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5 Answers

Partial Panel

Asked by: 4313 views Instrument Rating

I was involve in a dicussion with a senior pilot who has approximately 20 years plus of flying service. The purpose of this discussion is as follow: Weather condition was really bad and the aircraft we were suppose to fly in has a U/S standby attitude indicator. On this ground i chose not to go on the flight due to such malfunction. The senior instructor stated that the flight can go partial panel. Is it possible and acceptable to go on a flight in IMC in such condition taken into consideration the status of the airplane instruments?

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5 Answers



  1. Wes Beard on Oct 10, 2012

    Reference 91.205(d). An attitude indicator is required for flight in IMC. This means it has to be working when you take off. If it fails on flight… that is where partial panel comes into play. It also sounds that the aircraft is not certified for flight in IMC. On those two facts, I would not go. Your senior instructor is wrong.

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  2. Tony on Oct 11, 2012

    I’m surprised that there was any discussion at all! Partial panel IFR operation is explicitly an emergency procedure!

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  3. Sam Dawson on Oct 12, 2012

    Yikes. Where is this school????

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  4. Sam Dawson on Oct 12, 2012

    I would only add that the correct reference to start with on determining the airworthiness of this airplane for IMC is 91.213. It will take you to 91.205, but there are other areas one would need to check as well and 91.213 (in conjunction with AC 91-67), will lead you to each of these areas.

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  5. Mark Babalola on Oct 15, 2012

    @ Sam Dawson, please be inform that the mentioned discussion took place at my military base here in Belize. And the senior instructor I referred to has not had a refresher training in ages so most times, amnesia always kicks in, lol! Furthermore, its worth mentioning that as some pilot aged, they feel like they are always right and no one can tell them they are wrong!

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