Would you?
 

RVR 750 - BKN 200 feet
would you take off?

It depends......

Depends very much, indeed.
And some milk to my tee, if yer daugnt maynd.

Solid overcast all the way to FL200 or a 300ft thick layer of stratus? Similar weather on a 100nm radius or just the nearest 2nm? Multi engine-single engine? Piston or turbine? Equipment/instrumentation of aircraft? Experience of pilot?

Yes indeed, it depends...

I thought this was going to be about Penelope Cruz...:{

I would if I could at you age, old boy!

Roff
Profile:
Age: 92

I have an IMC not an IR, that is outside my personal limits on RVR, plus the line between BKN and OVC in my experience is very small so it's as likely as not to be outside of my ceiling limits. So no.

If it was more marginal, then nonetheless there's an old adage that is always worth remembering:

"If there's doubt, there's no doubt".

and another reliable adage:

"Landing is mandatory, but take-off is optional".

So still no.

G

Cheers G
I was happy with it as i knew i could be ontop by 1000ft and my
destination was VFR but i knew a few people who didn't fancy it.
Just wanted a general feel from the Ppruners :ok:

An engine problem at 800 ft would have been fun !

G

As ever.......

"I have an IMC not an IR, that is outside my
personal limits on RVR, plus the line between
BKN and OVC in my experience is very small so
it's as likely as not to be outside of my ceiling
limits."

Wanna check your definitions too G?

Would you have been able to return to the airport in those conditions?

I'm guessing only the presence of an ILS or another airport nearby that had better weather would have allowed for a return if one had a problem after take off.

If for some reason my usual policy of not placing myself under pressure to depart for a particular reason had failed, and I really needed to leave then yes I would depart. Obviously one could have an engine failure in the soup but there is nothing from an instrument flying point of view that makes that take off impossible.

Realising that what I meant, but didn't say, was 'for a return to the field'. I've done that enough times over the years to consider the ability essential.

G

Sure you won't be able to land back (unless there is an ILS) but that is a risk no different to other risks in aircraft operation.

If you are expecting a fire in the cockpit at any moment after departure, then I would agree that being able to land back at the airport of departure is fairly important...

The higher altitude wx (icing conditions, etc) is obviously most relevant to whether one should go or not, but one doesn't need a 200ft overcast scenario for that to be relevant.

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

RVR old chap... Whats the RVR requirements for your flight using your IMCr? 1800m..... You may not take off or land if the viz is less than 1800m......

The requirements for an IR holder are that for SPA the RVR has to be 800m or greater. That restriction may be removed if you are fitted with a fully coupled auto pilot in which case for an IR holder it then becomes the plate minima or the AP minima whichever is greater.....

So, the answer is still no!

The question was 'would you?'. I wouldn't, and I'd argue that even if technology and ratings make it just about legal, most other pilots shouldn't either in an SEP. The margins are just too small.

G

Bose X:

There is a slight difference between RVR and Visibility but then I am sure you know that already.

Yes I do. I also know full well how to calculate them. I was however trying to keep it simple....