Originally Posted by
Cubdriver
I have on occasion filed IFR to get above a stratus deck, closed it and then done air work with a student in VFR on top conditions. It's a little odd perhaps but legal and about as safe as any other type of air work. Perhaps even more safe actually, because not as many VFR pilots are out there which is the cause of many collisions taking place in practice areas.
I've heard of this tactic used extensively in places where the early morning / late afternoon fog layer exists and hampers VMC flying for long periods of time. It seems like a very useful approach and as far as horizons go - a nice solid undercast gives a beautiful horison for reference!
It even has the advantage of giving an early student some appreciation for flying in actual conditions - possibly even as an enticement to further their aviation training.
As far as doing the check flight at night though - I don't think many cockpits are quite as 'user friendly' at night as they are during the day (or maybe I've just been in the wrong cockpits
) . It would seem to be adding just another 'condition' to the stress of the checkride for the average pilot accustomed to day flying (not like a night cargo guy) for what purpose, for what end?
Is it cheaper? Can the pilot or examiner REALLY only do it at night for some scheduling reason?
TI - would you mingd sharing your reasons for scheduling your checkride at night?
USMCFLYR