Solo IFR Currency

Assuming VMC conditions, is it legal for a current IR pilot to file an
IFR flight plan, and fly the flight *solo* wearing a hood, to meet
currency requirements? Of course the hood would be off for take-off
and upon completing an approach with a landing. Not that it's the
safest or smartest way to do this, but can it be done legally without
a safety pilot?

In article ,
S Herman wrote:
Assuming VMC conditions, is it legal for a current IR pilot to file an
IFR flight plan, and fly the flight *solo* wearing a hood, to meet
currency requirements? Of course the hood would be off for take-off
and upon completing an approach with a landing. Not that it's the
safest or smartest way to do this, but can it be done legally without
a safety pilot?

Absolutely not.

In a previous article, S Herman said:
Assuming VMC conditions, is it legal for a current IR pilot to file an
IFR flight plan, and fly the flight *solo* wearing a hood, to meet
currency requirements? Of course the hood would be off for take-off

No. ****ing. Way.

Even on an IFR flight plan, in VMC the PIC is responsible for separation
from other aircraft. How are you going to do that with a hood on? How
are you going to see and avoid VFR traffic who ATC has no contact with and
no separation responsibility for?

How could you have passed your Private Pilot written without understanding
that ATC has no responsibility for separation between VFR and IFR traffic?

--
Paul Tomblin http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/
"Boromir, with three arrows in your chest, you ARE the Weakest Link, g'bye!"

No, you'd be violating 91.113(b).

Assuming VMC conditions, is it legal for a current IR pilot to file an
IFR flight plan, and fly the flight *solo* wearing a hood, to meet
currency requirements? Of course the hood would be off for take-off

It's risky.

ptomblin wrote:

[...] How could you have passed your Private Pilot written without
understanding that ATC has no responsibility for separation between
VFR and IFR traffic?

But in US class B/C (and Canada class C), they do take on that
responsibility.


- FChE

Frank Ch. Eigler wrote:
ptomblin wrote:
[...] How could you have passed your Private Pilot written without
understanding that ATC has no responsibility for separation between
VFR and IFR traffic?

But in US class B/C (and Canada class C), they do take on that
responsibility.

US Class C? I don't think so. Just trying some logic here with the
books closed, how could they separate VFR traffic that isn't identified
on radar from anyone? Radar ID is not required to enter Class C. I can
just see plugging along with a hood on in VFR while some guy in 2 way
radio contact is transiting the Class C.

In a previous article, (Frank Ch. Eigler) said:
[...] How could you have passed your Private Pilot written without
understanding that ATC has no responsibility for separation between
VFR and IFR traffic?

But in US class B/C (and Canada class C), they do take on that
responsibility.

In the US, only in class B, not in C. A little hard to do a currency
flight that's only going to be in class B in most parts of the country.

--
Paul Tomblin http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/
My brother went to Florida, and all he bought me was this stupid election.
- George W. Bush

I hope to God this is a joke. I hope you understand that in class E and
D airspace ATC ONLY seperates IFR aircraft from other IFR aircraft. You
are on your own to seperate yourself from VFR aircraft. Some VFR
aircraft may not even have transponders. I hope you don't plan to fly
over my house.

-Robert

"Maule Driver" wrote in message
. com...
Frank Ch. Eigler wrote:
ptomblin wrote:
[...] How could you have passed your Private Pilot written without
understanding that ATC has no responsibility for separation between
VFR and IFR traffic?

But in US class B/C (and Canada class C), they do take on that
responsibility.

US Class C? I don't think so. Just trying some logic here with the
books closed, how could they separate VFR traffic that isn't identified on
radar from anyone? Radar ID is not required to enter Class C. I can just
see plugging along with a hood on in VFR while some guy in 2 way radio
contact is transiting the Class C.

ATC can provide separation even in areas of no radar coverage. ATC does
separate IFR traffic from IFR and VFR traffic in Class C (AIM 3-2-4e) and
even VFR from VFR in Class B (AIM 3-2-3a). But separation services do not
relieve the PIC of FAR 91.113b's requirement to see and avoid, weather
permitting. Moreover, FAR 91.109b1 explicitly requires having a safety pilot
when you fly under the hood ("simulated instrument conditions"), so doing it
solo would be doubly illegal.

And aside from being illegal and reckless, it wouldn't count towards
instrument currency requirements, since the necessary logging of
instrument-currency flying, according to FAR 61.51b1v, includes the name of
the required safety pilot.

--Gary

Maule Driver writes:

[...] ATC has no responsibility for separation between
VFR and IFR traffic?

But in US class B/C (and Canada class C), they do take on that
responsibility.

US Class C? I don't think so.

How do you read AIM 3-2-4 e, which reads "... VFR aircraft are
separated from IFR aircraft ..."?

[...] I can just see plugging along with a hood on in VFR while some
guy in 2 way radio contact is transiting the Class C.

The original poster was considering practicing with a hood, while
under an active IFR flight plan. Your scenario is different.


- FChE