PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Inadvertent IMC - What to do if it happens?
Old 21st Jun 2005, 08:16
  #9 (permalink)  
keepin it in trim

Apache for HEMS - Strafe those Survivors!
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
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You have the wrong end of the stick here, people were trying to be helpful, and if you only wanted advice from people without experience why bother posting the question.

However, going back to what you asked, and I am not looking down my nose at you, the very best advice is to plan ahead to avoid the situation occuring if at all possible. During my initial helicopter training we were taught that if we encountered deteriorating weather we should turn back early or failing that "slow down and go down" so that the distance you need to stop matches your speed (this also works on night nvg overland ops!).

Having also spent quite a long time operating both rotary and fixed wing IFR I would caution any pilot not trained and current on instruments about trying to do much beyond maintaining straight and level flight. Loss of control is only likely to occur faster.

Get a Mayday out immediately, keep the machine under control, unless you know EXACTLY where you are and that it is billiard table flat DO NOT DESCEND. Try and ensure you are above safety altitude. Unless the weather is uniformly awful, in which case see my previous point about planning to avoid the situation in the first place, there is a chance you may fly through the conditions. If you now find yourself stranded "on top" get that Mayday out, tell ATC about your lack of experience, maintain control of the machine, and ask for vectors to better weather, or an escort to guide you there.

This may not sound like fantastic advice but I am afraid that the likelihood of surviving an unplanned IFR encounter if you are not instrument trained and current, even for an experienced VFR pilot, is not good. At best you will get scared witless, at worst, well, in a previous life I have unfortunately seen what "at worst" is on a number of occassions.

Sorry if this isn't very positive but really don't go there is the best advice.
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