Departing VFR into IFR

[bart]

Anyone think it is a good idea to depart VFR into IFR? At night?

Just curious...

 

[Gulfstream 200]

nope.

One too many hillside holes from folks trying to get a word in on the radio while circling below a deck...(San Diego comes to mind)

I mean, Im by far the best pilot I know -- but I still have a hard time seeing dark hills at night under an overcast. Go figure..

in the age of good cell coverage etc..there just is no reason. Its not worth the 5 mins.

IMHO.

 

[MooseTrax]

No........

Unless you were being shot at!

 

[cosmotheassman]

Are you saying; depart in VFR conditions, get clearance in the air while in VMC? If so, why not? As long as the ceiling is above the MSA or you know the area.

If you are saying depart in VFR, fly through some clouds while getting clearance--no. that gets you violated or killed.

 

[mavrck]

i dont see a problem with it. As long as you are actually in VMC and can maintain it. A lot of times i find myself in this situation and do it simply because of IFR departure delays/ groundstops, etc. Get in the air, talk to a different center/approach and you can pick up the clearance a lot easier sometimes.


Welcome to the Northeast corridor!

 

[laser]

Have a Plan

I think its okay with proper planning and knowledge of the area. Be aware of obtacle and airspace considerations. Grab the LO Chart, make yourself aware of of the area. Have a fix to fly to and hold or an airway to follow in case there is a delay making contact or obtaining a clearance. Depending on what you're flying, take it slow (200 kts is a good start), and no reason to climb like gang busters, you may be climbing higher than ATC can clear you to, forcing you to descend back down.

The problems I have encountered in the past include lost flight plans, busy controllers, and PF climbing/flying too fast and leaving controlling agency's airspace before they could issue the clearance.

Nightime generally not a good idea, unless intimately familiar (i.e. home airport)

 

[bart]

To clarify, is it a good idea to depart VFR in Marginal VFR and then climb into IMC at night with no clearance?


I have a pilot wanting to debate me on this and want honest opinions from disinterested parties.

 

[350DRIVER]

Stupid, illegal, and unsafe would be the first things that come to mind. How lucky is he feeling today?.

To clarify, is it a good idea to depart VFR in Marginal VFR and then climb into IMC at night with no clearance?

3 5 0

 

[414Flyer]

How could it possibly be a "good idea"?

 

[RJones]

This guy sounds pretty stupid ... has he ever heard of CFIT?

 

[KeroseneSnorter]

To clarify, is it a good idea to depart VFR in Marginal VFR and then climb into IMC at night with no clearance?


I have a pilot wanting to debate me on this and want honest opinions from disinterested parties.

Slap the idiot pilot that is debating with you on this!!!!! Then break his kneecaps so he can't fly!!!!! My luck I will be shooting an ILS when this genius decides to come blasting into a cloud layer not talking to anyone!

Back in the freight days I was circling to land in hard rain off of an NDB approach and caught a glimpse of yellow come by the cockpit. Turns out it was some moron out in an Agcat scudrunning in 400 ft overcast not talking to anyone! If I could have got to that guy I would have strangled him. Unfortunatly he was not stopping at the airport, just blasting through its approach corridor. Oh well, the way he was flying, he's probably dead by now anyhow.

 

[rgd]

That would be right up there with sharing a needle with a junkie from the HIV clinic.

 

[Corona]

To clarify, is it a good idea to depart VFR in Marginal VFR and then climb into IMC at night with no clearance?


I have a pilot wanting to debate me on this and want honest opinions from disinterested parties.

I think I flew with this guy. Captain DuMass, isn't that his name?

Seriously, I flew with a dude who had this as his own SOP. Former freight dog; couldn't stand the thought of "wasting" a few precious moments of block time just to get a clearance. I guess we forgot to teach him in ground school that pax are more valuable than boxes, a pilot and a beat-up old piston freighter combined.

I have a better idea than debating the fool. (Else you also look the fool.) Do as I and several other co-pilots did: Complain to the CP about him. Lives are on the line...possible yours. I almost never advocate going to management, but this kind of BS has no place in aviation.

C

 

[Flyingdutchman]

Originally Posted by bart
To clarify, is it a good idea to depart VFR in Marginal VFR and then climb into IMC at night with no clearance?
===

Kidding me right?

 

[xjcaptain]

Assuming part 91 ops, departing into controlled airspace (E,D,C,B) absolutly not. Illegal and stupid. Departing into class G (yes it does exist, especially out west) it is legal, and no clearance is required. Just make sure you are in and remain in class G. Certainly wouldn't be a bad idea to attempt to contact ATC and request radar advisories if available. However, at most places that have class G above 700 or 1200 feet it's pretty rural, and most likly radar will not be available.

 

[Publishers]

Center 39PP is IFR to "THUNK"

 

[p.b.]

I did it once when flying a 91 leg on my 135 check route. It was the most terrifying 3 minutes of my career. It seemed like an ok idea until approach refused to answer, I realized I wasn't as comfortable with the terrain as I thought, and the ceiling seemed a whole lot lower than when I landed 10 minutes earlier.

Anyone who's done it and says its no problem, doesn't have a whole lot of self-preservation instinct! I wouldn't go flying with them. Maybe with TCAS and EGPWS it wouldn't be so scary, I still wouldn't do it again.

 

[Kingairrick]

If you are 135, and have no dispatcher, you are probably breaking the flight following requirement FAR. It's also REALLY STUPID. Ask the members of Reba MacIntire's band that did it out of Brown Field a few years ago in a Hawker. Oh, sorry, you can't. They are part of the geography now. It was a very clear night too...

 

[bart]

Thanks for the responses, I printed them out, blacked out your screen names and placed them in my "buddy's" mailbox.


Thanks for the help...

 

[Corona]

Thanks for the responses, I printed them out, blacked out your screen names and placed them in my "buddy's" mailbox.


Thanks for the help...

Please do let us know what he says...

C