrument flight training. I had heard positive things about IFR6 and finally decided to just block out the time and commit to it! The course was very organized and my instructor was positive and encouraging while still challenging me. My knowledge and comfort level of instrument flying increased significantly and I was well-prepared for the IFR oral exam and checkride. Receiving my instrument certification is such a sense of accomplishment! Thank you Michael, Sam and Team IFR6!
Rex Query, March 2021
Very good training program. They will make you a very safe and confident Instrument Rated pilot in only 6 days. Highly recommend!
Cliff Lane, November 2020
Completed my IFR Checkride tonight. I spent 6 very productive days with IFR6 in Charleston. I enthusiastically recommend this program.
My Instructor Ian K. Burke made the process easy for me. Thank you for your effective training.
Les Miller, November 2020
I’ve had an ASEL private pilot license for over 26 years. In that time, I’ve contemplated getting an instrument rating. Many years ago, I attempted the rating but the military and life got in the way of completion. In the mean time I became a professional helicopter pilot with a mid-sized police department. We still didn’t require an instrument rating, if you can’t see the ground, you can’t see the bad guy! Fast forward to August 2020. I decided I was going to retire from 40 years of wearing a uniform and it was time to finish my ratings for my next flying gig. I painfully researched many accelerated IFR programs available on today’s market. I can assure you there are plenty out there. And the cost of each is plentiful as well. There was no doubt I wanted an accelerated program. There were 14 -day programs, 10- day programs, 30 -day programs, and of course my local flight schools several month program, Part 61, Part 141 schools and on and on. In my research I came upon “IFR6.” Huh? A 6- day IFR program. Interesting!
I continued my research and liked what I was seeing. I sent an inquiry email to IFR6, and received my answer the next day. Mike McCurdy, the owner of the IFR6, answered all my questions and was upfront with me about the pricing. I can tell you the price was the cheapest of all the other programs that I looked into. That got me thinking, “you get what you pay for” right? Although the ratings and comments were all good, the price was too good to be true, there had to be something wrong. I spoke to Mike over several emails and he answered all my questions to satisfaction. I didn’t have my own plane, so I had to rent one while in Charleston. Mike gave me an estimate on the time I would need in the rental, and even with the rental, the price was still well under several of the other programs I had looked at. I jumped in feet first, and signed up.
It’s not all peaches and cream. There were some prerequisites that I had to accomplish first. Completing the written test, getting 10 hours of IFR training prior to arriving in CHS and some other minor tasks to complete. But once that was done, my 6 days was booked and south bound I was headed. At the completion of the course, I left CHS with an instrument rating in my wallet.
I think it is important that you, who may be reading this and contemplating getting your IFR rating, realize something; I worked hard to get this completed. From the time I decided to get the rating to completion, was 2.5 months. I purchased an online ground school course, and other study material. I studied every night prior to taking my FAA written test, which I scored a 90% on. I took lessons at my local airport with a CFII. Oh yea, and I studied every night! Once at CHS, I was introduced to Kirk. Kirk was personable and easy to get along with, which made the training that much better. On a side note, all the instructors that I met was were very nice and helpful. Once the initial prerequisites were met, we jumped into the Red Bird simulator. It was my first time, so Kirk was easy on me. I found the simulator harder to fly then the real airplane. But after the 3rd day, I realized that if I can master headings and altitude in the simulator, it made it so much more exacting in the airplane. Don’t fool yourself, this is not VFR flying, you MUST hold altitude and headings. By day 4, I still felt a bit frustrated with myself and how I was doing. I took the night off from studying and just relaxed. That seemed to help, back in the Red Bird and airplane it all seemed to come together. I felt relaxed and my confidence was on the up rise. A couple days later and I had my instrument rating and was headed back home! I do recommend the “IFR6” program and the good folks at IFR6. But you must prepare yourself first. Study, do well on the written, study, get with your local CFII and get that 10 hours of training, headings and altitude holding are must do tasks to master before taking your check ride. I cannot emphasize that enough.
Most importantly, I feel confident to fly in the IFR environment. In all honesty I plan on getting with my local CFII and fly an actual IMC flight with him for my first time. Why you may ask? well for me, it gives me a chance to show off what I’ve accomplished over the past 2. 5 months!
Reed Ray, November 2020
It was like drinking out of a firehose- so much work, and yet I never felt rushed. We would work in the simulator, then take a mini-break, and out to the airplane for a flight, and then back to the simulator. Whatever it takes to get you flying right. They ask a lot of their clients coming through the program, but I flew home IFR and I have flown IFR nearly every flight since.
