Scan Polishing

Joseph E. (Jeb) Burnside

Friday, January 21, 2022 at 11:46 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Some pilots find view-limiting devices (VLDs) can make instrument training *more* challenging than actual IMC due to peripheral distractions and obstructed instrument views, potentially leading to a more rigorous and beneficial training experience.
Commonly taught personal minimums may be overly restrictive, as some experienced pilots argue that operating safely in challenging actual weather conditions, after thorough assessment, provides invaluable real-world preparation.
The traditional "dive and drive" approach procedure is largely being replaced by vertical guidance systems in modern aviation, and while still permissible, descending below the Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA) based only on approach lights carries significant risks, even for experienced crews with advanced equipment.

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I read your article, “Polishing Your Scan: Our Top Five Tips” (December 2021), twice. As always, it was well-written and thoughtful. I have to say my experience with view-limiting devices seems to be the opposite of that suggested in the article. Compared to flying with a view-limiting device, I find it easier to maintain precise parameters when I’m actually in solid IFR or in a simulator/AATD with zero outside visibility. In solid weather, all of a pilot’s attention is on the instruments.

I’m a CFI-I and I’ve noticed that my instrument students also maintain better parameters in the zero-zero world of the AATD compared to flight with a view limiting device. Secondly, I find that the outside peripheral vision available with a view-limiting device is often a negative. It can be a distraction that degrades the instrument crosscheck somewhat similar to flying under a cloud deck with ragged bottoms.