It's in the FAR's. You can log actual IMC if you have to use the
instruments to fly the airplane. This can occur and you still meet VFR
visibility requirements. For instance, between layers at night.

You are in IFR conditions if you are flying and do not have the VFR
minimums, ie
500 below, 1000 above and 2000 horizontal and 3 miles visibility in
Class E below 10k etc. If you were less than 1000' above a cloud deck
in Class E airspace you would be in IFR conditions and be navigating
by looking outside, that is, NOT navigating by looking at the
instruments. Thus you could not log actual IMC for this time.

And yes, you can be legal IFR and not be on an IFR flight plan or have
an IFR clearance. Class G airspace allows you to fly in IFR conditions
without a clearance. You only need a clearance in CONTROLLED airspace
(A,B,C,D and E).

This is all USA of course other countries differ.

Judah wrote in message . ..
"Ron Natalie" wrote in
:

Yes, but immaterial. The weather can still be legal VFR, but bad
enough to cause yout to fly solely by instruments. The FAA has
affirmed this is legally logable as instrument time.


Where'd they do that?