A aviation & planes forum. AviationBanter

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Go Back   Home » AviationBanter forum » rec.aviation newsgroups » Instrument Flight Rules
Site Map Home Register Authors List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Web Partners

Snow...



 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old December 27th 04, 10:53 PM
Gary Drescher
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

"Dan Luke" wrote in message
...
...it's hard to see through, and good ol' Gulf Coast home boys like me
should
not mess around with it.


Edifying story, Dan! Glad it worked out.

Southeast of Hobby, the last controller for some reason had me climb from
2,000 to 2,200, saying "advise if unable." Hmm. Shortly thereafter, the
vis. started to fall as he vectored me west to put me south of Hobby, and
I
had to request lower to maintain VFR. It was snowing.


I'm a little unclear as to how descending could improve your visibility in
snowfall. I see how you could get a better view of the ground, but the
VFR/IFR distinction is primarily for aircraft separation rather than
navigation, and is thus defined in terms of flight visibility, not ground
visibility.

I too have encountered worse-than-forecast visibility, to the point of
finding IMC in place of expected good VMC. It's not just a problem with snow
or other precipitation. (Once, it was a matter of smoke from forest fires in
Canada descending through the lower atmosphere in the vicinity of New York
City!) I don't always file IFR for XCs, but I do make sure to have a backup
plan in case of any remotely-plausible IMC.

--Gary


  #2  
Old December 28th 04, 12:31 AM
Dan Luke
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"Gary Drescher" wrote:
I'm a little unclear as to how descending could improve your
visibility in snowfall.


IOW, I couldn't think of anything else to do.

At least I could see the ground underneath me!

--
Dan
C172RG at BFM


  #3  
Old December 28th 04, 05:59 PM
Marco Leon
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

What reason did you give the controller for your descent? If it was to
maintain VFR, he shouldn't have been surprised that you could not see the
airport.

I can never read too many stories like yours--thanks for posting. Glad you
had the IR giving you the IFR pop-up in your back pocket.

Marco Leon


"Dan Luke" wrote in message
...

"Gary Drescher" wrote:
I'm a little unclear as to how descending could improve your
visibility in snowfall.


IOW, I couldn't think of anything else to do.

At least I could see the ground underneath me!

--
Dan
C172RG at BFM




  #4  
Old December 28th 04, 07:26 PM
Dan Luke
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"Marco Leon" wrote:
What reason did you give the controller for your descent? If it was to
maintain VFR, he shouldn't have been surprised that you could not see the
airport.


I told him it was to maintain VFR. I think he must have suspected that
conditions were deteriorating, based on his "if able" statement earlier when
he told me to climb to 2,200'.
--
Dan
C-172RG at BFM


 




Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
The perfect approach Capt.Doug Home Built 25 December 3rd 04 03:37 AM
Weight of snow on wings Michael Horowitz Home Built 10 January 4th 04 10:58 PM
will this fly? Lee Elson Instrument Flight Rules 109 December 15th 03 04:03 AM
snow and icing Teacherjh Instrument Flight Rules 10 December 10th 03 04:00 AM
Great Lakes lake effect snow Paul Tomblin Instrument Flight Rules 30 October 21st 03 05:15 PM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 01:01 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2025 AviationBanter.
The comments are property of their posters.