Originally Posted by
TheOddOne
...so I'm flying along in Class G at night, maintaining 2,200' (obstruction 1200' within 5 NM so complying with IFR.) I encounter cloud at 2,000', so I descend to 1900' to remain clear of cloud and in sight of the surface. I'm no longer compliant with IFR.
TheOddOne
No, as a PPL you can legal fly IFR (and in some IMC - as in clear of cloud above 3000 feet but not so clear that you meet the VFR cloud clearance requirements, or with just 3 km viz in an area that requires 5 for VMC) - So in your case you just descend to 1900 as proposed, you are clear of cloud, in sight of surface, viz greater than 800m and less than 3000 MSL you ARE complying with the IFRs and so long as the viz is 3km you CAN do this on a UK PPL.
The combination of these rules makes the requirement for night to be IFR for the pilot a silly situation, as you can pretty much fly just as you would in the daytime under VFR (main realistic exception being you actually do need to fly quadrantials above the TA at night, where as for a day VFR pilot it is only recommended. And of course you can not fly in any control areas as a PPL at night.