Gary Drescher wrote:

"Paul Tomblin" wrote in message
...

In a previous article, "Gary Drescher" said:

Actually, there isn't even any requirement to be able to see the
centerline.
My instructor once had me take off under the hood, to show that a
zero-visibility departure is possible. (He didn't recommend doing it for
real, of course.)

I had three different instrument instructors, and they all had me do that,
and then said "but you'd never do it for real, of course". Then why make
me do it?


Possibly just because it's fun and harmless (under the hood with an
instructor, that is).

Or if you really stretch your imagination, you might come up with a rare
scenario in which a zero-visibility departure is warranted (say you're in a
remote area with someone who's having a medical emergency). In that case,
you're probably better off having at least tried it once before.

That is one of the few situations where I would consider a zero-zero
takeoff. I agree that it is good practice and good to know that it can
be done in an extreme situation.

Matt