Good IFR Platform?

Thanks for Bob Wrights article in the September 2017 issue, Single-Pilot Challenges. I wanted to comment on a sidebar accompanying the article: What Makes A Good IFR Platform. I agree with the authors take that range, speed and installed equipment all combine to make an airplane enjoyable to fly in the IFR environment. Those lacking similar capabilities obviously can be flown on IFR cross-countries, but come with various shortcomings that may need to be addressed depending…

Editorial Staff

Sunday, October 22, 2017 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

For single-pilot IFR flights, managing fatigue is critical; breaking long trips into shorter legs with stops for hydration and stretching is as effective as advanced equipment, while also considering weather conditions for stops.
When performing touch-and-go maneuvers, pilots should make all standard pattern position announcements (downwind, base, final) and append "touch-and-go" to each call.
The timing of the crosswind turn during touch-and-goes should be flexible based on aircraft climb performance and, more importantly, to ensure separation and avoid conflict with other traffic entering the pattern.

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Thanks for Bob Wright’s article in the September 2017 issue, “Single-Pilot Challenges.” I wanted to comment on a sidebar accompanying the article: “What Makes A Good IFR Platform.”

I agree with the author’s take that range, speed and installed equipment all combine to make an airplane enjoyable to fly in the IFR environment. Those lacking similar capabilities obviously can be flown on IFR cross-countries, but come with various shortcomings that may need to be addressed depending on the mission. In my view, using a general aviation airplane for city-to-city transportation raises fatigue issues that pilots shouldn’t ignore.