Can I extend this discussion with a related question based on circumstances I have found myself in a couple of times but IMC training did not prepare me for.
Say I am flying in VMC between two solid cloud layers (or cloud and CAS), but the vertical separation is only 1000ft. There is not a legal FL available within the 1000ft. This is all happening above the transition level.
My options appear to be:
1) Fly IFR in cloud above or below the VMC layer
2) VFR below cloud
3) VFR in the VMC layer, legally at any altitude I choose (subject to usual VFR rules).
4) stay at home
(3) appeals far more than (1),(2) or (4), but what altitude to pick? What I have done is pick a quadrantual level + or - 250ft and ideally putting me furthest from head-on traffic as possible. If VFR then I should be at an altitude rather than FL, but surely in this environment setting 1013 would be more sensible?
Supplementary question, if there are a few fluffy clouds in my (mostly) VMC layer, would it be best to just abandon any pretence of VMC and go IFR in IMC or would you "ride out" a few seconds in the clouds?
I appreciate that there probably are not right or wrong answers to the above, but opinions are welcome.