The Garmin IFR radio package is installed in N9418C, a 1955 Cessna 180. I am giving instrument flight training to Jacob Williams and Eugene DesJarais. The Garmin GTN 650 gives us the opportunity to file IFR on training flights and shoot approaches to all the small airports in the Susitna Valley. We do real time approaches with a glide-slope to Palmer (PAAQ), Big Lake (PAGQ, Wasilla (PAWS), Willow (PAUO), and Talkeetna (PATK). The WAAS capability of the GTN 650 provides a vertical navigation on RNAV approaches to all of these airports. We have the cross-fill option selected on the GTN 650. This sends the flight plan information over to Garmin's newest gadget, the Aera 795 that is mounted on the pilots control yoke.
Last night Jacob and I flew IFR from Soldotna (PASX) to Anchorage (PANC) in a snowstorm. We shot the ILS approach to runway 7 left at Ted Stevens International Airport. We cancelled IFR when we broke out of the clouds on final approach. We asked the tower if we could continue on the up-wind for 7 left and turn the up-wind into a left down-wind to land on the ice on the West waterway at the Lake Hood seaplane base. (PALH). The tower controller cleared us to proceed as requested. With this flight I introduced my son to hard IFR flying. I addition, we experienced the situational awareness that the our new Garmin package provides when flying in IMC conditions.
