Filing IFR flight Plan in VMC

On 07/28/08 12:15, Howard wrote:
"Cyberfly via AviationKB.com" u45015@uwe wrote in message
news:87d5dd402195d@uwe...
I have a question for the group. Im working on my IFR ticket, and will be
finished in about another 2-3 months, depending on how much I fly (Im
renting.
so at $165/hr with instructor,, the $$$$ flow is very high right now) . I
was told by one of the "old guys" at the airport that if I wanted to file
an
IFR flight plan in VMC and remain totally VFR, that I could do so by
myself
without an instructor with me (and without my IFR ticket). The premise is
that it is not illegal to file an IFR plan and fly it VMC while keeping
VFR
the entire time. It is very "ILLEGAL" to file IFR flight plan and fly in
IMC
without either your IFR ticket or an IFR rated instructor. The practice
would
be great of getting into the system, approaches, vectors, etc.,,but my
fear
is that if I try this,,I could wind up in deep dodo with my local FSDO. I
have searched the FARs and cant find any reference to this scenario and so
I
cant verify if I could actually do this or not legally.
This would be quite easy to do at night on a clear night. I do most of my
IFR
training at night because of my work schedule and love the night flights,
less traffic, no turbulence, etc... Your thoughts?

Thanks ron..

--
Message posted via AviationKB.com
http://www.aviationkb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/ifr/200807/1

This one I think is pretty straightforward.

You may not accept or fly under an IFR clearance unless the plane and PIC
are IFR current.

Time of day, visibility, class of airspace do not play a part in this
determination.

You can file (for the practice of filing) but you cannot accept the
clearance as PIC unless you are IFR current.

Which raises the question "is the safety pilot PIC" if the pilot operating
the controls with a vision restricting device is has not met the 6/6
requirement? You are VFR but operating under an IFR clearance for the
purposes of the practice approaches. Who has legally accepted the
approaches?




You do not have to be under an IFR clearance to practice approaches. In
fact, some controllers will say "Practice Approach Approved" rather than
the normal "Cleared for the approach" to make this point clear.



--
Mark Hansen, PP-ASEL, Instrument Airplane, USUA Ultralight Pilot
Cal Aggie Flying Farmers
Sacramento, CA