IMHO, and, granted, spoken from the standpoint of a non-instrument rated
pilot, I think your friend of a friend is making some pretty gross
generalizations Paul. If he could back it up with real data, ok, *maybe*
I'd consider his point...depends on the data though.

without it. (Logic being, obviously, that the ticket will give me such
a sense of security that I won't be afraid of hard IMC even when I'm not
current enough to handle it.)

I'd have to agree that if someone was so confident that they could handle
hard IMC just because they were instrument rated, that's the first link in
the accident chain. And, sure, if they're not current enough to handle
*any* IMC, that's link number two in the chain. I disagree, however, that
just because someone has an instrument rating, they'll automatically have
such a sense of confidence with IMC that they'll make a bad go/no go
decision and end up flying when they shouldn't. Sure, some people are going
to do so but not everyone.

Anyway, just my 2 cents. Personally, I'd ignore the friend of a friend,
even if he has a zillion hours. Thanks for posting this though as I've
found this an interesting thread. I'm planning on starting my instrument
rating this year.


--
Jack Allison
PP-ASEL

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
you will always long to return"
- Leonardo Da Vinci

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