IFR just 5.4% of the time

The Instrument rating is a tool -- keep it sharp! I wouldn't fly in
IMC with PIC who is current becuase he had a checkout 5 months ago.

About 30% of my time in the northeast is in IMC, and probably more
than half the non recreational flights would have been cancelled if
not for IFR. My rated friends, maybe because of regional weather
differences, do not avoid IMC so long as the conditions are within
their personal minimums.





n Mar 1, 10:11 pm, "Jay Honeck" wrote:
Yes, but you might not hear what it's telling you. I have very little
actual in my book, but part of that is that She Who Must Be Obeyed (who
is actually a real good sport about flying) doesn't particularly like
IMC, and would much prefer waiting a day to go CAVU.

SO, we go CAVU.

This brings up a whole 'nother aspect of this discussion, which quite
simply asks: Who *wants* to fly IFR?

Flying IFR is almost always uncomfortable. Even when it's smooth, it's
absolutely no fun for the passengers, whose only real reward for
putting up with GA is the view. (Well, and the time savings over
driving, of course.)

Most of the instrument rated pilots I know try to avoid flying IFR as
much as I do, only using the rating when necessary to pop up (or down)
through unavoidable IMC. This, of course, leads to a lack of
proficiency, and the unavoidable fact that they really aren't prepared
for flying in hard IMC.

This is exactly what Mary and will use the rating for -- a safety
outlet -- and is one major reason why we fear that we might just end
up just dangerous enough to kill someone.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"