Dean Dunford, October 2020
I had an awesome experience with the IFR6 program! It was all that was advertised and more. The weather was great, the instructor was awesome, and I was well prepared for my checkride. I would recommend IFR6 to anyone looking to obtain their instrument rating in a time-efficient manner! I look forward to doing their commercial pilot program in the future.
Richard Chatwin, July 2020
Michael & Sam
Thanks for a wonderful experience with IFR6. Your team is top notch and your methods and dedications allowed me to pass the Checkride, realizing a long term objective to be an IFR PilotWell done!Mark Twaalfhoven, July 2020
The IFR6 program was exactly as described and on day 6, I passed my check ride. Now… I’m contemplating participating in their Commercial program!
Brian McIlnay, June 2020
Wanted to take a moment and thank you and your organization for guiding, training and prepping me for the commercial check flight (COM3.) Zach did a great job in making sure that I was well prepared for the evaluation. It was pretty windy last Thursday so I used every bit of training to accomplish what was expected of me in the tight parameters required by the ACS. I cannot speak more highly of Zach and his approach with instruction. His patience is one of his trademarks. Some of the maneuvers were challenging for me to build the muscle memory to repetitively accomplish them. Zach was patient and would only say, “Let’s try that one again”.
Again, thank you for the great service
Chuck Henry, June 2020
Had a great week doing IFR6 with Ian at CHS flight school. It’s a great program, great philosophy, very good instructor.
Mark Griffith, June 2020
Mike/ Will
I would like to start off with saying after flying for 32 years of VRF only, I had my resevations about becoming IFR competent in 6 days. I had some hours with local instructors, but nothing to compare with the knowledge and practical flying I recieved while at IFR6. After my check ride I flew home in IMC conditions and had complete confidence in my 1st IFR actual flight plan.
Thanks again for all the patience and encouragement to complete the course!Michael DeVault, June 2020
IFR6 was the perfect school for me. The CFII was extremely helpful in making sure that I had the knowledge, skills, and confidence to leave the program with my IR. A huge thanks to Ian Burke and Mike for such an awesome experience. IFR6 provided the best opportunity for me to work around my schedule by allowing me to receive my IFR training and pass the test in such a short period of time. I was even able to file IFR the same day for the trip back home.
Donny Hall, June 2020
Thank you IFR6! I earned my Private Pilot certificate in 2013 and used it to put 400 hours on a Cherokee 235. I had recently purchased a Mooney M20K and flying a plane that capable simply requires in instrument rating. I had been working for months with several CFII’s in my area – all very busy and seemingly impossible to get anything predictable on the schedule. And, who wants to do their IFR with three CFII’s anyway? It was then that I made the decision to use IFR6 to finish up my instrument training. And, what a great decision that was! I chose IFR6 after spending time on the phone with Mike. I like his attitude and their approach. The ‘morning in the sim…afternoon in the plane’ resonated with me. I also liked the idea of flying in a part of the country I had never been before – the little time I spent with the hood off – what a view!
I arrived on Thursday morning and after reviewing logbooks, written test and other checklist items showing that I was good to go…I was in the sim. After the first day I remember thinking, “How the heck am I going to do this?” but my CFII Will Tucker assured me I was doing well and was on track. The curriculum is predictable and well done. I knew where I was at the end of each day and what we were going to be working on the next day. I was also able to get almost 7 hours of ‘actual’ IMC during my training! On two days in a row, I didn’t even need to use the foggles and we were shooting actual approaches to near minimums in IMC. What a fantastic experience! Lastly, can’t say enough about my new friend and CFII Will Tucker. For the rest of my flying years I’ll hear him in my headset, “Fight for 3,000…fight for the glideslope…fight for the centerline…”. Overall, fantastic experience and great group of folks.
If you’re looking for a professional, well organized, and top-notch group of CFI’s to help you achieve your instrument rating, IFR6 has it down to an art. I arrived with a passed written and only 11.2 hours of simulated instrument time. Ian, my CFII, had me ready for my checkride in just four days. On day five, I passed my oral exam and checkride without any hesitation. I would highly recommend the IFR6 team. Ian Burke made the whole experience painless. But most importantly made me a safer pilot.
