IFR just 5.4% of the time

Jay Honeck wrote:

Yes, but you might not hear what it's telling you. I have very little
actual in my book, but part of that is that She Who Must Be Obeyed (who
is actually a real good sport about flying) doesn't particularly like
IMC, and would much prefer waiting a day to go CAVU.

SO, we go CAVU.


This brings up a whole 'nother aspect of this discussion, which quite
simply asks: Who *wants* to fly IFR?

Me!

Flying IFR is almost always uncomfortable. Even when it's smooth, it's
absolutely no fun for the passengers, whose only real reward for
putting up with GA is the view. (Well, and the time savings over
driving, of course.)

I love to fly IFR, but I agree that it is less than exciting for most
passengers. However, most of my IMC flights were solo.


Most of the instrument rated pilots I know try to avoid flying IFR as
much as I do, only using the rating when necessary to pop up (or down)
through unavoidable IMC. This, of course, leads to a lack of
proficiency, and the unavoidable fact that they really aren't prepared
for flying in hard IMC.

I look for IMC days to go flying. I find it very peaceful in my little
cocoon croning through the clouds watching the gauges and needles.


This is exactly what Mary and will use the rating for -- a safety
outlet -- and is one major reason why we fear that we might just end
up just dangerous enough to kill someone.

To me it adds another dimension to flying and another reason to fly.
After 15 years of VFR flying I was actually growing bored of the
hamburger runs over territory I'd flown several times before. I've
visited almost every airport within 200 NM of my house, many several
times for poker runs and such with our flying club. IFR added an entire
new reason and challenge to my flying.

Matt