Our intensive "Extreme IFR" programs teach you to safely and competently fly on instruments in the most challenging flight environment in North America.

As you fly in, out, and around the majestic Rockies, your seasoned ATP-rated instructor will take your pilot skills to the next level. The skills and confidence you gain in the few days you are with us will last a lifetime and result in safer, more comfortable flying...no matter where you fly.

SkyMachines' offers a unique training experience:

• Like the airlines and the military, we've proved that the best learning occurs in an intensive training environment over a few days, using the latest technologies. So, each training day with SkyMachines features 4-5 hours of flight instruction, 2-3 hours of ground instruction, and 2-3 hours of self-study and practice using the latest computer-based and DVD training. Exhausting? You bet! Rewarding? Absolutely!
   
• At SkyMachines, you can bring your own airplane, or you can fly our turbocharged Cessnas with Garmin glass cockpits and full-featured autopilots. Like the military, we’ve proved using "EFIS" cockpits for instrument training cuts training time and makes positional awareness a snap (which is mandatory in the mountains!) And unlike most schools flying glass cockpit-equipped aircraft, our planes have XM weather and Jeppesen Chartview…important tools that further cut training time and increase safety. (And rest assured, returning to "steam gauge" flying after you master "glass" takes only a little practice.)
   
• We've also proved that more learning occurs on one cross-country flight than five local flights. So all your flying with SkyMachines will be in the real world, from airport to airport. You’ll head off cross-country on your first day, flying across northern New Mexico and into Colorado. And you won’t come back until your training is complete! You will visit 5-10 widely different airports each day (including AOPA's Top 5 Toughest Mountain Airports), and learn all about mountain weather, terrain, aircraft and pilot limitations, avionics and autopilot operations, and much more. Whenever practical, instrument students will purposely fly in the clouds in the clouds or low-visibility situations, and we try to include night flying in every training course.
   
• As ex-airline pilots, we believe that general aviation flying can be more safely accomplished if GA pilots follow some of the procedures and standards which were developed over 70 years of airline flying. For example, we stress following airline-style checklist procedures, extensive use of the autopilot, and abide by tougher airline weather minimums.
   
• We like to (comfortably and politely) push our students to the edge of their comfort zones. All pilots have weaknesses, and we will help you overcome yours. For example, if you usually fly at uncontrolled airports, we’ll take you into more controlled fields and Class C and B airspace (you will ]start your training at ABQ, Albuquerque, NM, a Class C field). If you don’t feel comfortable with crosswind landings, we’ll be sure and stress those during your time with us. If you're nervous about night flying, we’ll make sure to get in more hours after dark.