“Skyhawk 9ES, you’re cleared as filed.”

Are the words you hear as you are receiving your clearance limits before your IFR departure. It’s supposed to be an uneventful flight, but seemingly out of nowhere, everything you planned changes. Now under-prepared, you struggle to make the right call to keep you and your passengers safe.

Situations often challenge even the best pilot’s decision making skills. It’s impossible to plan, let alone train, for every possible scenario you will encounter when you fly. But considering some of the possibilities can go a long way to help you prepare for the inevitable time you will be the PIC responsible for making the right call. Consider these situations before planning your next IFR flight:

Have you ever been in an IFR situation in IMC that you weren’t quite sure how to handle? Share your story in the comments below!