My hardest flight ever - Crossing The Alps - VFR into IMC

I'm flying a PA28 from England to Croatia and back, and it's not without drama.
This was supposed to be a direct flight from Pula to Linz in Austria, but the high terrain, combined with an obstructive cloud layer meant we ended up diverting.
We encountered VFR into IMC, impassable cloud, and my Ipad navigation app failed mid flight.
This wasn't my finest hour, but I'm pleased with the timely decision to divert, rather than risk an aimless course, and fuel exhaustion.
About the trip/GPS tracks
www.jonhunt.ne...
I'm on Facebook:
/ theflyingreporter
My mentor/hour-building specialist
www.buddysavia...

[@miraphoenix]

Very good Decision! No Failure at all!!!! I ve seen many accident cases which almost always happened because of „fear of failing“ or time pressure or ego. I think your decision making can help many people to do the right and Secure thing as well! Loved it.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thank you.

[@BigglesAviator]

Hi Jon...no you haven't failed at all. A good pilot is making decisions all the time and you made a good call. Your minimums were being pushed and its better to be on the ground, wishing etc...you know the rest! Human factors (tired) is to be avoided at all times. You live to fly again and that's what its all about.

[@theflyingfool]

I agree. Stop beating yourself up Jon! You make sensible decisions in difficult circumstances.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thanks so much.

[@robertmailer4978]

The Flying Reporter as a single pilot the work load is away high, the other planes where multi crew, make huge difference, alway good watching

[@rorymcdonnell7666]

Hi Jon. Good video. In the circumstances you made the right decision especially when getting stressed and tired with fuel becoming an issue. I wondered if it was possible to stay closer to the others and follow the leader so to speak? I know one went over and the other under and you would have had to decide who to follow. Just a thought - I am a student pilot so obviously looking to more experienced pilots to learn decision making

[@priyol1037]

Another PA-28 flyer from US. you did awesome. you made the right calculations, you evaluated your options and decided to divert. great piloting skills right there. many other pilots tried to push their personal minimums and became a statistic. kudos for making this decision and taking the time to share it.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thanks. Do subscribe, if not already, to receive more content like this.

[@cedrdrr]

Newbie PPL here. Just wanted to thank you for posting this as this video precisely describes the situation I expect to happen one day and this video is very very good for both showing how will it look like and what one should do, especially the communication part. And it's especially helpful as you don't have all the fancy synthetic visions, not instrument rated and all you've got is the basic six pack and SkyDemon. Pretty much the same setup most of us beginners have.

[@volador2828]

You made the right decision and kept calm... Fly with you anytime! Subscribed!

[@AleRon72]

I have crossed the Alps VFR on seven occasions. All of them have been in summer or early autumn. The conditions you encountered are absolutely typical of each of my crossings. And so you never really know whether you are going to find a way through. The cloud often does not conform to the forecasts, and can change quite rapidly, with rapid build-ups in warm weather. Certainly, you need to be confident to attempt it, and planning is key. The most important thing, as you discovered, is to have a Plan B, a plan C, and a plan D! But, most of all, it is important to relax and enjoy the experience; don't let the stress get to you! Anyway, I agree that your decision-making was safe and sound, and I hope shifting to Plan B won't put you off attempting it again!

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Not put off...but will treat with extra caution in future. Thanks for watching.

[@nicoleyildirim920]

i have had 2 different ipads crash on multiple occasions especially during summer flying. It is not because of skydemon. The ipads are prone to over heating. Switched all my gear to android devices (samsung tab S2) and not once had any problem. I also wonder why didnt you climb higher? Looks like 12-13k would have cleared those clouds long enough to cross the alps. In any case great flying. I am only commenting to further discuss.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Hi Nicole. On this occasion this was actually a SkyDemon/iPad software issue. As for those clouds, I’m not sure that even 13k would have cleared it. Additionally, my performance at those altitudes would have meant that the climb would have taken me 15-30 minutes. After 30 minutes above 10,000ft I would have needed supplemental oxygen. In the climb, I would have had to circle in a clear piece of air to remain VMC (1000ft/1500m from cloud), using up more time above 10k. Sadly this time, climbing wasn’t an option for me.

[@citylight7777]

the right decision, great video. thanks for sharing!

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thanks for watching.

[@liamsandie]

This is where a full IR comes into its own so long as icing not an issue. Same skill set really though as IR R

[@Arrow_Driver]

Where did you stop at Tamiami? Reliance?. should have let me know I would have met with you....

