We flew with Doug and recorded each leg of an intense five-day cross country training trip
Doug Stewart offers several IFR training trips designed to give pilots an intense and thorough exposure to flying in the IFR system. His longest is the East Coast Experience (ECIE). It starts in New England at Columbia County Airport (1B1) in Hudson, NY and heads south all the way to Florida before turning around and flying up the east coast all the way to Bangor, Maine before returning to Columbia County. Before the five-day trip is over pilots will have flown some of the most challenging approaches and flying conditions available anywhere in the country. We recorded the entire trip with Doug and his trainee so you have a seat at a fraction of the cost.
Hangar Flying to the Rescue
These are strange days indeed, but as pilots we can't sit still for long. Maintain your social distance but keep your head in the sky. Fly with a master instructor today.
- Legacy pricing!
- Take a seat next to Doug and watch up to 38 hours of video, one bit-sized chunk at a time.
- 90-day guarantee. 100% refund if you're not pleased with the ECIE within 90-days of purchase.
The trip is planned, but the scenarios create themselves
The 3,000 mile route has been chosen for a specified variety of approaches, airspace, terrain, airports and more. But nothing ever goes as planned. So what do you do when your alternator fails? What about the weather moving across your path? You're crossing the White Mountains, can't a maintain altitude due to rotor winds and Boston Center doesn't have time for you.
It's times like these when the learning is best and you're glad you've got Doug Stewart by your side.
1B1 > KAVP > KHGR > KROA > KMTV > KAVL > KDNL > KAYS > KLAL > KTIX > KSSI > KJZI > KEYF > KFFA > KMFV > N12 > KISP > KOWD > KRKD > KBHB > KBGR > KBML > KVSF > KEEN > 1B1
The East Coast IFR Experience
What you will see...
Bite-Sized Highlights
Over 30 hours of flight edited into chunks of learning, no more than 20 minutes each.
Classroom in the Sky
The learning never stops in the cockpit. There are powerful lessons shared on every leg.
Flight Event Log
Each leg features a detailed flight log that makes it easy to find the content you want.
Using the Instruments
Doug shows how to get the most out of your instruments and shares his best practices.
Flight Tools in Action
There's lots happening in the cockpit. Watch Doug use his EFB in very interesting ways.
Scenarios
Planning is everything. Plans are worthless. See Doug and Billy deal with new situations.
Daily Briefings
Sit with Doug and his pilot in training and he critiques the day's flights and offers advice.
Post Flight Analysis
We upload recorded track logs into CloudAhoy for post flight analysis and a 3D perspective.
Detailed Procedures
Download charts, approach plates and airport information pages. Follow each flight leg.
The East Coast IFR Experience
See what's in it for you...
- Filing Flight Plans for the Morning Flights on Day One (15:03)
- Pre-Departure and Taxi at 1B1 (11:35)
- Departure from 1B1 (6:03)
- Climbing to Altitude 1B1 > KAVP (8:29)
- Cruise 1B1 > KAVP (15:16)
- Arrival > KAVP (8:05)
- Approach and Landing > KAVP (22:28)
- Dealing with Weather Enroute: KAVP > KHGR (35:49)
- Missed Approach > KMTV (3:40)
- Morning Briefing at KAVL (5:30)
- Using Bearing Pointers and Cross Radials for Situational Awareness (10:45)
- Arrival & Approach to KDNL (VOR DME-B) (21:29)
- Flying the VOR-A at KAYS (4:48)
- Transitioning the Class B Airspace at KMCO enroute from KLAL to KTIX (5:09)
- Approach into KSSI (RNAV Rwy 4) LNAV + V (15:08)
- Evening Debrief at KSSI (17:12)
- Weather Briefing (8:28)
- Monitoring Engine Temperatures on the Extended Climb out of KSSI (7:29)
- Using Cross Radials and Bearing Pointers as a Backup to the GPS (3:12)
- Flying an LP+V Approach into KFFA (RNAV 21) (12:22)
- Mid-day Debrief at Kill Devil Hills, NC (10:52)
- Weather Briefing at the AOPA Facility at First Flight (8:32)
- How NOT to Request an Approach (1:50)
- Using Standard Phraseology with ATC (0:39)
- Circle to Land at N12 (RNAV Rwy 6) (7:55)
- Evening Debrief at N12 (11:52)
- Morning Briefing at N12 (17:13)
- Dealing with Fast Talking ATC over JFK (1:52)
- Intersection Departure (SID) from KISP (13:59)
- Managing our Descent into KOWD (3:37)
- Mid-day Briefing at KOWD (19:04)
- The ILS Approach into KRKD (ILS or LOC Rwy 13) (4:27)
- Hand flying the LPV Approach into KBGR (RNAV Rwy 15) (12:18)
- Evening Debrief at KBGR (14:10)
- Morning Briefing at KBGR (22:55)
- Filing the Morning Legs (9:03)
- Using the VOR Check Point at KBGR (2:20)
- Severe Rotor Winds Over the White Mountains (10:05)
