No Plan For That

Elaine Kauh

Monday, October 04, 2021 at 04:43 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Departing in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) requires strict personal minimums, thorough pre-flight planning, and pre-briefed emergency procedures like a turnback, as unexpected failures can occur quickly.
Pilots must be prepared for critical system failures (e.g., GPS) during IMC departures by having readily available and familiar backup navigation (e.g., VOR) and communication systems.
Effective decision-making under pressure, resourceful use of all available aircraft systems (e.g., autopilot), and timely communication with Air Traffic Control (ATC) are crucial for safely resolving in-flight emergencies.
Post-incident reflection and adaptation of personal minimums and procedures, such as raising IMC departure minimums and performing regular VOR checks, are essential for continuous improvement in flight safety.

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Departures into low clouds might not be your thing, and that’s fine. Staying on the ground is the ultimate risk mitigation for absolutely any concern. But departing in IMC is common practice and can mean anything below three statute miles of visibility and/or ceilings below 1000 feet.

That’s a wide weather window when deciding if it’s okay to launch. Applying personal minimums for takeoff, often matching approach minimums, is another common choice. It’s also good practice to brief an emergency-after takeoff turnback that stays in VMC. Even then, such plans can’t cover every situation, so one of the biggest risks is actually being forced into a quick decision for an unexpected problem.