Blasting up through a deck for some training
The marine layer during the “May Grey, June Gloom” days here in Southern California is very shallow and does not normally extend inland more than a few miles. The airport can be below VFR early in the morning, however 5 miles east of the airport it is severe clear. With a very good chance of the departure airport being VFR mid morning as the temperature dew point spread increases as the day rapidly warms up.
The FAA private certificate requires 3 hours of flight by reference to instruments so if the CFI is a II as well the minute or two of actual is a good learning experience for the student. I wouldn’t do this early in the training but have after the student has soloed. It also teaches them what actual is really like, which one can’t achieve with foggles etc.
The file is for IFR to VFR on top to a near by airport of fix and then cancel when on top. Remember here the transition altitude is18,000 so lots of sky above to play with once above the overcast. If the airport is still below VFR after the lesson one can get a pop up clearance from Approach Control and shoot an instrument approach back into the airport. And no the controllers don’t mind, they are a really friendly bunch here.