- Landing with a Strong Crosswind at KBML (VOR DME Rwy 18 - Circle to Land on Rwy 36) (5:35)
- Getting Clearance from Flight Service at KBML (6:20)
- Flying the ODP out of KBML (6:19)
- Requesting Lower Enroute (1:59)
- How to Fly a Holding Pattern (22:33)
- Evening Debrief at 1B1 (19:31)
- Taxi Checks (5:02)
- Getting Clearance from a Non-Towered Airport (8:36)
- How to Taxi (1:20)
- Every Localizer Begins with "Dot . Dot" (1:41)
- XM vs ADS-B Weather in the Cockpit (0:36)
- Clues for Thunderstorms (1:27)
- Using the Map Page View on the Garmin 430 (2:20)
- Aviate - Navigate - Communicate (1:21)
- Routes: Expected vs the Unexpected (1:35)
- Checklist: Cleared the Runway (0:50)
Be the Pilot-in-Command
Remember, the guy you're talking to is on the ground. He can go home and have a beer while you're still up there flying the airplane. You're in charge. Know what you need and tell them what you want. It's a different way of thinking about it; be the pilot in command.
Bite-sized Highlights
There are hours of professionally edited video, but you can digest the content in bit-sized chunks of learning. See LP+V approaches, intersection departures, procedure turns, deviations, ODP's, vectors to final, partial panel flight, weather briefings, equipment failures, flight plan filing and more. All with supporting resources.
Classroom in the Sky
Learn from Doug's coaching and the mistakes made by his pilot-in-training.
View from the pilot-in-training. What I learned...
"Experience with the airspace is very advantageous. Doug knew what routes and altitudes to expect, but the benefit of having ForeFlight show what had been cleared recently was also valuable; so we tried something new. Two big takeaways for me: I had not appreciated the flexibility of flying off an airway. If a pilot encountered icing conditions, for example, they could look for an MVA, as opposed to an MEA, for a lower altitude. You just need to be sure you can maintain clearance from terrain. Also, Doug knows not to argue with clearance / delivery. They're just the messenger. If you're not happy with your clearance, negotiate with TRACON later."
Flight Event Logs
In addition to the video highlights you can watch each flight from beginning to end, or go directly to specific events. There is something happening at any point on every leg of the trip. Each flight comes with a detailed event log that makes it easy for you to find subject matter of interest.
Viewer Resources
Download charts, approach plates, airport diagrams and more so you can follow flights and procedures.
Meet Doug Stewart
Doug is the "National Certified Instructor of the Year for 2004". He is an eleven-time Master Certified Flight Instructor, Gold Seal Instructor and Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE). He is based at Columbia County Airport (1B1) in Hudson, NY.
- Commercial Pilot Airplane SEL, SES
- MEL Instrument Airplane
- IGI, CFII, DPE, Gold Seal Instructor
- 11 time Master Certified Flight Instructor
- 16,000 + hours total time
- 12,700 + hours dual instruction
- 5,600 + hours instrument instruction
Frequently Asked Questions
Who should get this program?
The ECIE is designed for pilots, students, instructors and aviation enthusiasts. If you're interested in developing your piloting skills and becoming a more confident, proficient and safer pilot, then consider this program.
Can I earn WINGS Credit?
The East Coast IFR Experience has been approved for Six (6) FAA WINGS Knowledge Credits; 2 Basic, 2 Advanced and 2 Master. Additionally the EAA Proficiency365™ simulation scenarios are approved for four (4) Basic Flight Credits if you fly all four of them with a qualified instructor.
What airplane does Doug fly?
Doug Stewart has flown a Cessna Cardinal for years. His current airplane, N516AP, is a 1977 177RG with a 200 HP Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D. It's equipped with an Aspen Evolution 1000 PFD, Garmin GNS430W WAAS GPS, S-TEC 55X autopilot, and a Garmin 396 w/ XM Weather.
Who is Community Aviation?
Community Aviation is a company dedicated to advancing pilot proficiency for the general aviation community. It's signature Learn-Do-Fly™ approach relies on a nationwide flight training network of independent centers, instructors and educators.
Fly with Doug Stewart
Sit with to a master instructor and fly from Virginia to Florida, up to Maine and back to Virginia all in a week.
- Legacy pricing!
- Take a seat next to Doug and watch up to 38 hours of video, one bit-sized chunk at a time.
- 90-day Guarantee. 100% refund if you're not pleased with the ECIE within 90-days of purchase
