AOPA AIR SAFETY INSTITUTE ANNOUNCES NEW VFR INTO IMC CAMPAIGN

The campaign, which will run from April 1 to December 31, is designed to focus efforts and outreach on addressing the most significant cause of weather-related accidents in general aviation (GA)—visual flight rules into instrument meteorological conditions (VFR into IMC). “VFR into IMC is among the top five causes of fatal GA accidents, which are largely preventable,” said ASI Senior Vice President Richard McSpadden. “And it’s not only VFR pilots who get trapped; about one-third of these accidents involve instrument-rated pilots.”

The campaign includes a new VFR into IMC safety spotlight based on a research study from the Air Safety Institute that reveals pilots encounter these conditions every other week on average. “The nature of these accidents typically results in a fatality,” McSpadden continued. “Experience alone is no guard against them. In fact, instrument-rated commercial pilots are twice as likely to be involved in VFR into IMC accidents compared to their non-instrument-rated counterparts. Often thought of a single cause, VFR into IMC plays a role in several other types of accidents including loss of control in-flight (LOC-I) and controlled flight into terrain (CFIT). The campaign’s material, programs, and upcoming events are conveniently packaged in a new online resource center with links to the new safety spotlight, videos, podcasts, articles, and webinars. The center will be updated throughout the year as more materials and events become available.

Visit the campaign’s online resource center here!