Originally Posted by
thing
I would also disagree that a practise instrument approach in vmc has no training value.
I do believe I said 'real' not practice. Practice approaches (i.e. head down looking at the instruments and flying in response) of course provide value - but equally you have no possible way of avoiding traffic hence the need for the observer.
2Sheds is of course correct, however, I think you will find it very very challenging to fly an ILS into an airport while staying 5 miles and 1000 feet away from any flying object and remaining above the minimum vectoring altitude!
I would agree with Peter that there is systems management proficiency that you can build/maintain on 'real' approaches in VMC. As an example when Alderney had their LPV approach approved, I flew IFR there on a gin clear day and asked for the full procedure - which I allowed the coupled autopilot, roll steering and GPS to fly. I flew it single crew as I had plenty of time to look out the window and make sure the position the box of tricks was flying me to made sense and that there was no conflicting traffic. I suspect if I had let it, the autopilot would have landed me within about 10 feet of the theoretical aiming point - I was impressed - but I didn't get any practice at interpreting the instruments and responding to them or making the transition from instrument to visual flight.