If he rented a Cessna 172, you could sit in the back during one of his lessons, he may still have to do IFR, and may need to use the ILS fitted to a 172. Thats if he is flying Cessna's, WOW what a view that would be though of Toronto.

If Ben is only going for his private licence why would he need to take IFR lessons? No requirement for PPL to use ILS.

Thats good then, must have changed since i last flew, when in the UK. I had to do a few hours IFR, done during the night with blinkers on. Ha, no fun not seeing the view.

Congrats on the solo though, that is such a buzz when the pilot gets out and says, "off you go, see you in the crew room later"

I don't believe there has ever been any requirement in Canada to take any IFR training for PPL.

Probably would be a good thing though.

Zoe do they still dump a bucket of water over "first solo's" or has that gone by the wayside?

I agree SP, the idea for doing IFR in the UK was if you flew into cloud, i know you should not, distances from cloud ect, but it does happen, the weather can change so quick here, therefore you think it would be compulsory.

PS. I picked a Daisey from the field/taxi way after my first solo and taped it into my log book

Correct Steve IFR is not and never has been required for a PPL.
Yes, we still do the bucket of water thing at our flying club.

Sounds like the hunt I went on in Cambridgeshire. Except there was snobbery about money, class and accents too.

ok Ben is learning in a 172 and I know I could sit in the back but I'm displaying extra ordinary patience and waiting for him to pass , so it really just will be him and me in the plane

I believe at the city airport it used to be tradition that you got dunked in the harbour but I think a few of them melted or summink

He has to acquire so many hours of instrument training but his IFR is a separate add rating on his licence.

Believe me he has it all planned put as to what order he's gonna do them all in.

Personally I have no idea how he copes with the " recovering from an usual attitude" under the hood. Last time his instructor put him in a spin and he had to recover using instruments alone.

I dunno , maybe its better when you can't see the ground spinning