Run-in with Chicago Center

While the instrument rating may get one through some events, it is not a
guarantee. In a single engine piston aircraft without weather
avoidance equipment, one runs the risk of flying into embedded cells.

My main reason for not finishing up my instrument training has been a lack
of time. A close second, however, is the fact that I have been tracking my
"weather vs. flight" ratio for several years, and it is indeed a rare VFR
flight that is cancelled because of conditions that I would feel comfortable
with flying IFR.

The flights I've scrubbed have usually been because of thunderstorms (which
I wouldn't challenge IFR) or snow/ice -- for which my Pathfinder is not
equipped. I also have no weather avoidance equipment on board, so flying in
August in the clag would be unwise. (Check out a radar loop for Iowa today,
and you'll see why.)

The bottom line is painful, but true: Until I own a much more capable
aircraft than Atlas, an IFR ticket would be a nice ego booster, but not much
use.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay, the time thing is a bear.

But while you may not cancel many flights that you may "feel comfortable
with flying IFR", you will make more of those flights that you do make "more
comfortably" IFR. More safely too.

Ironically, IFR you will spend more time in the sun rather than among the
attennaes. Bring your sunglasses.

Com'on Jay, try to make the time!

(but you've heard all that)

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:fLKUc.9708$Fg5.53@attbi_s53...
While the instrument rating may get one through some events, it is not a
guarantee. In a single engine piston aircraft without weather
avoidance equipment, one runs the risk of flying into embedded cells.

My main reason for not finishing up my instrument training has been a lack
of time. A close second, however, is the fact that I have been tracking
my
"weather vs. flight" ratio for several years, and it is indeed a rare VFR
flight that is cancelled because of conditions that I would feel
comfortable
with flying IFR.

The flights I've scrubbed have usually been because of thunderstorms
(which
I wouldn't challenge IFR) or snow/ice -- for which my Pathfinder is not
equipped. I also have no weather avoidance equipment on board, so flying
in
August in the clag would be unwise. (Check out a radar loop for Iowa
today,
and you'll see why.)

The bottom line is painful, but true: Until I own a much more capable
aircraft than Atlas, an IFR ticket would be a nice ego booster, but not
much
use.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

I agree about the increase in safety. I don't tempt fates unless there's a
clear line through thunderstorms, one that is visible above the cloud tops,
and ice is just a simple no-go unless the clouds are nice and high (or
broken). I actually haven't even bothered trying to fly in winter if there
are clouds near or above the freezing level.

I also realized something... time spent on pre-season football could be
_much_ better spent on an IFR ticket for getting to the _real_ games later
in the season! :-) Now that I've had my instrument ticket for over a year,
I've found that I use it all the time, even in weather that is very clear
and very visible. I like to fly long distances (done New Jersey to Atlanta
twice now round-trip), and have found that if I'd just gone direct versus
flying the airways I would've saved maybe 5 - 10 minutes tops on each leg.
Not enough by far to leave behind the higher safety factor that IFR offers.
You get separated from all IFR traffic, and usually get calls about VFR
traffic. But even if you don't get a VFR call, the number of VFR pilots who
fly above about 2 - 3,000 feet AGL is much, much smaller than those who fly
closer to the ground. I can't even remember the last time I got a traffic
call for VFR traffic while flying IFR anywhere above a cruising altitude of
4,000 ft.

Another thing to consider is that on those marginal days, you'll still be
able to climb to a nice, comfortable cruising altitude and get better fuel
economy... not to mention a much smoother ride, and depending on direction,
a stiff tailwind to boot. The extra training alone will help improve your
skills, which is always a good thing as we all continue to use our "licenses
to learn".

--
Guy Elden Jr.


"Maule Driver" wrote in message
r.com...
Jay, the time thing is a bear.

But while you may not cancel many flights that you may "feel comfortable
with flying IFR", you will make more of those flights that you do make
"more
comfortably" IFR. More safely too.

Ironically, IFR you will spend more time in the sun rather than among the
attennaes. Bring your sunglasses.

Com'on Jay, try to make the time!

(but you've heard all that)

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:fLKUc.9708$Fg5.53@attbi_s53...
While the instrument rating may get one through some events, it is not
a
guarantee. In a single engine piston aircraft without weather
avoidance equipment, one runs the risk of flying into embedded cells.

