On 24-Sep-2006, "M" wrote:

Now remember, IFR in a light plane can only really safely go in about
20% of the instrument weather mother nature can throw at you.

Where, prey tell, does THAT number come from? Grossly pessimistic IMHO.


However, an instrument rated pilot can go in about 40% of the VFR
weather that would have been too risky for a VFR-only pilot to attempt,
due to the the risk of weather closing in being too great.

Except in the case of thunderstorms (below which weather might be
technically VFR), virtually any VFR weather would be safe for IFR
operations. The only exception that comes to mind would be in cases where
cloud bases are below MEA but above VFR minimums and there is risk of icing
in the clouds at MEA or below.


Therefore paradoxically, by getting an instrument rating you will find
yourself flying a lot more VFR than you had before :-)

I hope not! if it's marginal VFR, you are probably MUCH safer flying IFR.



-Elliott Drucker