Avoiding Inadvertent Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IIMC)

Instrument meteorological conditions are those weather conditions with low visibility, particularly fog, that require use of cockpit instruments for safe flying. Inadvertently flying into these instrument conditions occurs when a pilot, not rated or equipped to fly with instruments, finds himself flying from clear weather conditions into low/no-visibility conditions requiring instruments. From 2011 to 2020 there were a total of six agricultural aviation IIMC accidents, five of which were fatal. IIMC results in a degraded visual environment followed by spatial disorientation, which likely leads to an accident. The best strategy for IIMC is to avoid flying in such conditions and this course will go over the factors that aerial applicators need to consider before taking off. Of immense value, this course will also present stories from agricultural aviators who survived IIMC encounters, shared so others may learn first-hand from their incidents.

Duration: 2 hours
Course ID: 25-HF-01

This course's content falls within the following sections of the Agricultural Airman's Guidelines (AAG):

137.II - Preflight Planning
-- C - Weather Forecast

137.IV - Takeoff
-- A - Weather Considerations

137.V - Ferry and Approach to the Working Area
-- B - Current Weather En-Route and at Target Site

137.VIII - Approach to the Airstrip Environment
-- A - Current Weather

This course's content falls within the following sections of the National Aerial Applicator's Manual (AAM):

Chapter 2 - Operation and Application Safety
-- 2.3 - Application Safety