My main reason for not finishing up my instrument training has been a
lack
of time. A close second, however, is the fact that I have been tracking
my
"weather vs. flight" ratio for several years, and it is indeed a rare
VFR
flight that is cancelled because of conditions that I would feel
comfortable
with flying IFR.

The flights I've scrubbed have usually been because of thunderstorms
(which
I wouldn't challenge IFR) or snow/ice -- for which my Pathfinder is not
equipped. I also have no weather avoidance equipment on board, so
flying
in
August in the clag would be unwise. (Check out a radar loop for Iowa
today,
and you'll see why.)

The bottom line is painful, but true: Until I own a much more capable
aircraft than Atlas, an IFR ticket would be a nice ego booster, but not
much
use.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

And if you file/request direct - you'll fly direct. When I go from Raleigh
to Florida, I tend to flyer a straighter line IFR than VFR - I'll tend to
avoid the MOAs and stuff VFR.

It's easier to get radar weather help too.

"Guy Elden Jr." wrote in message
news
I agree about the increase in safety. I don't tempt fates unless there's a
clear line through thunderstorms, one that is visible above the cloud
tops,
and ice is just a simple no-go unless the clouds are nice and high (or
broken). I actually haven't even bothered trying to fly in winter if there
are clouds near or above the freezing level.

I also realized something... time spent on pre-season football could be
_much_ better spent on an IFR ticket for getting to the _real_ games later
in the season! :-) Now that I've had my instrument ticket for over a
year,
I've found that I use it all the time, even in weather that is very clear
and very visible. I like to fly long distances (done New Jersey to Atlanta
twice now round-trip), and have found that if I'd just gone direct versus
flying the airways I would've saved maybe 5 - 10 minutes tops on each leg.
Not enough by far to leave behind the higher safety factor that IFR
offers.
You get separated from all IFR traffic, and usually get calls about VFR
traffic. But even if you don't get a VFR call, the number of VFR pilots
who
fly above about 2 - 3,000 feet AGL is much, much smaller than those who
fly
closer to the ground. I can't even remember the last time I got a traffic
call for VFR traffic while flying IFR anywhere above a cruising altitude
of
4,000 ft.

Another thing to consider is that on those marginal days, you'll still be
able to climb to a nice, comfortable cruising altitude and get better fuel
economy... not to mention a much smoother ride, and depending on
direction,
a stiff tailwind to boot. The extra training alone will help improve your
skills, which is always a good thing as we all continue to use our
"licenses
to learn".

--
Guy Elden Jr.


"Maule Driver" wrote in message
r.com...
Jay, the time thing is a bear.

But while you may not cancel many flights that you may "feel comfortable
with flying IFR", you will make more of those flights that you do make
"more
comfortably" IFR. More safely too.

Ironically, IFR you will spend more time in the sun rather than among
the
attennaes. Bring your sunglasses.

Com'on Jay, try to make the time!

(but you've heard all that)

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:fLKUc.9708$Fg5.53@attbi_s53...
While the instrument rating may get one through some events, it is
not
a
guarantee. In a single engine piston aircraft without weather
avoidance equipment, one runs the risk of flying into embedded
cells.

My main reason for not finishing up my instrument training has been a
lack
of time. A close second, however, is the fact that I have been
tracking
my
"weather vs. flight" ratio for several years, and it is indeed a rare
VFR
flight that is cancelled because of conditions that I would feel
comfortable
with flying IFR.

The flights I've scrubbed have usually been because of thunderstorms
(which
I wouldn't challenge IFR) or snow/ice -- for which my Pathfinder is
not
equipped. I also have no weather avoidance equipment on board, so
flying
in
August in the clag would be unwise. (Check out a radar loop for Iowa
today,
and you'll see why.)

The bottom line is painful, but true: Until I own a much more capable
aircraft than Atlas, an IFR ticket would be a nice ego booster, but
not
much
use.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Heh, maybe as far south as Raleigh you can fly direct, but I have yet to
ever receive a clearance in the northeast that didn't involve a fairly
complicated, circuitous route. Normally I can negotiate once I get outside
the NY Class B and get some better routings, but it's nigh impossible to
file and fly direct around here.