[@drewtuley]

I beg to differ about it not being your finest hour Jon. Instead of blindly pushing on in the hope of finding a path through the cloud ahead, you made the positive decision to divert, giving you time and options. The desire to push on regardless, especially with the added pressure of being part of a group can be difficult to resist, but at the end of the day you are the PIC and must look to your own and your passenger's safety first. Great production quality as usual - I could really sense the tension in the cockpit..

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Glad you liked the video. Thanks for the very supportive comments.

[@MoiraOBrien]

I totally concur - the decision to divert was the correct one for you irrespective of whether the other planes had found a way through.

[@smsfrancis]

Totally agree! You remained calm and collected to form balanced decisions keeping you and your passenger safe. I'd have been very content and calm as the passenger in that flight.

[@dannym8149]

Totally agree. I'm not a pilot, but I thought you handled the situation very well and made the right decision to divert and not feel pressured to carry on. Your living my dream. Stay safe

[@mikeyswingsacrossthesky2244]

Jon..Jon...Jon you were brilliant! Resisting all the pressures to meet up with the rest of the group to push on through the clouds not to be the only one to make it through these are the decisions that keep you alive! These are the brave and the right decisions when pilots bow to these choices things can horribly wrong very quickly. Listen to our heads and not our hearts and stay safe. In many ways your best yet it learning from this may well save lives.Great video as always looking forward to the next one.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thank you so much Mike.

[@HotrunVideo]

Plenty of people pushed on in bad conditions only to never arrive. Perfectly sound decision making on your part.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thank you Ryan.

[@Pbgarcol]

This is a must see video for all VFR private pilots. Thanks for sharing and give a most realistic overview of the dangers of VFR over the top. My CFI always told me not to consider it, because the risks of broken layer becoming OVC are much too great. The way you handled the situation is to be praised : no trace of complacency, just the facts and a precise knowledge of your skills and abilities. I can only feel how relieved you were after landing safely. Classy!

[@cameronspence7500]

I've only been flying a couple of years, and one thing that has really pleased me is the culture I've discovered, where people want to keep on learning, and are happy to share their stories - warts and all - as a learning aid for everyone. Your videos are a great example of that, I find them really helpful in my own journey as a pilot. Thank you for continuing to share this great material, in the manner that you do.

[@marsgal42]

If this isn't your finest hour I don't know what is. You kept your cool, worked the problem, made the right decisions, landed safely. Bravo!

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thank you Laura.

[@heyDominik]

Amazing video and kinda strange to hear familiar callsigns and controllers. Thanks for sharing ans greetings from a fellow pilot from austria✌🏽

[@heyDominik]

Oh, just saw you landed in Graz, my homebase! If you’re ever in the area again, I‘ll gladly buy you lunch/dinner. Have a good one!

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thanks!

[@marksumner2292]

That was great, could almost be listed as a ‘must watch’ video for teaching sensible decision making. Good to almost be able to see you think - ‘weather, stress, fatigue, mountains, potential icing, low fuel - nope, divert’. Excellent. Bit of an advert for why the BIR is such a good idea too, although I’m not sure I’d have wanted to carry on through some of that TCU anyway!

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thanks. I hope the video helps someone.

[@JodelFlyer]

Great video Jon and an excellent example of making the right decision and correct choice. Doesn't matter what a 'few' might say the majority will be impressed with your calm and sensible airmanship

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thank you Tim.

[@hansmaulwurf7641]

The right decision, although I wouldn‘t have attempted to fly on top in the first place in a SEP aircraft. At least not above the main Alps. Coming from Pula, I‘d have kept further east, going via Graz - Pinkafeld (LOGP) - Wiener Neustadt (LOAN). The terrain is much more forgiving, but it is a longer route. With 4 hours of endurance, it should be possible though. Pula to LOAN is about 2 1/4 hrs, LOAN to Linz between 1 and 1.5, depending on routing and wind. Just found your videos and enjoy them immensly, keep it up! May you always land safely...

[@danschofield3310]

Great video... as someone els said you could sense the tension in the cockpit.. also a thumbs up to your buddy beside you keeping quite calm and not adding to the stress level... Mountain flying is a complete new game those pointy bits are very unforgiving.. in western Canada where I rent they will not even let us go into the mountains in till we take the mountain ground school and flight lessons.. great job !!!!!

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thanks Dan.

