Hi,

im just a Sim Pilot but i wonder how common it is that VFR cloud clearance gets violated?

In the Simulator I already find it hard to fly VFR without getting close (maybe to close) to clouds when it is not a complete clear day. How is it in real life? Is it something that happens all the time and nobody cares as long as there is no accident?

Would a VFR pilot in real life go out of his way to avoid clouds even if this means a detour and some maneuvers? Or would he just fly through that one cloud because in the end nobody cares?

I would like to know how this is handled in real life by real VFR pilots.

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Would a VFR pilot in real life go out of his way to avoid clouds even if this means a detour and some maneuvers? Or would he just fly through that one cloud because in the end nobody cares?

Any sensible VFR pilot would, for many reasons, one of which is if they get stuck in cloud there is every chance, they will likely die within 180 seconds. VFR pilots flying into IMC is extremely dangerous - people have done it and survived, others haven't.

As for violating VMC cloud clearance requirements, as an instructor I would never encourage my students to do so, but once on their own, who knows what they do?

Edited December 16, 20223 yr by DavidP

Thanks. From many Accident Case Study Videos I know how dangerous it is getting into clouds. And I know no one would encourage violating cloud clearance.

It could be quite dangerous to fly too close to cloud, especially for VFR aircraft that are not on flight following. IFR aircrafts can receive a clearance to land at a non towered airport and as the VFR pilot is not on the controller frequency, it may have no idea that an aircraft will pop out of the cloud. The distance from cloud is there to have a buffer to let VFR and IFR aircrafts on different frequency to take evasive action to avoid collision.