I was flying multiple touch and goes practicing my pattern work and landings when on the downwind leg the tower notified me that the airport was now IFR and requested a full stop landing. Thought that was pretty cool. 

That's actually really neat. Did it look IFR at the time?

I've certainly been denied take-offs and landings before because of IFR conditions, but not when already in the pattern to touch and go. Did you have the option in the ATC menu to ignore IFR conditions at the airport just as you can before requesting take-off or full stop landings?

It was partly cloudy and didn't seem IFR but my computer isn't the best and many of my settings are on low. I can't remember if it gave me the option to ignore. I was probably too shocked that ATC almost seemed real for a sec.

It would be so much easier and in mho, to add which airport you are referring to so that other sim members can enjoy the same experience.........

The in-game native ATC does offer the option to ignore the IFR conditions, if you want to, allowing you to land VFR.

Edited February 26, 20215 yr by Redge
Don't want to open a can of worms about whether it's a game or a sim!

9 hours ago, fjr_nate said:

airport was now IFR and requested a full stop landing. Thought that was pretty cool. 

What I find interesting is the fact that if you are not IFR trained, and the airport is now IFR only, how can they let you land VFR and is the alternative "death by crashing"?

Seriously though, IRL, I would imagine that long before it became IFR only, you would be encouraged to end your flying for the day.

Any further thoughts

Tony 

1 minute ago, himmelhorse said:

What I find interesting is the fact that if you are not IFR trained, and the airport is now IFR only, how can they let you land VFR and is the alternative "death by crashing"?

Seriously though, IRL, I would imagine that long before it became IFR only, you would be encouraged to end your flying for the day.

Any further thoughts

Tony 

When I used to fly at Fairoaks, if you were doing circuits or similar, they very often put out a warning along the lines of...  "according to latest weather forcasts, the weather may well limit VFR flying by xx hrs and it is advised that all aircraft flying VFR land prior to xx hrs for safety reasons"

Graham

Graham,

I suspect that this would be an almost universal approach and I further suspect that when filing with the relevant authorities, there would be the initial warning that WX was anticipated to depreciate. A wise VFR pilot would be considering his options before the initial take-off.

What you have said actually make a lot of sense.

Tony

2 hours ago, himmelhorse said:

What I find interesting is the fact that if you are not IFR trained, and the airport is now IFR only, how can they let you land VFR and is the alternative "death by crashing"?

To be fair, IFR doesn't mean whiteout and zero visibility.

According to SERA ("EU-rules") VFR in controlled airspace (class C) must be conducted with at least 5km forward vis and clear of clouds by at least 1000ft. Especially the latter condition is something where regulations and practice are not always aligned.

Compare that to minimums in uncontrolled airspace VFR, SERA dictates that if you are in the pattern with field in sight and fly slower than 140KIAS AND below 1000ft AGL , the visibility can be as low as 1,5km. Which is less than 1 nautical mile.😬

Edited February 26, 20215 yr by SAS443

6 hours ago, himmelhorse said:

 

Seriously though, IRL, I would imagine that long before it became IFR only, you would be encouraged to end your flying for the day.

Any further thoughts

Tony 

We cannot rely on the ATC/Tower all the time, Once I was practicing Tailwheel landings (American Decathlon) at Alliance airport on a gusty windy day since they have a 8000 feet or something like that, a  long runway to do multiple touch and goes at one time .. Alliance Ft.worth  a couple of of miles away from my home airport 52F, The weather looked reasonable but at a   distance to the north CFI and I could see cumulous nimbus   rising up. But thought we could be in the circuit for another 15 minutes. WRONG, the freaking thing hit us so fast  we caught ourselves in the midst of a thunderstorm and we ran for cover back toeh home airport and my CFI took control and managed to land and we quickly locked up the aircraft n the hangar. It was an experience I learned the hard way...kind of how the weather could change so fast and so hard so quickly. It scared me. 

Edited February 26, 20215 yr by Manny

6 hours ago, himmelhorse said:

What I find interesting is the fact that if you are not IFR trained, and the airport is now IFR only, how can they let you land VFR and is the alternative "death by crashing"?

Seriously though, IRL, I would imagine that long before it became IFR only, you would be encouraged to end your flying for the day.

Any further thoughts

Tony 

IRL airport can go IFR in matter a minutes even if forecast calling for VFR. Seen it done it LOL

5 minutes ago, sd_flyer said:

IRL airport can go IFR in matter a minutes even if forecast calling for VFR. Seen it done it LOL

I can imagine that. As a cyclist I rode about 8km from my parents to my home with about 30km/h or so and started with sunshine. I came home completely drenched and it was like the apocalypse. 

Just now, kakihara123 said:

I can imagine that. As a cyclist I rode about 8km from my parents to my home with about 30km/h or so and started with sunshine. I came home completely drenched and it was like the apocalypse. 

I live and fly in coastal area where marine layer and fog can linger at the shore whole day or just move and quickly and blanket airport. I remember an instance when TAF for was forecasting 4-5 more hour of VFR. We took off with my student for a short airwork, I looked back and saw fog started quickly rolling in . Even though I'm was instrument current and airplane of IFR equipped, with a dense fog  in we could not even requested  ILS back! Because for would eat our minimum to a less than 3/4 of mile and ceiling would dropped below 200 ft. So I ask ATC to make a short approach. As we made over treshhold  as fog has already swallowed 3/4 of runway. After we cleared active airport was closed until morning ! Lucky us we got to spend night with our families LOL

 

This how it's usually look when it still possible to land LOL

In US class D you can takeoff without an IFR flight plan in IFR conditions, you may be in violation as soon as you takeoff but the tower if not the enforcement agent.  You will probably be notified to contact someone when able.