For all you offshore pilots.......
Situation: Night, 50 nm offshore, weather 10,000 and 10, no lighted objects on the surface, no visible horizion, no other visual clues, control of aircraft being done solely by reference to the instruments.
Question: Since weather would allow you to see any lighted objects (despite there being no objects to be seen) is this IMC/IFR or VMC/VFR ?
Ops Manual and Ops Specs do not specifically state..."lighted objects must be visible".
What FAR's apply here ? Or have we found a loophole in the regs ? One reading would lead one to believe that unless the "weather" induces the visibility restriction (and lighted objects could be seen) then VMC exists. A second reading gives the impression that anytime control of the aircraft is done solely by reference to instruments....then VMC no longer exists.
Anyone care to chew on this rag for a bit ???
