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Finding Vmc

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Pilots recount harrowing experiences with VMC in light twins, emphasizing the sudden and severe danger of snap rolls when turning toward a dead engine, even above blue line.
  • A critical misunderstanding exists regarding "cleared for the approach" and maintaining minimum altitudes (like MEA) until the Final Approach Fix, significantly increasing the risk of Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT).
  • Pilots are strongly advised to never rush descents, maintain vigilance, and always ask ATC for clarification when a clearance is unclear, acknowledging that risk-free flying does not exist.
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Thank you for an informative and (in my opinion) long overdue article on VMC and its associated hazards in light twin-engine aircraft (“Is VMC Fixed Or Variable?” August 2020).

The closest I have come to my demise in my 47 years of flying occurred many years ago in a light twin (Beech Baron). As a young pilot with a relatively recent multi-engine rating, I had been given the usual training as described in your article. The rule to not turn toward the dead engine promised “loss of directional control” as its consequence. As an engineer by training, that seemed somewhat vague, but what were the chances that it would become an issue?

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