Originally Posted by
bose-x
I assume a light GA aircraft I assume you had a fully coupled autopilot or were just accepting that you would be unable to return to the departure airport as it was below minima?
The last.
I've had enough things crop up, including a few engine issues, within the first 1-2 minutes after take-off over the years that I value the ability to circuit and land back and would not willingly get airborne if that option's not available to me.
There's always some exceptional set of circumstances you can think up, but not very often.
And as this was in the private flying page, yes, I was assuming a light single. I can't, myself, see that an A/P makes any difference to the decision.
G