Filing IFR W/Single Nav/Com

[Mooney Fan]

Not only would that be a pain in the ass, but he would have to file Victor airways or direct VOR. The controllers to day are used to sending folk direct to a fix, which he legally could not do. Better be sharp at understanding ATC especially radial intercept clearances.

That was routine in So California and Southwest region where most of my instrument time took place. Clearances were Victor airways, VOR's and radar vectors. And an autopilot was a nice to have but seldom found in rental fleets.

 

[James331]

What about flying IFR in an single-engine airplane? Probably a no?

If YOU feel you can fly IMC to mins in it, sure, same as a single navcom

 

[Jmcmanna]

Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.

Also if you’re not equipped and prepared to fly the whole thing to mins, you shouldn’t pull a IFR clearance

So if the wx is 800’ OVC at my departure point and severe VFR at my destination, I shouldn’t file IFR to get out?

 

[James331]

So if the wx is 800’ OVC at my departure point and severe VFR at my destination, I shouldn’t file IFR to get out?

How should I know?

Depends on you.

 

[PPC1052]

So if the wx is 800’ OVC at my departure point and severe VFR at my destination, I shouldn’t file IFR to get out?

Not that I agree with James (I don't, for what it's worth), but a lot of pilots (including me) would not launch into IFR conditions if they did not feel like they could immediately land under those same conditions if necessary.

 

[Jmcmanna]

Not that I agree with James (I don't, for what it's worth), but a lot of pilots (including me) would not launch into IFR conditions if they did not feel like they could immediately land under those same conditions if necessary.

I wholeheartedly agree on that point as well.

 

[TheGolfPilot]

I wholeheartedly agree on that point as well.

my home airport sits right next to a river. I take off "0-0" fairly often for my commute. If there were a problem I wouldn't be going back to the airport. Sure there is some risk in that, but there is also risk in driving down the freeway in those same conditions. People around here get pretty complacent when it comes to driving in the fog, they go faster than than can see and react. I'll take my chances in the airplane or stay home.

 

[Jmcmanna]

There is risk in everything we do. I am not proficient enough to take off in 0-0, but am comfortable in 800-2 all day. Out in California, it might be 0-0 at the airport, and severe VFR 10 miles inland...I suspect if things went awry, you probably have some takeoff alternates in mind.

I would rather be in zero visibility in the sky than on the road, that’s for sure!

 

[PPC1052]

my home airport sits right next to a river. I take off "0-0" fairly often for my commute. If there were a problem I wouldn't be going back to the airport.

Landing immediately does not necessarily mean landing at the same airport. Is there another close airport where you could get in?

 

[PilotRPI]

Did most of my ifr training /U with two digital flip flop radios. It still takes a lot of coordination, changing freq, etc. Not sure I’d want to do that with only one radio, plus I’d want the backup. If the one radio is going to crap out, it will play along with Murphy and wait until you are in or above a solid layer.