On 17 Jan 2007 07:11:47 -0800, "paul kgyy"
wrote:

I'm curious what Instrument Rated members of this group use for
personal minimums for takeoff and landing for single engine aircraft.

The question is prompted by a recent flight where the takeoff
conditions were 200 ft + 1 mile. That's lower than I've ever done
before, and it occurred to me that if I had any significant engine
problems, it was all over unless I was extremly lucky.

I fly a single. I will land in minimums, but will not launch into
them. 500ft on takeoff is more comforting in the event of an engine
failure. I am also cautious about flying over extended areas of low
ceilings/vis, the so-called low-IFR.

Had to put this into practice about 1 week ago, as we had fog in the
morning. The fog was thick, at times less than 1/4 mile vis.
However, looking straight up, you could occasionally see the blue sky,
and it was obvious the fog layer was less than 500 feet thick.

My homefield is ~3400ft, without precision approaches, and surrounded
by homes and gravel pits. Not a good engine out/IMC scenario, so I
waited for the fog to clear and departed VFR.

-Nathan