On May 30, 12:46*pm, Mxsmanic wrote:
Jim writes:
There is ALWAYS a backup. *Look out the window.

In IMC?

In IMC ATC with radar can guide you to VFR conditions and/or
a suitable airport.

What radar? *You don't need expensive radar with ADS-B, right?

Or take a magnetic compass
bearing from your present position (which you know because you've been
following your progress on the chart) and with your airspeed and a timer
you can go to where it's safe.

I'd like to see how many pilots could successfully do this.

As an aside, I remember from my training a LONG time ago that ATC can
use direction finding on your radio signal to give you your general
location. *A "DF steer", I think it was called. *Is that still available?

I've heard of it. *I suppose if the FAA is throwing away everything else,
they'll want to throw this away, too.

I wonder how many of my instrument rated GA peers do NOT know, when in
actual, where the nearest good weather is. Note I did not say IMC, nor
VFR, since we know the difference. I can't think of rated pilot I know
who does not know, for example, where his solid gold alternate is, and
if there isn't one, the airplane doesn't leave the ground. Complex
singles have 4 to 6 hours of fuel aboard and speaking for myself if I
can't be plan to be on the ground with half a wing still full of fuel
I'm not going.