IMC or driving in the rain

[saracelica]

Was suppose to do a flight today but the clouds were a little low - and I just got my butt kicked by actual on Tuesday so wasn't too interested in doing more actual. Did some ground school stuff for the IR written. Starting pouring down rain as I was leaving and realized I don't know which is worse - Flying in clouds (IMC) for extended period or driving in the rain. In the sky it's tiring and whatnot but on the ground you have to worry about the other people in the cars.

 

[SCCutler]

Absent convection, IMC is safer.

 

[saracelica]

Both are just as tiring.

 

[denverpilot]

I'd prefer the airplane. No idiots stopped in your lane usually up there.

 

[Non Compos Mentis]

You obviously don't live in the Seattle area.

Driving in the rain in Seattle is called: "Driving". No big deal.

 

[frfly172]

Feel much safer in the airplane you are in control while driving you have to worry about all the other drivers decisions.

 

[azure]

Was suppose to do a flight today but the clouds were a little low - and I just got my butt kicked by actual on Tuesday so wasn't too interested in doing more actual. Did some ground school stuff for the IR written. Starting pouring down rain as I was leaving and realized I don't know which is worse - Flying in clouds (IMC) for extended period or driving in the rain. In the sky it's tiring and whatnot but on the ground you have to worry about the other people in the cars.

If the rain was pouring down I'd much rather be driving. Think about the downdrafts, especially given that what's been around all week is convective stuff. Not a lot of lightning or hail today (at least up here), but it's still convective, lots of broken lines and little cells, some of them with intense precip.

IMC is only good training when it's benign... otherwise it's too much like practicing bleeding.

 

[denverpilot]

You obviously don't live in the Seattle area.

Driving in the rain in Seattle is called: "Driving". No big deal.

And around here it causes numbskulls to lock up their brakes when they see a raindrop on their windshield.

My answer, for here, still stands.

 

[flyingmoose]

IMC....all day long.

 

[ChrisK]

Sick of these scattered storms. Flying has been... bad.

 

[PilotAlan]

Assuming a two lane road, driving in reduced vis means there are death hazards within four feet to either side, plus potentially ahead and behind that you may not see until it's too late.

In a plane, there should be at least 1000ft up or down and what, a mile laterally?, between you and death hazards you can't see.
Big sky theory, plus a guy with radar telling you about any hazards he sees.

 

[Ted]

IMC is only good training when it's benign... otherwise it's too much like practicing bleeding.

If that's how you feel then you need more time in non-benign IMC.

My training involved being in bad weather. Low approaches, turbulence, etc. It was the best kind of training for the real world. I would also say to Sara if you got your butt kicked by IMC to get back in and do it again

My answer is "it depends." Mainly on your personal skill level. I don't mind either. We drove to the airport in the rain on Thursday to take off in the rain. I enjoyed the flying in the rain/clouds more than the driving.

 

[douglas393]

I do not know about others, but I tend not to deviate when told by ATC, and NExrad of precipitation in front of me. The caveate of course is if there is lightning, hail, significant turbulance, or icing(not common in FL). For me it is a matter of knowing how to handle these conditions in case I end up in it without warning. Personally, I find the patter of rain on the windshield somewhat comforting. I have been surprised that the severity of the precipitation often does not correlate with the severity of the turbulance.