[@Spray-N-Pray]

That was some of the best VFR decision making I've seen. You made sound and safe decisions. You avoided "GetThereitis" and you arrived alive. Great job.

[@GeoffreyEngelbrecht]

You shouldn’t have felt you failed. I agree with most of the other commenters this was an excellent example of good decision making. I fly a lot in the Alps and visibility is very important. Clouds can build up during the day especially along the valley sides obscuring the peaks and I have been in a similar situation before: boxed in with clouds ahead in a valley which appeared to obscure the pass and forced to turn back and take a different route. I heard other pilots on the radio who later were able to make the pass I was headed for but I felt it was dangerous at the time I was there and decided against trying. If you feel uncomfortable with the weather then diverting is always the best decision. Better to be alive on the ground and able to see your friends on another day than dead on the side of a mountain.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thanks geoffrey.

[@Echin0idea]

Great decision making! I'd call that flight a resounding success - you completed it in challenging conditions while remaining safe. If you hadn't diverted and managed to "squeeze through" while pushing the limits of safety *that* would have been the failure, even if it resulted in you getting to your intended destination faster.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thank you for your support.

[@sebphillips10]

Excellent piloting, Jon. I would have done the exact same. Its better to be on the side of caution and live to fly another day.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thanks Seb.

[@pedrobudders4454]

This is an absolutely brilliant video and as everyone has said you have demonstrated how to professionally make a decision under nasty pressure. Sharing this footage will only benefit the GA world and maybe help a poor pilot facing a similarly stressful circumstance. Sharing such an experience, in such a well filmed and produced video is invaluable. Congrats to your co-pilot for staying calm.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thanks Peter. Alastair is a calm cookie.

[@StefBelgium]

In aviation there is no destination. Just to safely join the ground. Good decision and well done! Good video and very helpful. Take care.

[@JensVanDorpe]

Great video, good decision making! What was the reason you didn't climb higher? Because you had no Oxygen, or the plane couldn't get higher easily?

[@TheFlyingReporter]

From my recollection, I need to get 12000ish to get over it, and didn't have oxygen.

[@richardkaberry8790]

Such a good episode Jon and in no way did you fail. Absolutely the right decision. But my favourite bit was when you broke away from the other PA28. Lovely to watch.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

It was great to fly in formation for a bit. Thanks Richard.

[@eMMjunaYschion]

Good decision making and you have not failed at all. Get-there-itis is what kills you, specially in the alps. Living and flying in Switzerland, I know how hard it can be to cross them. I'll be honest, flying over or in the alps is almost always a more or less stressful situation for me, only exception being perfect CAVOK conditions with great vis and no winds. Anything worse than that already keeps me on my toes (which is a good thinig). I've been over the alps in marginal conditions, but it's really not easy...

[@andreasbacher2695]

This is actually very good weather over the alps. Plenty of space between rather low towering cumulus clouds, no turbulence. You will never cross the alps (actually you were even in the lower parts of the mountain ridge), if this kind of weather is already too much for you. I suggest, next time you depart earlier in the morning from Pula to Linz and fly via USELU, follow the published Slovenian VFR routes to MUREG, DIVAL, MUGGU, OSMOD. You may stay at a max. altitude of 4500 ft all the time. Plan better next time!

[@flybe146]

You did a dam good job, Jon, I would have tried to get through and probably crashed into the bloody mountain, that's the sort of dick head I am, but you made the right decision. Does that Sky Demon thing often bugger about like that?

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Sky Demon was doing this throughout this tour. I spoke to SD about it, and it was an issue with that version of the software. I hasn't happened since it updated. I was running a lot of charts on there too!

[@flybe146]

The Flying Reporter Ah mate your better off with a map and compass the I was taught LOL

[@SteveMiddleton]

Excellent decision making. Timely divert and you know your limits. I’d say you’ve probably learned a lot on this trip and no doubt it’s made you a better pilot. I’m in awe!

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thank you Steve.

[@FlightBytes]

Why would you get criticism? You've flown a route and made all the right decisions. You're a great pilot I'd fly with you any day! Your videos are very real, thanks for sharing the highs AND lows of avaition!

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Why?...this is social media, and it's brutal at times. Thanks for your support..there are plenty of lows in aviation...my bank balance for one!!

[@FlightBytes]

@@TheFlyingReporter yes my bank balance is one of the lows of aviation for me too but it's totally worth it!

