"Going for the Visual"

"SeeAndAvoid" wrote in message ink.net...
"Michael" wrote in message
om...
"Chip Jones" wrote

Try asking for an IFR climb
while providing own obstacle clearance sometime.

What? Be more specific- I see this done correctly every day.

My guess of what he may mean here is this ridiculous
request for a, and I quote, "VMC Climb" that so many, mostly
Air Shuttle (Mesa), pilots keep asking for. What they want is a
VFR climb for terrain, but not provide their own separation from
traffic.

I can't be sure what Michael meant, but what I think he meant is
straight out of 7110.65, 4-2-8d in the old paper edition I have.
"When a VFR aircraft, operating below the minimum altitude for
IFR operations, requests an IFR clearance and you are aware
that the pilot is unable to climb in VFR conditions to the
minimum IFR altitude:
1. before issuing a clearance, ask if the pilot is able to
maintain terrain and obstacle clearance during a climb to
the minimum IFR altitude
2. if the pilot is able to maintain terrain and obstacle
separation, (give 'em their IFR clearance)
3. if unable to maintain terrain and obstacle clearance,
instruct the pilot to maintain VFR and to state intentions
(etc)"

I haven't had any trouble with it beyond the occasional prompting
"Sir, I can maintain my own terrain and obstacle clearance to 4
thousand this heading" "standby" (which I assume covers a little
questioning "why did she say that?" on the part of the occasional
trainee...)

I wouldn't have a clue what someone meant by "VMC climb" myself.
If you wanna be VFR, say so, if you wanna be IFR but can maintain
your own obstacle clearance during climb say that too. But I've
never heard anyone ask for such a beast.

Cheers,
Sydney