Originally Posted by
Genghis the Engineer
I'm certain that FAA have never required of me a separation of simulated versus actual IMC. I did also find it curious when I did my FAA IR course, that the instructors and especially the examiner showed a massive aversion to any actual flight in cloud; that would not be normal in Europe.
G
14 CFR 61.65 D(2)
Forty hours of actual or simulated instrument time in the areas of operation listed in paragraph (c) of this section,
Mentioned separately and 61.51(b)(3)(i)(ii) tells you to log it separately.
The CFII or the DPE are PIC in IMC and (especially) for the DPE this can lead to legal liability issues.
They also don’t know the applicant and for all they know you’ll put the airplane upside down.
In addition most simple flight training aircraft are single engine, single systems.
Single alternator, single vacuum pump, single pitot heating element, no prop or wing anti icing systems etc etc etc.
So why would you want to conduct a skill based test when it’s 500’ overcast and a mile with a person whose skill level you don’t know in an aircraft you may not be very familiar with?
I fly “IFR Lite” in light SEP aircraft. For anything more serious you’re bringing the wrong tool.