[@malibujack4852]

I guess we have all been there, but watching videos of cross country travel under VFR in marginally capable aircraft, just makes me ask why??? My message to those pilots that want to use their aircraft for reliable transportation - GET YOUR INSTRUMENT RATING. Then, save your money and buy a capable aircraft that can handle the job. Get some instruction from an experienced instructor as well. I recognize that I wasn’t in the pilot seat, but the flight looked easily doable, even for VFR, by just climbing above. Those clouds looked to top out at 9 or 10K. Even the lowly Archer with that light load could climb to that altitude.

[@mcchazza]

Thank you for an excellent video, I've come back to it a third time to keep me on the learning curve. One thing which would perhaps have helped - SkyDemon has a "colour terrain" option which is a MAJOR visual aid when flying over anything other than flat terrain. I guess you've discovered it by now :) or perhaps I didn't see that you had it enabled? I fly a flexwing trike and have gone through one or two similar situations, with only the minor additional challenge of not being in a comfy warm cabin! All the best, safe flying Adam

[@rodcross3002]

Hard to watch....but we've all been through this. I have 2600 hrs in my TR182...over 30 years...and what I've learned being bounced around in cloud IFR is that I want to enjoy this...so leave early in the morning....severe clear...light winds....have fun. Towering cu's = why am I here?

[@AmyAnnLand]

What I love most about your videos is the fact that you never let pride and ego affect your decisions nor your ability to teach others. You're so humble and it's very refreshing. You place the education of yourself and others above all else. Thank you. And your production quality is top notch.

[@PiperFlyer]

What a great video. I noticed something that made me curious, at 5:20 you were almost at 10.000ft, and looks like yout mixture is full rich. Is that right ? Thank you.

[@crisisguy21]

Love your honesty, you made a wise decision, appreciate the lesson

[@dogsbreath2447]

Flippin eck, gripping stuff was absolutely brilliant to watch. Agree with everyone else regarding your decision to divert. You sir are a very sound pilot !

[@sigbauer9782]

I've never understood why pilots who own their own aircraft, don't think that they should have their PPC AND IR at a minimum. If you don't have that IR, it just seems you're wasting money and setting yourself up for failure.

[@PA28140]

Nice video. Thanks for sharing. GOOD decision making never = failure... I would never try what you just did. You have guts! Great scenery!!!

[@a320nick]

11:20 well done. There are old pilots and there are bold pilots - on the ground are nice cups of coffee, nice ladies and good food. and fuel 😎👍. You are the Captain whatever you decide.... Don't be gutted.... you're alive! That was one nice runway 👍

[@ForkFlight]

As a fellow VFR pilot, you did the absolute right thing. Keep up the great flying.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Will do, thank you.

[@greggpedder]

"We'll get on the ground and work the rest out later".... Every pilot should remember that phrase. Every.

[@crono331]

Welcome to the Alps. And, 7000ft? Round here at 10k you would still be well below the peaks.

[@banjo2019]

I’m a student pilot. Seeing you navigate these choices and decisions in real time conditions is extremely valuable to me.

[@flyingphobiahelp]

Very well handled Jon especially VFR and with normally aspirated engine. Not sure about your mates scud running in valleys though. My preference for the alps would have been in a turbo charged plane. As always enjoy your videos. Will send u a research article on GA mountain mishaps. Douglas commercial SMEL Instruments

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thanks Douglas.

[@stealhty1]

Carefully watched and I missed the part where you went into IMC, however good cloud avoidance

[@FelixKolodziej]

Seemed like your Passenger weren't that amused from your flying. Should’ve asked him to do it better.

[@Pragmatistrealist]

You're clearly thinking ahead of the aircraft as much as you can - which is why you made a great job of it. Always so tragic watching other videos where they don't - so good on you.

[@davep5829]

Excellent flying. You were calm, considered and most importantly, safe. Ignore any silly comments, nobody with any flying experience would find anything serious to criticise there.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thank you Dave.

[@jo5ef]

Beautiful video, as always. Welcome to Austria!

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thank you!

[@markk5764]

You nicely added to your experience bucket without using any of your luck bucket - something all aviators should aspire to. Superb decision making and both yourself and Alistair were very calm indeed. Great video as always.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Like the bucket analogy. Thanks Mark.

[@Muehlema1]

Well done man. Safety comes first! Right decision was made - no fail.

[@sylviaelse5086]

An aircraft safely landed is never a failure.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

So true Sylvia.

