Thanks so much for asking the question, I suspect there are many lurkers that read the forum and wonder exactly the same thing.
Right off the bat, I'll tell you that you are very welcome to fly here. If you are willing to try your best to comply with ATC instructions, it's not a big problem if you're not yet familiar with all the procedures (you have to start somewhere, right?). It only becomes a problem if you deliberately ignore controllers, intentionally deviate from instructions, or intentionally cause problems on the frequency. THAT is the element that we're trying to remove here.
To the specifics of your situation, it's generally not a problem if you can't fly a hold, there are certainly workarounds for the few situations where one would've been needed. Simply tell the controller you're unable and would like alternate instructions instead. Regarding approaches, if the weather (or specifically YOUR weather) allows a 'visual' approach (I say that in quotes to encompass true visual approaches, contact approaches, etc), you can certainly request that.
My guess is that you'd like to dip your toe in the water and ease into IFR flight. That's a wonderful thing. You can do it on your own, or you can do it under a slightly more structured program that will step you through a series of flights, backed up with reference material, short videos, the required charts, etc. The latter would be the
ZLA Pilot Cert program. That program was originally designed for VATSIM, but it IS going to be offered here on Pilotedge, too. I don't have the PE-version of the site constructed yet, so feel free to use the existing version
HERE.
Don't worry about the formal process of taking the 'test' (which is just an online flight, btw, it's not a written test or oral quiz), simply read the material and try the flights. I'm not sure what your background is, but if you're already 100% comfortable with VFR, then feel free to start with the I-1 raing (the first instrument flight). Otherwise, I'd start with the V-1 (the first VFR flight) and work through the program step by step. In fact, we don't have a mechanism for separating VATSIM-based test results from PE test results yet, so definitely hold off on formally undertaking the ratings for now, but do feel free to do the flights themselves and dive into the supporting material.
Many, many pilots with various level of experience have gone through the program and all have said that it helped them learn something new, or become more comfortable with online procedures.
Just to finish off, right now there isn't any way for our controllers to know your level of experience when you call for your clearance (this might change in the future, but not any time soon). Consequently, we do our best to issue real world instructions/clearances. If something doesn't make sense, the very BEST thing you can do is ask for help. We'll either explain how to fly the procedure, if time allows and if that works for you...OR we'll give you simplified instructions. For example, you might be issued a Standard Instrument Departure (SID) out of SBA, the KWANG4 DEPARTURE, for example. If you have no idea what that is, just tell us. Real world controllers are very accommodating of student pilots who don't yet "know it all." What they don't like, however, is a pilot saying "roger," and then seeing them do something completely different. We are much the same here.
See you tonight, I hope!
