Comments

When learning to fly, we all progress at different rates due to our skill level, financial backing (or not), dedication and determination, just to name a few. We also have different goals and interests within aviation, and particularly regarding our ultimate level of training. This makes it difficult to use a "broad brush" approach, but there certainly should be more emphasis on AIRMANSHIP! Students should be given more and specific training in weather interpretation, avoidance, and survival techniques in the event of an inadvertent encounter. They should also have "hammered" into their heads, just how easy it is to mis-interpret the weather conditions, either in a forecast, or in flight - particularly at night - and how terribly unforgiving the IMC environment IS and CAN BE. I consider myself to have always been a cautious pilot, determined to fly within my limits, and those of the aircraft. Nevertheless, I had an inadvertent weather encounter in mountainous terrain, when I could (and should) have simply stayed on the ground and waited for it to pass! I survived because of 4 hours of instrument training and a good dose of luck. There was no skill or good thinking involved, and I had less than 150 hours experience at the time. It is difficult to teach people a healthy respect for the weather, when they have so little exposure to it in their training. They need a good fright in order to see the error of their ways, but that hopefully doesn't coincide with a solo flight. I agree that simulators are the best way to teach survival techniques, but real weather and a real aircraft is ultimately necessary, even if it is only for one flight. Many people go through their entire training without ever entering a real cloud and the first time is after test, when they may well be alone.