Greg Farris wrote:
Here are some "general" tips for safe, single-pilot IFR, gleaned from
Larry Bartlett's refresher course. These tips do not represent the "meat
and potatoes" of the video course, but are thrown in at a couple of
points as generalities. How many agree with these :

1) No Single-Pilot, single engine IFR in IMC at night
Too broad. There's night and there's NIGHT. For example, starting a
flight in daylight and ending with some night enroute into a familiar
area with familiar approaches, in benign weather, in my plane - that's
night-lite. Night departure into a low ceiling with breakout at
minimums at the destination - NO. In fact, night departures into low
ceilings are off my SE/SP list.
3) No S-P IFR in IMC without dual vacuum sources, and strong
preference for dual alrternators.
Dual vac - a good idea. A vac failure light - equally important. I
have a strong preference for a Pilatus...
4) Keep VFR weather within range of the aircraft at all times, and
know where it is
Having an out is critical. Figuring it out during pre-flight planning
is crucial and sometimes an eye-opener.
5) Avoid S-P circling approaches in IMC, and definitely not at
night or close to minimums
You don't circle until you are VMC. Not sure what this is. Avoiding
circles at night - good idea but it depends.