But an inadvertent flight into IMC isn't a planned one anyway...

How does inadvertent flight into IMC work anyway? Do you see a cloud or rain squall, pretend you haven't seen it then when you enter it go 'Oh no, I've inadvertently entered IMC, damn my stupidity, now I'll have to to use my skills'?

The word inadvertant conjures up to me pilots flying with their eyes closed. Inadvertently flying into IMC is a bit like inadvertently flying into the ground.

'You flew into the ground Smithers.'

'Yeah but I didn't mean to.'

'Well that's OK then.'

There are still a fair number of accidents attributed to CFIT, some of which may have been a result of flying into cloud without the proper planning regarding MSA.

Simply thinking "I have the rating, now I can fly into cloud on every flight" isn't going to help.

I've had the experience of flying into what I thought was a light rain shower I could see the other side of, once inside realising it was actually a snow shower (can be deceptive before you're inside). Once in there it was effectively IMC, so did the 180 and came out.

My last post was tongue in cheek by the way. It's not actually the cloud that kills you though is it, it's lack of planning for being in there. You did what I would have done in the event of flying into snow, do a 180. There was no problem or danger there, you were prepared and made the correct decision.

I'm not going to go looking for clouds and spend as much time in them as I can (I fly for the views amongst other things) however the rating is there to be used and there's no point having it and then 25 months later come to your reval without having spent a single second on instruments or an approach. Likewise you wouldn't get a night rating then never fly at night. You maybe wouldn't plan to be flying at night but if there was some unforseen hold up, you wouldn't go looking for a hotel because it was starting to get dark, you would use your rating because that presumably is why you got it in the first place.

You might be surprised just how many people do exactly that. I agree with you that if you've earned the rating, then why not use it. Indeed, new skills attained, if not subsequently practiced, get rusty quickly. However, some people just like the learning experience and have no desire to really use the rating afterwards, that's fair enough, it's their choice.

Indeed it is their choice if one that bemuses me slightly. I'm surprised actually that people don't use the ratings they have, although I have heard people at my club saying that 'It's just a get out of jail card.' It may well be but if you don't practice it regularly it may become a pile into the ground card.

For some reason that made me laugh... :)

The "get out of gaol" card argument is generally perpetuated by a particular breed of IR holders who regard IMC training as substandard, and feel a need to thus put it down. Of course, it is a lower standard than the IR, but since the IR is intended for flying commercial passengers in class A airspace, that's appropriate.

A properly trained and current IMC pilot, working to IMC limits is not unsafe.

As you say quite correctly, the IMC can be legally used within its limits, and if a holder doesn't, they'll lose the ability and be unable to safely fly in IMC if they need to. The result is potentially very dangerous if, say 24 months after the test, they get stuck VFR on top (quite legally) then just don't have the currency of skill to safely fly an instrument approach.

G

Don't encourage me, I may make more asinine attempts at humour..:)