Going It Alone

I enjoyed Decembers article on tips to manage the workload of single pilot IFR flight ("Six SPIFR Tips"). One thing I think is often overlooked on this topic is the distinction between single-pilot and solo-pilot IFR operations. I use my plane for business and Angel Flight operations in the northeast, which presents the opportunity and need for a considerable number of LIFR flights into Class B airports. On most occasions (obviously excepting Angel Flights), I fly not only SPIFR, but solo operations. My observation is, from a safety standpoint, I would rather fly solo in demanding conditions than with non-IFR rated passengers. Why? Simply because inexperienced passengers can be distracting and unpredictable. When flying a SPIFR approach, one needs to find time for a passenger briefing amidst all the other approach chores. And even then, Ive come to expect the unexpected: passengers waving a hand in my face after breaking out to point out an airliner on parallel final as Im establishing my crosswind crab angle, reading back my landing clearance and keeping my speed below VLE.

Key Takeaways:

• The article distinguishes between single-pilot and solo-pilot IFR, suggesting that flying alone in demanding IFR conditions can be safer than with non-IFR rated passengers due to potential distractions.
• A reader challenges a previous article's claim regarding the high altitude required to recover a Mooney from a stall, with the editor clarifying that the original statement was specific to a particular incident.
• It is clarified that VFR pilots operating outside Class B/C/D airspace can politely decline ATC vectors, as FAR 91.123(b) allows ATC to suggest but not mandate headings in such circumstances.

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