We espouse always being ready to miss an approach no matter how much we expect to land. How about being ready to call it quits only minutes after we enter the clouds?
Ready to Return in IMC
After a long weekend at the cabin with the family, youve packed up the flying family truckster for the Sunday afternoon return from Rural Island Muni back to Bigtown International. Passing through 1000 feet AGL, you push Direct-Direct to re-center the GPS route and turn on course-no obstacle departure procedure from this uncontrolled field-when the engine stumbles badly.
Key Takeaways:
- Pilots should proactively establish a "departure alternate" plan before IFR flights, anticipating potential issues shortly after takeoff that may necessitate an early return or diversion.
- Choosing the optimal departure alternate involves evaluating weather, available instrument approaches, and ease of execution, and pilots should pre-configure cockpit systems (e.g., GPS flight plans or radio frequencies) for a quick, low-stress activation.
- Deciding when to use the alternate plan requires distinguishing between immediate "emergencies" and "abnormal" situations, as even minor system failures can warrant a timely diversion for safety and peace of mind.
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