Cloud Flying

I'd love to take a wave flight out in WA. with you. Your correct we're
not talking about the occasional zip through a wisp.

But let's be up front here, you mentioned the 757, not me, and yes this
thread is anxiously waiting to hear from it's author on the subject of
IFR glider flying with a clearance, Shawn.



wrote:
58y wrote:
snoop wrote:

Shawn, I thought of another IFR glider question. So you tow up, the
ceiling is around 2500agl, there's lift, you get your clearance, climb
into the clouds, fly around on whatever kind of clearance it is you
get, and the ceiling drops down to say, still VFR, but it drops to
1000'AGL. How does an IFR glider make an approach, or even get down to
minimum vectoring altitude? I'm curious what the the local controllers,
who are protecting their airspace, what pages in the TERPS Manual do
they flip to? Curious.


What do they do when flying in wave out west with the threat of the
fain(sp?) gap closing? You stay ahead of the weather. Same thing you do
in any aircraft, on every flight. There's always the chance the
destination can go below your minimums, in a 1-26 or in a 757. Don't
make it look harder than it is.

Anybody that has a personal problem with flying in clouds shouldn't do
it. It can be done safely, under limited circumstances, and our effort
ought to be to show people how to do it safely and legally, not to scare
them away.


Jack

Jack,

No matter what you fly in general aviation accessible to an average
pilot is difficult to fly in a cloud(s). The only thing pilots here,
"out west" flying wave are using is some sort of attitude indicator.
And don't mix any glider with a 757, there is no comparison. Period.
And when I go wave flying (I don't have any IFR instruments in my
glider) I pay very close attention to the foehn gap. And if you get
trap on top you have very unpleasant descent through a cloud(s); how
about the terrain below you? what other navigation means do you use to
know your position to nearest nav-aids or the ground? I would not take
any chances flying here, "out west" with flight into IMC. And don't
mistake occasional flight through an outer edge of a cloud, which will
last a few seconds with a flight in solid cloud. And if you would like
come here and visit with us, I'll take you for a wave flight which more
than likely will change your outlook on flying in limited visibility
and with a terrain of about 14,000 ft. around you. It is not scary, it
is a fact.

So, having said that, as a power, glider, instructor, etc. pilot, if my
knowledge is limited I would like to update that. If I don't know
something I would like to learn. So, I am waiting for explanation(s) as
well as I am looking forward to the publication mentioned by the
original poster.

Jacek
Washington State