I was very surprised on the way back from Raleigh a few weeks ago, however,
when I was negotiating with clearance at RDU on the ground. Lots of bad
weather around Richmond and D.C. meant only a narrow line through the
storms, and the route I originally got took me right through the bad stuff.
I called up a couple minutes later (while still parked at the ramp) and
asked if I could get a better route. They asked what I wanted, so I said
"direct Reading", and they approved it! (well, the computer did at least).
Of course as soon as I was handed off to Potomac approach things got a
little dicey, and no more direct Reading, but fortunately the controller had
steered some planes through a gap in the weather, all reporting smooth
sailing, so I took his advice and got around the nasty stuff. Always good to
have the better radar of approach guiding you through weather than center
(at least that's what I learned by watching the ASF DVD about thunderstorm
avoidance I got in the mail a few weeks ago).

--
Guy Elden Jr.


"Maule Driver" wrote in message
r.com...
And if you file/request direct - you'll fly direct. When I go from
Raleigh
to Florida, I tend to flyer a straighter line IFR than VFR - I'll tend to
avoid the MOAs and stuff VFR.

It's easier to get radar weather help too.

"Guy Elden Jr." wrote in message
news
I agree about the increase in safety. I don't tempt fates unless there's
a
clear line through thunderstorms, one that is visible above the cloud
tops,
and ice is just a simple no-go unless the clouds are nice and high (or
broken). I actually haven't even bothered trying to fly in winter if
there
are clouds near or above the freezing level.

I also realized something... time spent on pre-season football could be
_much_ better spent on an IFR ticket for getting to the _real_ games
later
in the season! :-) Now that I've had my instrument ticket for over a
year,
I've found that I use it all the time, even in weather that is very
clear
and very visible. I like to fly long distances (done New Jersey to
Atlanta
twice now round-trip), and have found that if I'd just gone direct
versus
flying the airways I would've saved maybe 5 - 10 minutes tops on each
leg.
Not enough by far to leave behind the higher safety factor that IFR
offers.
You get separated from all IFR traffic, and usually get calls about VFR
traffic. But even if you don't get a VFR call, the number of VFR pilots
who
fly above about 2 - 3,000 feet AGL is much, much smaller than those who
fly
closer to the ground. I can't even remember the last time I got a
traffic
call for VFR traffic while flying IFR anywhere above a cruising altitude
of
4,000 ft.

Another thing to consider is that on those marginal days, you'll still
be
able to climb to a nice, comfortable cruising altitude and get better
fuel
economy... not to mention a much smoother ride, and depending on
direction,
a stiff tailwind to boot. The extra training alone will help improve
your
skills, which is always a good thing as we all continue to use our
"licenses
to learn".

--
Guy Elden Jr.


"Maule Driver" wrote in message
r.com...
Jay, the time thing is a bear.

But while you may not cancel many flights that you may "feel
comfortable
with flying IFR", you will make more of those flights that you do make
"more
comfortably" IFR. More safely too.

Ironically, IFR you will spend more time in the sun rather than among
the
attennaes. Bring your sunglasses.

Com'on Jay, try to make the time!

(but you've heard all that)

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:fLKUc.9708$Fg5.53@attbi_s53...
While the instrument rating may get one through some events, it is
not
a
guarantee. In a single engine piston aircraft without weather
avoidance equipment, one runs the risk of flying into embedded
cells.

My main reason for not finishing up my instrument training has been
a
lack
of time. A close second, however, is the fact that I have been
tracking
my
"weather vs. flight" ratio for several years, and it is indeed a
rare
VFR
flight that is cancelled because of conditions that I would feel
comfortable
with flying IFR.

The flights I've scrubbed have usually been because of thunderstorms
(which
I wouldn't challenge IFR) or snow/ice -- for which my Pathfinder is
not
equipped. I also have no weather avoidance equipment on board, so
flying
in
August in the clag would be unwise. (Check out a radar loop for
Iowa
today,
and you'll see why.)

The bottom line is painful, but true: Until I own a much more
capable
aircraft than Atlas, an IFR ticket would be a nice ego booster, but
not
much
use.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

You're right, I forgot. Freedom to fly direct ends at Richmond for me. But
it all makes sense given the density and restricted space I guess.

I'm going up to Saratoga this weekend - hope the weather agrees.

Can anyone suggest a good fuel stop in NJ? Price with a restaurant perhaps
(Solberg(?) and Blairstown come to mind.

"Guy Elden Jr." wrote in message
...
Heh, maybe as far south as Raleigh you can fly direct, but I have yet to
ever receive a clearance in the northeast that didn't involve a fairly
complicated, circuitous route. Normally I can negotiate once I get outside
the NY Class B and get some better routings, but it's nigh impossible to
file and fly direct around here.