-Gerhard Ungerer, January 2020
-Chris Stater, January 2020
-Robin Knopp, January 2020
-Michael Bullock, December 2019
| I recently enrolled in IFR6 at chs to get my ifr rating. I’m glad to inform you I passed my check ride and now am ifr rated. It was quite a milestone for me at the age of 64. It was hard training, no doubt about it. The program is geared to obtain your rating in 6 days, and I’m sure it’s doable, however it took me a few days longer. Iwas impressed Mike and his team never gave up on me and we succeeded. Guillaume was my cfi and I can’t say enough good about him. He honestly took my education as a personal challenge. I’ll never forget him in my ear saying Needles Track Altitude Airspeed. Thank you IFR6 you made my dream come true |
-Steve Ross, November 2019
I arrived on a Thursday morning and met with Mike and CFII Will Tucker. A quick review of my hours and written test result confirmed I was eligible for their program and I began training in the simulator that same morning. The simulator is much more challenging to fly than the actual airplane, and at first I didn’t know this and was very concerned with my lack of confidence! However, once we transitioned to the airplane I quickly realized they perfected this program to an art: learn in the sim and practice in the airplane. I got to Tuesday morning (checkride day) and had to shoot an approach in IMC to minimums to get to the checkride. It was confidence inspiring and I was well prepared for the checkride and received my instrument ticket. Along the way I made a couple of great new aviation friends (Mike + Will) and I cannot recommend their IFR6 program enough. When you get to the point in your aviation career where an instrument rating is your goal, I believe IFR6 is the best program in the country.
-Jacob Vaillancourt, September 2019
A last-second glitch prevented me flying the Cirrus, but Mike said I could fly one of their 172s, so I showed up in Charleston, a 100 hour pilot with 10 hours instrument time wondering how it was going to come together in a plane I hadn’t flown in 8 years.
Already behind the 8-ball after not being able to fly the first day due to weather, I was thinking there’s no way this is going to work, I can’t learn all this in five days and pass a checkride. But then something remarkable happened; after two days it began to click and i was flying ILS and GPS approaches smoothly and effortlessly, and without an autopilot!
I can’t say enough about Kirk’s instructing style. You think you’re having a pleasant conversation about flying an approach and all of a sudden you know how to do it! Affable and absolutely unflappable, Kirk’s special forces training is apparent on your first flight. If you mess up, which you will, he’s perfectly composed and calm with a distracting story to take your mind off of it. Never a harsh word or slap on the wrist, he makes you feel completely at ease.
On the day of the checkride, I had to fly nearly three hours to make up for that lost first day and was exhausted going into my oral exam. By the time we got up in the air late Wednesday afternoon, it was 97 degrees and we’re getting thrown all over the place in thermals and downdrafts. Under the foggles, I spaced on the avionics into the first procedure turn, but I took a deep breath and just focused on remembering Kirk’s instruction and it all came back. I completed the turn, lined up and executed the approach, and the rest of the ride went smoothly and successfully.
An immersion course in instrument flying is probably one of the most concentration intensive exercises you’ll ever do in your life. It’s not easy. But like all rewarding experiences, risk and hard work are part and parcel. Already planning to go back next year for their new Commercial6 course!
-David Patton, July 2019
Each daily flight with Guillaume brought new scenarios, weather, and destinations that built into a strong foundation for my check ride. He was persistent and highly engaged every minute we were in the plane while still managing to recognize when I was overloaded or needed a break. Guillaume was fully committed to me as his only student for the week. His high touch engagement ensured no questions were left unanswered or situation unexplored. I appreciated the professionalism and organization of Michael’s syllabus— it was concise and expertly outlined how we would be managing our accelerated timeline. Michael runs a professional and tight operation and I left feeling like I got a value for the education I purchased. Good luck, and fly safe!
-Greg Dreisen, June 2019
The cost of the school is expensive. That is no secret but I honestly would have saved money if I have done this much earlier in my training. I did show up prepared and I highly recommend that. It is long days and brutally exhausting. Don’t show up thinking it’s a party week or family vacation week. It’s hardcore but I left there on day 7 as a confident instrument rated pilot.
The instructors there are amazing. The owner Mike McCurdy is amazing. The DPE’s they use Wally and Don are old school, top shelf, fair examiners. The instructors you get for IFR6 are all experienced true professional flight instructors. You are not getting some kid trying to build hours. You are getting someone with the heart of a teacher.
