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Old 12th Jan 2015, 13:19
  #135 (permalink)  
John R81
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: England & Scotland
Age: 63
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I think mind-set is the critical matter.

When training for PPL(H) we have diversions and "practice" IMC turns. About a year after getting my license, during conversion training, I did have a deteriorating weather situation and found myself unable to complete the flight. We elected to put down in a field (much easier in a helicopter) just 3 miles from the airfield; made a radio call to announce intentions and then landed / shut down.

That event changed my analytical approach; the question of "Is this the right time to park it?" now joins the question list as soon as the weather starts to look more difficult than planned. In the early stages, the answer will be 'No, vis / cloudbase are still adequate for safe flight' and I continue, or reverse course to go home, or I divert. Having the question in the analysis from an early time makes it more likely (for me) that "Park it" becomes the appropriate response whilst I still have the capability to actually "park it".
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