I always had an 'out' too but illegal approaches was never one of them. Decision making and good judgement mean using your options before you need such a 'backup'...and that doesn't always mean returning to base, sometimes it just means taking another route. I know of other pilots that do what you did, one even landed in fog...but consider, as was he's case, a boat on the lake! (he didn't hit it but the fisherman thought he might have to swim)crazy_aviator wrote:many years ago, a female pilot flying a beech 18 for rusty myers flew on in worsening weather until , at treetops, it was reported by the passengers that she just let go of the controls and gave up flying, the plane crashed into the trees and ALL survived , even with the post crash fire !! Years later, i flew with the same company on a beaver. I had designed a personal IMC approach onto the lake near the float base and tried it ( with GPS) and it worked well. I was able to simulate a blind landing including blind taxi to the floatbase and i put it in my hat to use on a rainy day IF i reallllly messed up and needed to do an instrument approach . She didnt have a back-up ,,, I DID and when i told other pilots about my approach,, they laughed ! Got a problem in the clag , POP up into the clear and pull the ace out of the sleeve or the hat ( In an emergency) and save the day and let the armchair quarterbacks with all the wisdom try to tell you how to fly !!!
OTT, sure why NOT ,,,Safety and options go hand in hand !!
Flight Training - Forget flying lessons beyond 25 hours...monkeys can fly, include 50 hours of decision making / judgement and attitude training - with exams - fail them and no license (to kill).