[@philipbaldwin775]

These are great vids please keep them coming. Finally i see how it all fits together with ATC. Had a long break and now attempting to get back into it. Have PPL but obviously very rusty. Well done

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thank you Philip. Glad you're trying to get back into it.

[@forfengeligfaen]

God decision! 15:18 your friend is enjoying the turbulence 😂

[@TheFlyingReporter]

I think we'd both had enough by then!!!

[@simondickens6676]

Great video and absolutly the right decision. Quick thought - why don't you let your mate handle the radios or at least the note taking? Wouldn't that reduce your stress?

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thanks Simon. He does a bit, but you're right. I could utilise him more.

[@davejones542]

Hi Jon. Great Video. When are you going to get an instrument rating - you know you want it..

[@TheFlyingReporter]

You know I want it.....have my hands full at the moment though.

[@presleycosta4127]

What iPad mount is this? I'm trying to find one for a piper

[@jimmygee7717]

Any flight where you are able to walk away from the plane is a success

[@chrisgossett9129]

Really top job that, good work and great decision!

[@jasonrwilkinson9216]

Hi Jon, totally the right decision to divert and remain legal - hopefully the new EASA IR (Basic Instrument Rating) will come into force and you'll be able to convert to this from your IR(R) and benefit from this rating. As a VFR pilot I can't directly relate to what you experienced beyond flying on Autumn days when the fog is in the air in the morning or in the evening and have to be careful not to get caught in it or when we have a strong inversion which can significantly reduce visibility. As ever I look forward to the next episode!

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thanks Jason.

[@unixsystems]

Well done Jon, on the ground safely is the main objective. Thanks for sharing the (stressful!) experience. I feel exhausted after that :-)

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Sorry to wear you out!

[@davidhorobin1060]

An excellent example of exactly what you should do when things don’t go according to plan. Good airmanship and disaster avoided. Well done.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thanks David.

[@bryanneal8708]

Great job putting SAFETY first!

[@russ8211]

Jon. Top decision. I’ve been there myself. Great production and narrative as always. Thanks.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thank you Russell.

[@surftheskiesaviation3733]

Absolute master class doing everything we are taught in the real conditions. This video could be used in a classroom. Also, how did you find having the IMC rating help with confidence? A VFR only pilot here might not have dealt with the situation in the same calm manor. Very Impressed John .

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thanks for your support.

[@chrisstephenson869]

Good decision if there’s any doubt there should be no doubt!!

[@deanwarriner9045]

Excellent decision making under pressure. 👍

[@boberto1979]

I don't know what the fuss was all about Jon, I would of just kept going ha ha. Just joking! Great video once again and no decision is a silly one, yours and your passengers safety is always the main priority. Your videos are always great to watch and these are not just videos but helpful guides for others who plan such flights. Also, no one should judge you Jon, until one is in that left hand seat and experiences what you go through on your flights there shouldn't be any judging and so; any decision is a good one. Happy Flying :)

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thank you for your support.

[@derheeheehee6941]

Why didn't you stay in formation with the other Piper?

[@CharlieLamdin]

It was easily the best and possibly your only workable decision given your situation and the limitation of not being permitted to fly IMC. Great video, watching these helps me feel like I'm keeping more current than I would be if I was just dreaming about my next flight! Also, I've never had SkyDemon crash on my on any of the 3 devices I use it on, YET, so it sounds to me like it might be a hardware issue, rather than the App itself.

[@aliebalieb6731]

Flying an airplane as a PIC shouldnt be a gamble. You never fail when your decisions leads into a landing, where you can walk away on your own feet. Good job!

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thank you.

[@warrenoakes3421]

Just about to land so you rev up the music

[@Privatpilotenloungefm]

Thank you very much for that great experience to share with the community! Flying can be hard sometimes, especially when you are VFR. In my personal opinion you have made a fantastic job. Even your "Co-Pilot" made a great job: During the whole time he stayed pretty relaxed and calm. There was never any hectic in the cockpit. Lots of work, lots of decisions but never hectic. Always many happy Landings for You! Thanks👍 🛩

[@henryhunter2918]

A super example for others, well done Jon.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thank you Henry.

[@flying_david]

You did a great job! Great story of decision making and step by step trying to solve the situation. As a good pilot it is our job to keep learning and improving and sharing our own potentially "wrong" decisions with others so that we all can learn from it. You did great and always remember: any flight, that you can walk away from healthy is a good flight! You were flying in my home country around my home airport (LOWG) - it is a though area in summer, especially - as you experienced it - with very quick cloud build ups in the mountain area more north of it around Zeltweg. Keep up the videos!!