I was very surprised on the way back from Raleigh a few weeks ago,
however,
when I was negotiating with clearance at RDU on the ground. Lots of bad
weather around Richmond and D.C. meant only a narrow line through the
storms, and the route I originally got took me right through the bad
stuff.
I called up a couple minutes later (while still parked at the ramp) and
asked if I could get a better route. They asked what I wanted, so I said
"direct Reading", and they approved it! (well, the computer did at least).
Of course as soon as I was handed off to Potomac approach things got a
little dicey, and no more direct Reading, but fortunately the controller
had
steered some planes through a gap in the weather, all reporting smooth
sailing, so I took his advice and got around the nasty stuff. Always good
to
have the better radar of approach guiding you through weather than center
(at least that's what I learned by watching the ASF DVD about thunderstorm
avoidance I got in the mail a few weeks ago).

--
Guy Elden Jr.


"Maule Driver" wrote in message
r.com...
And if you file/request direct - you'll fly direct. When I go from
Raleigh
to Florida, I tend to flyer a straighter line IFR than VFR - I'll tend
to
avoid the MOAs and stuff VFR.

It's easier to get radar weather help too.

"Guy Elden Jr." wrote in message
news
I agree about the increase in safety. I don't tempt fates unless
there's
a
clear line through thunderstorms, one that is visible above the cloud
tops,
and ice is just a simple no-go unless the clouds are nice and high (or
broken). I actually haven't even bothered trying to fly in winter if
there
are clouds near or above the freezing level.

I also realized something... time spent on pre-season football could
be
_much_ better spent on an IFR ticket for getting to the _real_ games
later
in the season! :-) Now that I've had my instrument ticket for over a
year,
I've found that I use it all the time, even in weather that is very
clear
and very visible. I like to fly long distances (done New Jersey to
Atlanta
twice now round-trip), and have found that if I'd just gone direct
versus
flying the airways I would've saved maybe 5 - 10 minutes tops on each
leg.
Not enough by far to leave behind the higher safety factor that IFR
offers.
You get separated from all IFR traffic, and usually get calls about
VFR
traffic. But even if you don't get a VFR call, the number of VFR
pilots
who
fly above about 2 - 3,000 feet AGL is much, much smaller than those
who
fly
closer to the ground. I can't even remember the last time I got a
traffic
call for VFR traffic while flying IFR anywhere above a cruising
altitude
of
4,000 ft.

Another thing to consider is that on those marginal days, you'll still
be
able to climb to a nice, comfortable cruising altitude and get better
fuel
economy... not to mention a much smoother ride, and depending on
direction,
a stiff tailwind to boot. The extra training alone will help improve
your
skills, which is always a good thing as we all continue to use our
"licenses
to learn".

--
Guy Elden Jr.


"Maule Driver" wrote in message
r.com...
Jay, the time thing is a bear.

But while you may not cancel many flights that you may "feel
comfortable
with flying IFR", you will make more of those flights that you do
make
"more
comfortably" IFR. More safely too.

Ironically, IFR you will spend more time in the sun rather than
among
the
attennaes. Bring your sunglasses.

Com'on Jay, try to make the time!

(but you've heard all that)

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:fLKUc.9708$Fg5.53@attbi_s53...
While the instrument rating may get one through some events, it
is
not
a
guarantee. In a single engine piston aircraft without weather
avoidance equipment, one runs the risk of flying into embedded
cells.

My main reason for not finishing up my instrument training has
been
a
lack
of time. A close second, however, is the fact that I have been
tracking
my
"weather vs. flight" ratio for several years, and it is indeed a
rare
VFR
flight that is cancelled because of conditions that I would feel
comfortable
with flying IFR.

The flights I've scrubbed have usually been because of
thunderstorms
(which
I wouldn't challenge IFR) or snow/ice -- for which my Pathfinder
is
not
equipped. I also have no weather avoidance equipment on board, so
flying
in
August in the clag would be unwise. (Check out a radar loop for
Iowa
today,
and you'll see why.)

The bottom line is painful, but true: Until I own a much more
capable
aircraft than Atlas, an IFR ticket would be a nice ego booster,
but
not
much
use.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Maule Driver wrote:

Can anyone suggest a good fuel stop in NJ? Price with a restaurant perhaps
(Solberg(?) and Blairstown come to mind.

