Using the IMC abroad..

[Sillert,V.I.]

Originally Posted by 421C

Maintain VFR and either go back to get under the layer in VMC or divert to somewhere you can land at within your licence and rating privileges. If you can't, declare an emergency. It's black and white.

Spot on advice and an interesting set of slides. Pay particular attention to the part which says that without full IFR capability, you're flying VFR in IMC.
That applies to both the pilot AND the aircraft.

My stupidity was brought home very forcefully when faced with the challenge of trying to follow a DCT routing in controlled airspace in a busy TMA to a grass airfield with no navigation or approach aids in solid, turbulent IMC in a rented club cherokee with no autopilot, 1 radio, 1 VOR, no RNAV, no glideslope receiver and no mode C transponder without the faintest idea of how I was going to descend at the end of the flight. Fear of prosecution held me back from declaring an emergency, another highly questionable decision.

If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, I can assure you with heartfelt feeling that you will wish very much that you were somewhere else.