Resist the Urge

Since most flights end in VMC, it’s common to cancel the flight plan as soon as you’ve got eyes on the airport. Good idea? Only sometimes—it can be a tough call.

Elaine Kauh

Tuesday, December 24, 2024 at 08:00 AM ET

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Key Takeaways:

Pilots often cancel IFR airborne for reasons like communicating on CTAF at non-towered airports, but this practice can introduce risks.
Canceling IFR prematurely for a visual approach in marginal VMC can reduce safety margins and increase pilot workload, as demonstrated by the inbound flight scenario.
Facing an IFR "hold for release" during rapidly deteriorating weather presents complex decisions regarding VFR departure versus waiting for improved conditions.
The article emphasizes the importance of not rushing IFR flight plan decisions, particularly when weather is a factor, to maintain safety and avoid regulatory or operational pitfalls.

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Canceling IFR while still airborne appears to be a natural instinct of Pilotus instrumentae. Why is that? Maybe it’s our generous nature, helping your brethren waiting for release while you own the airspace. Or is it our mission-driven mindset—check that box; get it done. Or perhaps it’s simply fear of forgetting to cancel on the ground, followed by that embarrassing call on the FBO phone. (I had a, uh, friend who did that once.)

Some of us can eliminate the problem by flying only to towered airports, since Tower cancels for you upon landing. So we’re lazy, then. “None of the above,” one P. instrumentae declared. “When it’s non-towered, we wanna talk on CTAF to the VFR traffic.”