Solberg has no restaurant. Blairstown is ok for a fast burger or something, but I
would recommend either Sky Manor (near Alexandria) or Central Jersey. Sky Manor has
good prices on gas and a nice restaurant. If you're in the mood for Italian food,
stop at Central Jersey (47N). The restaurant is a short walk (end of the driveway)
but is excellent. Fuel prices were so-so last time I checked. Both have self-service
pumps. Central Jersey also had fuel trucks the last time I was there.

George Patterson
If you want to know God's opinion of money, just look at the people
he gives it to.

""weather vs. flight" ratio for several years, and it is indeed a rare VFR
flight that is cancelled because of conditions that I would feel comfortable
with flying IFR."

Jay,

As you just found out, weather many times has nothing to do with filing IFR.
It is just far simpler to file IFR and let the controllers worry about the
airspace ahead.

Usually in any kind of high density area, east coast, Los Angeles, Etc. IFR
is just way easier, faster, more relaxing and safer. Even in severe clear!

Karl

I'm betting an IFR ticket would be way more than an ego booster. I dont
think about it as an ego booster or go around bragging about it, but more
along the lines of like minimum equipment. Wouldnt your insurance
come down a little with that rating? That's pretty useful. The currency
required in itself every 6 months, whether with a safety pilot or a CFII,
is pretty useful. The IFR chart service and updates are more than a
strictly VFR pilot deals with, is useful. The fact ATC, while youre
IFR, just cant get rid of you if they feel busy, is useful. The service
beyond flight following when it comes to updated airspace activity,
weather, and traffic, is pretty useful. Yes, they'd do that for you
VFR too, if they can see you and if they have time. The continuity
of having your flight plan pass from facility to facility instead of
being terminated and telling your life story every other freq, is
useful.

Scud running just isnt worth it. Not with all the money tied up
into an owned aircraft, and not with your family on board. It wouldnt
instill confidence in me as a passenger if my pilot didnt do all he/she
could do in the way of training and preparation, whether it be a
rating, an onboard weather system, and a well maintained airplane.

That all being said, I mostly fly day VFR and only file IFR when
I need to. But at least it's there if/when I need it. And theres been
times where I wouldnt have gone VFR, a low thin layer that an
IFR clearance enabled me to pop through, or a detereorating condition
at an airport that an IFR approach was fine, but a VFR or SVFR
approach would be dicey. As far as embedded thunderstorms,
someday soon no one will have any excuse for not having some
form of onboard weather capability. More and more small aircraft
like yours and mine Jay are telling me "yeah, I see it on radar, too".
After some shoptalk on freq it's usually some nexrad download
system, or maybe just a stormscope. Certain types I expect to have
onboard radar, or are not surprised they have it. Other smaller
single engine types that normally dont have a radome on their wing,
that are way ahead of their airplane weatherwise, now that's nice
to see.

Lastly, IFR usually doesnt take you that far out of your way. Compare
with a flight planner the difference in miles/time/gallons. And many
times those airways take you away from high terrain (I'm talking out
west here), put you over/near airports enroute, and in case of GPS failure,
keep you in range of VORs.

It's just a no brainer for the type of flying it sounds like you do. You're
paying for it in avgas taxes whether you use the system or not, use it.

Later, Chris

It's just a no brainer for the type of flying it sounds like you do.
You're
paying for it in avgas taxes whether you use the system or not, use it.

Mary and I use "the System" to the fullest extent allowed for VFR flight.
We fly over 200 hours per year, all VFR, much of it long cross-country
flights, 95% of it with flight-following.

When you fly high enough (say, 4500 feet around here), you are guaranteed
continuous radar coverage and traffic advisories in pretty much any
direction. One controlled airspace seamlessly meshes with another, and the
controllers smoothly hand us off for all of our flights -- just the same as
on an IFR flight plan. The only time this doesn't work is when we fly
beneath their radar coverage. (Or when we simply want to enjoy a short
flight without the bother and interruption of ATC.)

While I would like to have the rating in my pocket for those rare times when
we can't go VFR, it would take months for me to get back up to speed for the
test. (Which, two years ago, before we bought the inn, I was signed off to
take.) With my time at such a premium, and so little added utility realized
for the effort expended, there is little incentive for me to get my
instrument ticket at this time.

But it's in the "5-year plan"! (Along with adding our own restaurant,
remodeling another 17 suites, putting a dome on our pool, etc.-- all of
which I plan to do in my "spare time"...)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"