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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!seismo!hao!hplabs!sri-unix!Dave.Touretzky@CMU-CS-A
From: Dave.Touretzky%CMU-CS-A@sri-unix.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.aviation
Subject: logging instrument time
Message-ID: <2476@sri-arpa.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 23-Jun-83 15:03:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: sri-arpa.2476
Posted: Thu Jun 23 15:03:00 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 25-Jun-83 19:54:56 EDT
Lines: 18

If a VFR pilot gets a special VFR clearance, he is still flying VFR, i.e.
controlling the airplane by use of visual references.  At least, let's hope
he's using visual references, because if he isn't he's in violation.
Remember that SVFR requires you to remain clear of clouds at all times.  It's
true that controllers treat special VFR differently, e.g.  they will only
allow one aircraft in the CZ at a time if that aircraft is operating
special VFR, but that has nothing to do with logging time.

To log actual instrument time you must control the aircraft SOLELY by
reference to instruments.  That means either being in cloud, or being in
conditions such that there is no visible horizon, e.g.  on top of an
overcast in very hazy conditions, or over the ocean at night.

So even if you're an IFR pilot operating on an IFR flight plan in a control
zone with less than 3 miles visibility, if you can see the ground and make
out a horizon, you can't log the time as actual instrument conditions.

-- Dave Touretzky, CFI-A, IGI