VFR into IMC Survival

OBJECTIVE
  • To give the pilot the skills and judgment necessary to survive an accidental encounter with IMC.
ELEMENTS
  • Unusual attitude recovery 
  • Straight & Level Flight 
  • Climbs & Descents 
  • Turns 
  • Combination Maneuvers 
  • Weather conditions for “sudden” IMC 
  • Meteorological factors for IMC 
  • Hazardous Attitudes & their contribution to inadvertent IMC 
  • “Western” IMC vs. “Eastern” IMC 

  • COMPLETION STANDARDS
  • Exhibits knowledge of the elements related to radio communications, navigation systems/facilities, and radar services available for use during flight solely by reference to instruments 
  • Selects the proper frequency and identifies the appropriate facility 
  • Follows verbal instructions and/or navigation systems/facilities for guidance 
  • Determines the minimum safe altitude 
  • Maintains altitude, ±200 feet ; maintains heading, ±20°; maintains airspeed, ±10 knots 

PRIVATE PILOT LESSON PLANS                                                                                                             94
VFR Into IMC Survival
  • THINGS TO REMEMBER
  • Hands off yoke 
  • Feet off rudders! 
  • Autopilot? 
  • Do 180° turn. Not always the best option. Climb? Descend? Combination? 
  • This is an emergency 
  • Get on ground, now! 
  • Worry about consequences later, after returning back to the planet 
  • ATC can help, but you have to get yourself out of it. 
  • Move head as little as possible. If have to move the head, do so very slowly. 
  • Get instrument rating and remain proficient 
  • Instruments must be in working condition in order for pilot to have a chance at surviving. 
  • If instruments and autopilot are working, get the autopilot on and let that do the 180° turn, climb, and/or descent to get out of clouds. Instructor might want to have student demonstrate following ATC directions to get to airport. 
  • Must be in hands-off trim at all times, this will prevent the aircraft from going where it should not while pilot figures out and solves the problem while hands off. 
  • If pilot needs to grip something, have them grip their knees, NOT the yoke. 
COMMON ERRORS
  • Trying to do two things at once 
  • Improper “fixation,”“omission,” and “emphasis” errors 
  • Improper instrument interpretation 
  • Improper control applications 
  • Failure to establish proper pitch, bank, or power adjustments during altitude, heading, or airspeed corrections 
  • Faulty trim procedure 
  • Gripping yoke 
  • Improper entry or level-off procedure 
  • Improper entry or rollout procedure

STUDY
  • Hudson’s “Instrument Flying Made Easy” 
  • AOPA’s Spatial Disorientation Flyer 
  • David Hunter/FAA Spatial Disorientation Study 
  • “Airplane Flying Handbook” Ch. 16 
  • “Instrument Flying Handbook”