The Real Deal

Back in the 1950s, social critic and philosopher Lenny Bruce said that no one is shocked anymore. He was probably correct, given our national tolerance for the excesses of those in the entertainment biz, and those seeking to join the weirdness. Yet, I find my level of amazement at flight schools that grind out new instrument pilots without insisting that they actually fly an airplane in the clouds remains at the near shock level.

Key Takeaways:

• The article criticizes the Federal Aviation Regulations for not requiring instrument-rated pilots to log any actual flight time in clouds, despite allowing them to legally fly in zero-visibility conditions.
• It argues that flight simulators, while useful, cannot replicate the intense emotional, physiological, and sensory challenges experienced during actual instrument flight in challenging low-visibility weather.
• The author highlights the significant dangers for inexperienced pilots when transitioning from instruments to visual cues in low visibility or executing missed approaches, which frequently contributes to accidents.
• The key takeaway is a strong recommendation for instrument students and new instrument-rated pilots to proactively seek real-world Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) flight experience with a qualified instructor to build essential skills and decision-making.

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