Originally Posted by
bookworm
Indeed. As for "mandatory", I've never really understood the phrase "in circumstances that require compliance with the IFR". If you accept an IFR clearance to enter controlled airspace, are you not flying "in circumstances that require compliance with the IFR"? Or is there a suggestion that a UK PPL could accept an IFR clearance in class D in VMC?
Bookworm,
Thank you for providing the answers to the type of IMC UK PPLs can fly in.
I also was amused by the 'in circumstances...' language and asked SRG for an answer. They basically indicated that it included (at the time) the obvious examples of
1 - flight in IMC
2 - flight at night not under a SVFR clearance
And then additionally, their logic was that even on a CAVU day, once you where granted an IFR clearance you were then in circumstances requiring compliance with IFR until you cancelled IFR.
So in a very catch 22 sense, on VMC day a UK PPL in controlled airspace can fly IFR (because the circumstances allow it) but can not accept the IFR clearance necessary to fly IFR (because he would then be in circumstances requiring compliance with IFR in CAS ) - clearly Joseph Heller was a consultant on drafting this piece of legislation.
A very complicated way of saying IFR forbidden to PPLs in controlled airspace.