IFR just 5.4% of the time

What about flying IFR at night? If it's dark enough that you can't see much
outside, you get the benefits of IFR without many of the dangers of IMC. You
can just fly regular night flights IFR and maintain your currency that way,
and yet you won't be stressed by bad weather to worry about.


One can certainly file and fly an IFR flight plan in VMC at night -- I
do that all of the time. But, because it's VMC, the PIC has an
obligation to see and avoid other traffic. That PIC will be making
some of his flight control decisions based on the outside world, it's
not the same as flying by only reference to instruments. To have
meaningful experience be under the hood or in a cloud!

You are, are you not, the person who not so long ago claimed there was
no visual outside reference in IMC, indicating a lack of understanding
what IMC is? Have you repaired that deficit?

Mxsmanic wrote in
news
Jay Honeck writes:

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.

What about flying IFR at night? If it's dark enough that you can't
see much outside, you get the benefits of IFR without many of the
dangers of IMC. You can just fly regular night flights IFR and
maintain your currency that way, and yet you won't be stressed by bad
weather to worry about.


Well it's always IFR where you are, up your own ass.



Bertie

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"

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?

Me!

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.)

I love to fly IFR, but I agree that it is less than exciting for most
passengers. However, most of my IMC flights were solo.


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.

I look for IMC days to go flying. I find it very peaceful in my little
cocoon croning through the clouds watching the gauges and needles.


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.

To me it adds another dimension to flying and another reason to fly.
After 15 years of VFR flying I was actually growing bored of the
hamburger runs over territory I'd flown several times before. I've
visited almost every airport within 200 NM of my house, many several
times for poker runs and such with our flying club. IFR added an entire
new reason and challenge to my flying.

Matt

Matt Whiting writes:

I look for IMC days to go flying. I find it very peaceful in my little
cocoon croning through the clouds watching the gauges and needles.

Ah, so there is finally someone who sees the attraction to IFR!

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

"Jay Honeck" wrote:

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

I do!

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.)

In eight years of flying IFR, I can recall very few occasions of extended,
solid IMC. There have been many spectacular cloudscapes that I and my
passengers would never have seen VFR, though.

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.

A reasonable concern. Maintaining real proficiency requires some dedication.
You have to force yourself to go flying--oh, the sacrifice!

--
Dan
C172RG at BFM

Dan Luke wrote:
"Jay Honeck" wrote:

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


I do!


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.)


In eight years of flying IFR, I can recall very few occasions of extended,
solid IMC. There have been many spectacular cloudscapes that I and my
passengers would never have seen VFR, though.

I agree. I've seen some amazing "cloudscapes" over the years. Probably
the neatest was on top at night under a full moon. Priceless!


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.


A reasonable concern. Maintaining real proficiency requires some dedication.
You have to force yourself to go flying--oh, the sacrifice!

Yes, oh the agony of having another excuse to fly... :-)

Matt

On Thu, 01 Mar 2007 19:11:03 -0800, Jay Honeck wrote:

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

Being cotton-balled is dull for passengers, as much as I might enjoy it.
But flying between layers, in and out, or amongst the clouds is fun for
her (and for my 4-y-old son).

Cloudscapes offer some incredible views.

- Andrew