IFR Magazine

In-betweens are always tough, and have the potential for trouble. Flying some IFR practice in VFR conditions is a perfect example. Youre emulating one set of rules (IFR) but youre actually bound by another set (VFR). There are all sorts of potential traps here: maintaining cloud clearances, conflicting with traffic youd normally be separated from, and blundering into airspace without the required communication or permission.

Last month I was climbing out of Dulles. Upon changing frequencies there was a very loud background noise that turned out to be a radio station carrying the Rush Limbaugh show. After trying my other radio to no avail, I explained the problem to the controller.Mooney 231RE: Its hard to listen to you and Rush Limbaugh at the same time.Potomac Approach: Its hard to listen to Rush Limbaugh, period. Ill have a frequency change for…

In 2006, Addison Airport built a new control tower. One day when the main structure was up, but without windows and a few walls, I was taxing out to the runway and overhead this after a Lear jet landed:Tower: Turn right at Golf and taxi to park.Lear: Right at Golf. Our tower is going to look like your new one.Tower: Really, where did you come from?Lear: Daytona Beach.Tower: Are you also getting a new tower?Lear:…

Flying over central Wyoming we overheard a discussion between an American Airlines jet heading for Southern California and Denver Center.American 1234: “Denver Center, I always wanted to say this…any chance we can get a vector to Hector?”Approach: “Cessna 123BD, approach, say type and request.”Presumably having heard this poetic request before, the Denver Center controller responded […]

Overheard on a typically busy Sunday morning just north of ORD in Chicago:Cessna 123BD: Chicago Approach, Cessna 123BD.Approach: Cessna 123BD, approach, say type and request.Cessna 123BD: Wed like to land at OHare.Approach: 123BD, I have no flight plan for you, say type and position.Cessna 123BD: Were a 172 over the Chicago Heights VOR.Approach: 123BD, is this a full stop?Cessna 123BD: No, wed like to do touch-and-goes.Approach (after a long pause): 123BD, we dont do touch-and-goes…

Returning IFR from Opa-Locka (KOPF) to our home airport F45, we overheard this exchange.Cherokee 123 Alpha Bravo: Miami Center, Cherokee 123 Alpha Bravo, 20 SW 3000 feet. Request flight following, Stuart, KSUA.Center: Cherokee 123 Alpha Bravo, roger. Do you require an IFR clearance? Were showing below VFR minimums in your area.Cherokee 123 Alpha Bravo: Nah. Well be ok once we get outa these clouds. …

A Learjet was waiting for a clearance prior to engine start. The Ground Controller couldnt help but ask a question.Ground: Lear Five Five Quebec, Is that thing as fast as she looks?Lear 55Q (male voice): She sure is.(Pause.)Lear 55Q (female pilots voice): And the plane is pretty nice, too. Charles P. GendrichLansing, MI…

Reminiscing on my time at IFR had me looking over old OTAs. I cant share all the good ones, but here are a few from 2009 and earlier.

The ride over Pennsylvania was smooth and generally clear on a recent flight up to New York, but there were intermittent clouds and bumps at 7000:Piper 28D: Allentown Approach, Piper Two Eight Delta, request.Allentown Approach: Go ahead.Piper 28D: We are about to enter a cloud layer at 7000. Is 5000 available? Ive got my 90-year-old dad with me and Id like him to have a smooth ride.Approach: Both of you can go down to 5000. …

Coming back from Oshkosh, we air-filed an IFR flight plan to easily get across Canada en route to the Northeastern U.S. It was a simple direct and we expected to get a bunch of airways when we picked up the actual clearance over Michigan. We were pleasantly surprised to get, Cleared as filed. But it didnt last more than five minutes:Saginaw Approach: Seven Two Zero Echo Charlie, I have a routing amendment for you when…