"Doug" wrote in message
ups.com...
OK, see if I can get it right this time.
Chris wrote:
There is no problem setting up a descent to bring you under
cloud providing that whilst in cloud you remain 1000 feet above the
highest
obstacle within five miles either side of your track and once through the
cloud are in VFR conditions.

The above cannot be done in the US. We can descend to the MEA (which is
published on the IFR enroute charts), or to the MVA (which ATC will
tell us) and if we are not in VFR conditions, then we have to do an
intrument approach. MEA's are higher than 1000 AGL I can tell you that.
MVA's are not published, but ATC has a map of them. ATC clearance
madatory for IFR flight (with one exception, Class G). I don't honestly
know what the rules are for descent in Class G with no radar and no IFR
clearance. I don't think there are any. It doesn't happen much, almost
all our IFR flight is with ATC clearances and frequently with radar as
well etc.

I think basically the rules are similar in the US and the UK. The main
difference is the organisation of airspace. we have a fair bit of Class G
airspace going upto FL190 and IFR in IMC can go on outside of radar control
because there is none.

On the other hand we have a lot of Class A airspace going from 2500' upwards
all over the place and it it is impossible to use with an instrument rating.
The class A is radar controlled.

Going from Class G to A means hanging around for a clearance before entering
the class A.

We also have an IMC rating which is a version of the IR which allows us to
fly in IMC except in Class A aispace. For that we need the instrument
rating. The JAA instrument rating is a pig to get as you have to pass 8
exams so some of us fly on an US instrument rating in a N reg plane which
means we have to follow the FARs.

As the FARs are broadly in line with the ICAO requirements then the rules
are similar to the UK.

The biggest difference is over the interpretation of IFR/VFR.

Non instrument rated and IMC rated pilots can fly IFR in all airspace except
class A. But they must be in VMC conditions.