[dash2/3 wrote:cloud breaking procedures??
heard the term several times. never heard anybody asking for it as i understand it's for emergencies??? anyway, could someone in the know enlighten me as to how/why one would request it? whom one would request it?, and what the appropriate controlling agency could provide the pilot requesting it? lots of questions but like they say, "no such thing as stupid questions, the only stupid question is the one that wasn't asked..."
I've been puzzling over this one for a while.
Yes, you must declare an emergency.
One would request it if you're VFR above or in cloud and and not enough fuel to reach VFR conditions elsewhere.
One could request from any FSS or Tower that has DF...but not all provide this service. If there is good radar coverage there may be no cloud break procedures in place.
The "controlling agency" could be tower or FSS. To provide emergency DF procedures FSS has to ask if you will follow their instructions.
Pygmie got the basics pretty well covered. As I said I was puzzling over what to post. The most simple explanation is that using VDF, the tower or FSS will give you altitudes and headings designed to get you safely through a cloud layer, until you are in VMC and can land visually. Sort of like a full procedure ILS approach, but without the pilot being certified to fly IFR, or using the ILS, just following a specific route and altitude that we would give you based on your DF bearings and a bunch of very specific directions designed for us as to what those altitudes and headings should be.