Know When To Fold ‘Em

A brand-new instrument pilot turns down a short ferry flight in the middle of a snow storm for reasons.

Aviation Safety

Wednesday, January 22, 2025 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By: Omar Filipovic

Key Takeaways:

An experienced, instrument-rated pilot chose not to fly a short, nighttime hop in falling snow, despite technically legal VFR conditions and personal currency, due to an intuitive feeling of discomfort.
The decision was based purely on a "gut feeling" and personal unease with the conditions, even though another pilot later completed the flight without difficulty.
The article emphasizes that "not feeling like flying" is a valid and important reason to cancel a flight, prioritizing personal safety and judgment over perceived necessity or external pressure.

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Long ago and far away, I helped manage a four-plane flying club with its airplanes scattered around the major and minor airports surrounding our metropolitan area. It was winter, and we needed to move the club’s Piper Archer from Big City International to Suburban Regional for maintenance. Another club member and I met at the airplane.

I had a fresh instrument rating, which I earned flying the same airplane we needed to move. Both airports were familiar. It was an easy 15-mile hop. It was dark; that’s okay because I was night current and it would just be the pilot aboard, since one of us had to drive to the destination and pick up the other. And it was snowing.