Climb, Talk, Live

We pilots have been known to do foolish things when under stress. Especially when we find ourselves in a situation for which we have not received any training. The problem is, of course, there are many things for which we haven’t been trained. Not surprisingly, we are likely to worry about the wrong things as we evaluate the hazard we face and then reach the wrong conclusion as to what we should do. It’s natural. We are also the products of a flight training system that has never been willing to educate up and coming pilots on how to avoid the biggest risk we face as aviators—pressing on VFR into crummy weather. We all know it’s the biggest killer annually, but how many of us were taught how to fly by visual references under a 600-foot ceiling an one-mile visibility, or what to do if we find ourselves in such a predicament?

Key Takeaways:

• VFR flight into deteriorating weather (IMC) is a leading cause of fatal aviation accidents, often driven by pilots' lack of training for such predicaments, over-optimism, and fear of embarrassment or regulatory consequences.
• When inadvertently caught in VFR into IMC, the most effective and safest action is to immediately climb and contact Air Traffic Control (ATC) to request a "pop-up IFR clearance."
• ATC controllers are prepared to assist pilots in distress, prioritizing safety, providing guidance, and waiving formalities, thereby significantly increasing the chances of a safe outcome despite rusty instrument skills or initial poor judgment.

Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->

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