To address 3).

Most of the approaches and holds I've done for my IFR ticket have been done
under VFR. I'll call up approach control, request an approach, get vectors,
etc., and they will issue clearances with the restriction to "maintain VFR".
Under VFR I always get an "alternate" missed approach procedure. I don't know
about other areas, but around here you have to request and get approval to fly
the published missed approach procedure under VFR.

During a practical test, I don't think you actually have to contact ATC at all.
The examiner can give you a "simulated" clearance, for example. Your ability to
handle ATC is documented by your long cross-country which must be flown under
IFR and your instructor's sign-off that you're ready to take the test.

In many situations, of course, you'll have to deal with ATC for approaches even
in VFR, but out here it is possible to fly ILS/LOC (KEEN), VOR (KEEN, KORE,
KGDM), and NDB (KFIT, KORE) approaches under VFR at uncontrolled airports and
never have to say a word to ATC. Without vectors you'd have to fly the full
approach, but what the heck.

As others have pointed out, in some parts of the country (Florida and the
Southwest) it's actually very difficult to fly actual IFR. The High Desert of
California where I grew up has VFR weather 350+ days a year. It's completely
possible for a pilot to go through an entire IFR course and never fly in actual
IMC.

I don't know about you, but I was always told, when filing IFR during training,
to use the my instructor's name as PIC. Just like your first solo, you're
"flying on his ticket" and any screwups you make come back to haunt him. During
the check, the DE isn't going tell you (on purpose anyway) to do anything
illegal, but neither does he have to be willing to put his ticket on the block.
I don't even know that it's necessary for a DE to be a current CFII.

Dave Reinhart


David Brooks wrote:

"Phil McAverty" wrote in message
...
Just wondering whether IR checkrides can be carried out in real IMC.

Mine was.

To address some of the other points made in this thread:

1) We found some VMC to do the maneuvers. IMC can be patchy, after all. We
canceled IFR at the end of the last approach and switched to Special VFR to
get to the clearer air (which was 600ft lower in elevation than the
airfield. The alternative was a discontinuance; I would have been fine with
that because I could have done the maneuvers later while fresh.

2) It would have been nice to be able to lift the Jeppshades while we were
in the clouds, but unfortunately I had snapped the hinge just before getting
on the runway and they wouldn't stay up! For many people, flying in and out
of clouds is more of a workload than staying simulated anyway.

3) The argument that the candidate can't be PIC because it's IMC is a
curious one. You can't be PIC for IFR in VMC either. Do most people really
do the approaches and holds under VFR? How does the examiner test your
ability to handle ATC; you aren't guaranteed service if you ask for VFR
handling.

A checkride passed in IMC must be a big confidence booster.

Well, it was, but the deck was stacked in enough other ways (faulty
Jeppshades, weird windshifts, and the VOR was OTS for example) that it was a
case of "if I can survive that, I can survive most IMC".

-- David Brooks