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Dennis Fox (from May 2000 Newsletter)
I recently got my instrument rating back, I use" back" advisedly as the last time I had one was 20 years ago in South Africa and things have changed somewhat since then. So in fact it was almost like starting from scratch. One thing I haven't done for a while is fly in the U.S and certainly not on an IFR plan. So in mid-March I came up with an idea to not only do that but also have a much-needed break from work.
In Beaufort, S.Carolina (pronounced Booo fort) the locals get very upset if you pronounce it Bow fort) lives Doug Carmody. He is a 13,000 hr plus 737 training Captain, also a CFI II, plus a few other instructor designations .He specializes in instrument instruction and will tailor-make lessons to your requirements. I planned to spend a day or two with him. Once my wife found out about the history and beauty of Beaufort, we decide it was an ideal way to accomplish our two needs, a break and give me 100% comfort in the U.S. IFR system.
We flew IFR to Greensboro for customs and then Beaufort (Thank you Warren Cresswell for the route). The weather was great: IFR on top all the way and VFR at destination.
My wife will do the travelogue; it is definitely worth a visit. The training with Doug was equally great. As mentioned he will do anything from a day to a full instrument rating. With me we spent a morning on ground school. We covered in depth the differences in the U.S system and also little quirks in their approach plates re departure procedures or alternates, etc., that could catch the unwary. All from a practical rather than an "exam " point of view.
We then spent a couple of hours flying. Everything is real close so in a short period we were able to do 2 ILS's, a VOR/DME and a limited panel VOR approach, plus just working a few approach controls, and uncontrolled airports in the process. I had spent quite a bit of time studying beforehand so the time with him really reinforced what I knew and gave me confidence I would not be an embarrassment in the U.S. system. On our subsequent Bahamas trip the weather back was less than great and included 2 ILS approaches in rain to near minima. The time with Doug plus the subsequent IFR filed plans down to the Bahamas meant I was able to handle them with confidence and not too much sweat (literally and figuratively)
For those looking to holiday in Beaufort the town has much to offer. It's part of an area known as the Sea Islands and it was Sea Island cotton that gave the area great wealth before the Civil War. Also wealthy plantation owners would spend their summers here. As a result the city has a small but well-preserved historic district. You can stroll down shady, tree-lined streets and view the homes where movies such as The Great Santini, The Prince of Tides and The Big Chill were filmed. Beaufort has a number of good B & B's, fine restaurants and antique stores. We stayed at The Beaufort Inn, which also boasts the best restaurant in Beaufort. The food was really innovative and delicious: how about eggs benedict made with crab cakes and a Dijon mustard hollandaise sauce for breakfast. Wonderful fresh fish and great softshell crab. Naturally golf courses are just a short drive away and Hilton Head and Savannah are both less than 45 minutes by car. All in all, a wonderful place to spend a few days especially if you've an interest in the history of the southern United States.