Drauk,
I would argue that I was in sight of the surface, just choosing not to look at it. Anytime I wish to see the surface, I can without any difficulty.
In any case, there is no requirement on my Irish licence to be in sight of the surface. There is a requirement of VFR rules to be in sight of the surface, when at or below 3000ft. Above this there is no requirement to be in sight of the surface.
My reading of the requirement is that the aircraft must be flown in such weather conditions, not that the pilot must have the surface in his field of view at all times.
Except when operating as a special VFR flight, VFR flights shall be conducted so that the aircraft is flown in conditions of visibility and distance from clouds equal to or greater than those specified in the following table:
Actually I think I've found the answer to my own question, in Rule 13 of the SI covering Rules of the Air.
It ties in nicely with what DFC said.
Simulated Instrument Flight
(1) An aircraft shall not be flown under simulated instrument flight conditions unless:
(a) fully functioning dual controls are installed in the aircraft, and
(b) a pilot holding an appropriate licence occupies a control seat to act as safety pilot for the person who is flying in simulated instrument flight.
(2) The safety pilot shall have adequate vision forward and to each side of the aircraft, or a competent observer in communication with the safety pilot shall occupy a position in the aircraft from which the observer's field of vision adequately supplements that of the safety pilot.
(3) Within the State an aircraft shall not carry out an instrument approach procedure when flying in Visual Meteorological Conditions unless:
(a) the flight has been notified to the appropriate air traffic control unit; and
(b) if the flight is being carried out as a simulated instrument flight, the provisions of subparagraph (a) and (b) of paragraph (1) of this Rule are complied with or, if the flight is not being carried out as a simulated instrument flight, a competent observer is carried in such a position in the aircraft that the observer has an adequate field of vision and can readily communicate with the pilot-incommand thereof.
(4) In this Rule the expression “simulated instrument flight” means a flight during which any device is used in order to reduce the field of vision or the range of visibility from the cockpit of the aircraft.
Thanks for your help everyone. Much appreciated.
dp