Instrument pilots know that IMC is challenging and far less forgiving than flying visually. Proficient flying by instruments is a must for us lest we enter the NTSB annals. When the ink on our instrument tickets was still wet, our skills were ultra-sharp. But as time passed, without continued practice those instrument skills slowly atrophied.
Let’s face it: Visual conditions are more common than instrument weather and getting in those approaches on a regular basis becomes more difficult. Yet, to legally file IFR, the feds require the old six in six and more. We’re often told that legally current and proficient aren’t synonyms so we should seek the latter. Like any skill, “use it or lose it,” applies. For those who skimped on practice, did they restrict flying to common short hops for the proverbial $100 hamburger in CAVU or blast off into IMC?
