While IFR flying has run along at about the same level of complexity for years, VFR flying has become more complicated, as well as more constrained, with the passing of time. The villain is regulated airspace, including areas of temporary flight restriction. Where when flying VFR we used to worry about staying out of clouds and not flying into terrain or obstacles, now there is airspace that must be avoided. Ironically, in the bad old days pilots could do something like fly into a mountain and not face certificate action. That is not true in relation to regulated airspace. A gotcha there might result in a fine or some time as a kiwi. There is another element that might (just might) come into play. Many pilots fly IFR all the time, and clearances and controllers help keep them out of regulated airspace as well as out of the weeds. If, though, we ever evolve into a fee program for each use of the IFR system, a lot of those pilots might revert to VFR when possible. If that happens, those VFR skills will have to be recaptured. -RLC