They prepare you for the oral. They make you confident and proficient. I had Guillaume Petin as my Instructor. He was the best instructor I have ever had. He was very calm, thorough, and very safe. I learned a ton from him that will stick with me my entire life. I was very blessed to fly with him
The school is worth every penny. If you do not leave IFR6 as an instrument-rated pilot it’s no one’s fault but your own. They will prepare you for it and they will do their part. They care if you succeed!!
-Adam Watson, May 2019
My situation was not typical. I received my VFR rating over 30 years ago and then stopped flying as family responsibilities evolved – only having 70 hours at that time. I always wanted to get back into flying. Last year after a 6-month process, I completed my bi-annual review and began flying VFR again. This process took much longer than I expected because of rental plane availability at my local airport. To avoid this during my IFR training, I opted to purchase my own plane and began training in the North East where I live. After passing the written exam, my goal was to complete the IFR flight training within 3 months. Although I had a very well qualified instructor that certified me in a high-performance Debonair, I was only able to complete 20% of my scheduled lessons over a 3 month period due to weather cancellations and “no instructor availability” when re-scheduling canceled lessons. I realized that at the rate I was going, it would take me almost a year to get my IFR rating. This is when my research for other options began.
I originally began to look at locations in AZ and FL as these programs were well known as destinations for expedited training options with favorable weather conditions. After calling these locations, I quickly discovered that I would be on a 2-6 month waiting list to have a semi-dedicated instructor. At the same time, most of these programs were up to 4 weeks of on-site training due to low instructor availability. I continued to search and was eventually referred to IFR6 in Charleston, South Carolina.
From my first conversation with Mike McCurdy, the owner of IFR6, I was immediately impressed with the program and training experience that would be provided. After answering all of my questions, my next concern became how to get my plane down to SC from Philadelphia if IFR conditions existed on my start date. I was then introduced to my assigned Instructor, Guillaume Petin. He quickly made me feel comfortable with the options and provided the solution of having me fly him to Philadelphia commercially and then fly back to Charleston together as an IFR cross country. Upon arrival at IFR6, Mike met with me and gave me a complete overview of the program and how the mix of Sim and actual flight training would be an advantage. I then began a daily program with Guillaume. He is an incredible instructor who answered all of my questions, provided consistent training, and offered creative ways for me to visualize concepts that had once seemed challenging. Guillaume kept the training on track even when I encountered some instrumentation issues that needed to be fixed and grounded my airplane temporarily. Not only did he get my plane back in the sky safely and quickly, but also selected a very qualified mechanic to do the work for me. While my plane was being fixed, it didn’t become a waste of time as it could be with other flight schools but became an opportunity to build additional hours in the Sim (no downtime).
I was also impressed with the relationship that IFR6 has with the 2 local Examiners that I met when I was there. My examiner was Don Hay who was incredibly fair and informative about the evaluation process, gave an overview on what would be expected, and informed me how the testing would be conducted, something that my flight instructor had also helped me understand well prior to the test. After the test flight was completed, the Examiner and Guillaume met me in the conference room where we reviewed the flight in detail. I was very pleased to be informed that I had passed my exam and now had an IFR rating. I’m looking forward to continuing to apply everything that I learned at IFR6 as my instrument hours begin building in the future. I Look forward to staying in touch with the team there and am very grateful for all of their help and support during my training. I continue to hear Guillaume in my ear ” Needle, Track, Altitude, Airspeed”. One thing I was told prior to enrolling in the program was that one instructor would be assigned to me for the entire week. That was the case: a dedicated instructor and what an incredible advantage it was to have someone as skilled, patient, and knowledgeable as Guillaume next to me the entire week.
If you are considering the best program available and don’t want lessons to become your full-time job for the next year, this investment will be perfect for you. The program is well worth the investment!
-Brian Filippini, April 2019
-Dennis Cox, April 2019
-Peter Swann, April 2019
The IFR6 solution is a great idea for the many pilots out there who thrive in flying many hours a day in a full immersion course. The instructor, Kirk Bray, was amazing to work with. He has an immense amount of knowledge and flight experience coupled with a background with his time in the army, which makes him a great instructor for this course because he will quickly find whatever you need to work on the most and focus on that to get you ready for the checkride.
Another positive aspect of this course is that it will push you to get things done. I scheduled my date a couple of months in advance so it pushed me to take the written. It also pushed me to get hours they have as prerequisites for the course…Then every day it will push you into learning something new (RNAV, VOR, ILS, etc.). The simulator is a great teaching tool and in many ways harder to fly than the actual plane, so I feel like once I had a good handle on the simulator, actual flying was made easier.
