Originally Posted by
Judd
You cannot call yourself a professional pilot unless you are qualified to fly in cloud as well as in sunny weather. Strongly recommend you obtain an instrument rating (single or multi depending on finances) before you venture out looking for your first job. It will surely save your skin one day (or night) and that of your passengers
I think making a blanket statement that your not a professional pilot unless you have an instrument rating is having a narrow view of commercial operations.
I and many of my colleagues are either not current or don't have Instrument Ratings but all have been forging successful careers in our chosen fields of Aerial Agriculture and Aerial Firefighting. We all consider ourselves professional pilots.
An instrument rating, white shirt and some gold bars doesn't automatically make you a professional.