[@Tom_YouTube_stole_my_handle]

Good job. Very helpful controllers there.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

They were excellent.

[@aviatorsteve5649]

Well done! That was a bit botty clenching 😅 Steve.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Ha...it was a bit!

[@coriscotupi]

It's always good to see a pilot making the right call. Sadly, people get themselves into the position of running out of options because of poor choices made earlier in the flight, usually under pressure to push on. You kept your options open and made the right decision. Keep the videos coming, they bring me very fond memories of flying a PA28 in the 80s.

[@michaelrobbig-reyes5525]

I just watched your video since it‘s winter and no chance to fly the next weeks. I live in the south of Germany so naturally we have travelled a lot to Italy and France and I have been in the same situation like you a couple of times. My friend hates flying above clouds so my recent flights were always below and therefore I prefer to choose well known VFR routes like Brenner pass etc. Until today I was only forced to divert once and I feel more comfortable flying Brenner as over the years you know where to fly even without GPS. Adding to my safety I have an Iridium satellite receiver by ADL Golze which gives me live weather on my Ipad as we do not have any weather service like in the U.S., weather via GSM is very unreliable especially in the Alps. I really enjoyed your videos on your trip, as you have said the french controllers are really professional and great, with the Italians, especially further south, I prefer to minimize contact, they are really bothering with their waypoint estimations, but I think that is also due to the difficult radar coverage. My most difficult flight yet was from Munich to Lisbon...that was an adventure but Spanish ATC is no fun.

[@cb3809]

Good decision making!! 👍🏽

[@RoryOnAir]

Very well handled as always Jon. You remain super cool despite the workload and the pressure you must have felt to continue. I’d say well done for not succumbing to ‘get there itis’ 👍

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thanks Rory.

[@francoissteiner3542]

You demonstrated sound decision making on that day, the most important competency for any aviator. Resisting peer and public pressure, knowing that this would be published, must not have been easy. Great airmanship!

[@nightwaves3203]

When seeing building cumulus around mountains with questionable conditions ahead the low route might be safest.When checking the weather watch the ground temps plus aloft and interpolate considering the dew point for where developing cloud bases are most likely building. You should know afternoon is when convection is likely.

[@aaronlee2240]

Was "Red" from Stapleford? Btw diversions are a sign of skill not failure, many a pilot has been lost to the "I must get there" mentality.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Yes Aaron, it was essentially a Stapleford Flyout that I’d hijacked.

[@aaronlee2240]

@@TheFlyingReporter Ah I thought it was, I've own their pa28s before (it's where I learnt to fly). Thanks for your reply as always :)

[@martinhsl68hw]

Good work! How does it go? The least experienced press on where the more experienced turn back. They, however, meet the most experienced who never left in the first place!

[@pilotz7975]

Excellent video. Please do not be so hard on yourself. You made the right decision and shows that you are a good and competent pilot. Now smile and enjoy the freedom of flying.. and merry Christmas 🎄

[@88matheos1]

Is it that you are not allowed to fly IMC in VFR, like someone is going to check it, or ist ur own safety because u dont have an IR?

[@TheFlyingReporter]

You can’t comply with visual flight rules in IMC. I cannot legally fly IFR outside the UK.

[@88matheos1]

The Flying Reporter thanks!

[@tylercottenie1141]

Great decision making here! Even if others might have been able to press on and get to the original destination safely, it doesn't mean it was the right thing for you to do. Everyone has their limits, but not everyone knows them. Recognizing your own limits and not pushing them has to be one of the most important skills a pilot can have and you have just demonstrated this perfectly here.

[@gottfriedrazek1933]

Nice story and video! And you saw things which you wouldn't have otherwise ;)

[@420Donnelly]

Don't beat yourself up over your decision to divert. I think you made the right decision.

[@155stw]

Fantastic decision. Saw the video about the incident over Bakersfield, where a VFR pilot encountered IMC and proceeded anyway. Ended in tragedy. Very smooth landing!

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thanks!

[@HeavyMetalPilot0451]

Well handled.

[@ranh71]

Hello Jon, Yes right decisions made. Great experience though. I would have done the same, definitely safer. excellent video as usual.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Cheers Robin.

[@bosshog2328]

Great copilot. you'd never know he shit his pants. Good vid!