Another great aspect is the fact that this is located at KCHS with airline aviation, Boeing, USAF, etc. Every day had an exciting twist, we taxied and flew around with C17s, 787s, F18s, T38s, Antonov AN22s, Airline planes…It’s honestly a great experience that you cannot get at your local non-towered airport.
At the end of the day, what makes this course and flight school top notch is the people, Mike McCurdy, Kirk Bray, Guillaume,…the staff is friendly, helpful, hospitable, and I would 100% recommend to anybody willing to put in work and fly a lot.
-Hector Takahashi, March 2019
After making contact with Mike and setting up a time, Kirk Bray met me at KLIT for the six-hour flight to KCHS. I feel this time was valuable, as it let us get acquainted on a long cross country flight (in a C172). It also gave Kirk an opportunity to evaluate my abilities. We spent simulator time in the mornings and flew in the airplane in the afternoons. My whole experience was professional and positive in every way! Kirk Bray was awesome in his teaching, and I am sure he adjusted his teaching to my deficiencies. After six days, I successfully completed my check ride with examiner, Wally Moran, who was also great to work with. I realized that an immersed study would be the only way I could finish this rating. I was able to disengage from everyday responsibilities and pass my check ride! Mike, Kirk, and Guillaume do an awesome job! I highly recommend IFR6!
-Greg Asberry, January 2019
-Jeff Pyne, November 2018
After finishing my private pilot in January 2018 and taking my 1st Part 121 dispatch job in March, I put my instrument rating off while time building, knowing that I would eventually get it, but uncertain as to when.
That all changed after scud-running under low ceilings for the entirety of a 300nm xc flight in August that resulted in a more memorable flight for my passengers than I ever intended. I knew I had to prioritize getting my IFR rating as soon as I could secure a 6-day stretch off from work.
Then one day while slaving away at the desk, I saw in a celebratory Facebook post that my former classmate at American Airlines flight attendant training Isabelle (seemingly magically 😂) got her instrument rating through IFR6. I was so inspired that I finally came up with the funds and set off in my 1969 Cessna 172 for a long cross-country from Appleton to Charleston, SC.
After running into freezing rain and clear icing for the 1st time in KY and N. Carolina, deviations turned my planned 787nm journey into a 1000+ nm 12 hr marathon, where I ultimately made it to South Carolina before getting stuck 50 miles north of Charleston due to 700’ cloud ceilings. How fatefully ironic that IMC got in the way of the start of my IFR training! I kept IFR6 updated on my progress, and WOW Mike called me the morning of Day 1 to let me know that he and Guillaume would drive the 1.5 hrs to me to help fly my plane in – true customer service!!!!!
I couldn’t have imagined a more perfect IFR training experience: the weather in Charleston is so pleasantly mild in the Fall; taking off over the flotilla of C-17s parked on the ramp at Charleston Air Force Base was amazing; driving by the final assembly line of brand-new 787 Dreamliners on the way to and from the airport every day was the best motivation that an aspiring airline pilot could dream of. The highlight of my week was getting cleared for takeoff before a heavy 747 Dreamlifter!
If you still have any doubts about choosing IFR6, read all 20 reviews below like I did just now while reflecting on my personal experience. I’ll highlight Matt Morris’ comment that the RedBird simulator is gold because if you make a mistake or need time to process, you can simply pause/restart instead of pissing away expensive flight time repositioning.
When you decide that IFR6 is for you, ask for Guillaume, who was relentlessly upbeat and jovial every day, and an even better human being. It’s amazing to think that in 6 short days, I went from having never shot an approach before to being signed off for a checkride.
-Jonathan Chen, November 2018
-Matt Morris, October 2018
-Steve Abernathy, October 2018
-Jon Burchfield, September 2018
-Jeremy Ross, September 2018
-Tyler Harper, August 2018
-Aeron Fount, July 2018
-Joel Mack, June 2018
-Isabelle Streng, May 2018
– E. Ross, May 2018
– J. Swan, May 2018
– J. Weathers, January 2018
– G. Mullis, January 2018
– S. Jenkins, Dec 2017
– M. Russell, July 2017
– R. Lowery, Nov. 2017
– M. Russell, September 2017
– Marvin McCreary, June , 2017
– Kris Miller, April 2017
– Gerald “Scooter” Harmon, April 2017
– Bill Gerard, February 2017
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