RMH 2-3

Risk Management Handbook (FAA-H-8083-2A)12401 Experience and “Comfort Level” Assessment VFR & MVFR Weather Condition Ceiling Day Night Visibility Day Night VFR > 3,000 — 5,000 > 5 miles — 8 miles MVFR 1,000–3,000 2,500 — 3–5 miles 4 miles — Figure 2-3. A sample pilot experience and comfort level assessment for VFR and MVFR. 12400 For IFR, Figure 2-4 shows how a pilot recorded the lowest IFR conditions recently and regularly experienced. Although a pilot may have successfully flown in low IFR (LIFR) conditions, it does not mean the pilot was “comfortable” in these conditions. In this example, the pilot did not fill in the LIFR boxes for known “comfort level” in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) after deciding to avoid flight in those conditions. 12402 Experience and “Comfort Level” Assessment IFR & LIFR Weather Condition Ceiling Day Night Visibility Day Night IFR 500–999 800 999 1–3 miles 1 mile 3 miles LIFR < 500 — — < 1 mile — — Figure 2-4. A sample pilot experience and comfort level assessment for IFR and LIFR. 12403 If combined into a single table, the summary of a pilot’s known “comfort level” for VFR, MVFR, IFR, and LIFR weather conditions might appear as shown in Figure 2-5. 12404 Experience and “Comfort Level” Assessment Combined VFR & IFR Weather Condition Ceiling Day Night Visibility Day Night VFR MVFR IFR LIFR 2,500 5,000 4 miles 8 miles 800 999 1 mile 3 miles Figure 2-5. Experience and comfort level assessment for combined VFR and IFR. Step 3—Consider Other Conditions 12405 Pilots should also have personal minimums for wind and turbulence and record the most challenging wind conditions comfortably experienced during the last six to twelve months. As shown in Figure 2-6, a pilot may record these values for category and class, or for a specific aircraft.