As a VFR-only pilot, I can’t help but feel a bit disappointed when a weekend rolls around with clearly IFR weather. The official guidelines for VFR flight are 1,000 foot ceilings and 3 miles visibility (anywhere I will be flying), and with today’s ceiling of 700 feet, I’m officially grounded.
Not that I would go flying today, for fun, were I instrument rated, but the feeling of not being able to fly can be disappointing. But should it be? I don’t think so. On days like today a clear opportunity presents itsself for all pilots, learn. A pilot (or just about anyone for that matter) is never done learning.
Aviation accidents are almost always preventable, and the best guard against any accident is good training. When you can’t fly, I recommend reviewing your ground training. Resources at AOPA’s Air Safety Foundation’s web site are great resources for learning about the weather, your airplane, regulations, and emergency procedures. You must be an AOPA member to access the web site. Visit www.asf.org today to watch safety seminars, take safety courses, and in general brush up on your knowledge before you step up on the wing the next time.
Refreshing your knowledge doesn’t have to be with something new, you can always review a DVD you’ve watched before, such as the King Schools take-off videos or Sporty’s DVDs. Sometimes I’ll just glance through the AF/D for airports I fly to often, and others I’m considering flying to. This gives me the opportunity to plan a mock trip to see if I have all of the materials I’ll need for the eventual trip.
The FAA’s web site provides access to AF/D and terminal procedure documents for free. AOPA’s airport directory can provide you with handy kneeboard print-outs for any airport.
Don’t let the weather get you down, sometimes it’s fun to fly from home.