I agree with what Robert has said, but he may be a bit optimistic
about the
frequency and duration of the marine layer. It can be deep and
persistent.

Also, Beach Boys songs notwithstanding, there are IFR days in SoCal.
Today, for example. If you need to get there on time and often, you
will need to be able to go on instruments and budget enough time to
do so.

If you wake up to IFR conditions, it's not a question of transitioning
to
an instrument plan. You won't be able to get out of SMO without being
on one, unless you wait until midday. Some days even that isn't long
enough: right on the coast there are days when it doesn't burn off at
all. The marine layer is very common in spring and early summer.

VFR, of course, is not limited to day in the USA. You are more likely
to
have VFR conditions at night than during the day.



IFR marine layer days. For VFR you enter a climbing turn from SMO to
enter the VFR cordor and head right down the coast (easy stuff).

-Robert

Thanks, Robert. As a follow-up question -- it seems like if possible I
would want to fly VFR as much as possible. Is the VFR limited to day-
time use? What times of day are bad for marine layer activity? And if
I wake up to a marine layer day; how do I transition to an IFR flight
plan? And how many miles out of the way is the IFR detour?

Thanks again!

M