In Part I, we discussed single-engine VFR briefings.  In Part II, we'll tackle IFR and multi-engine.

Clearly, when departing IFR, our planning horizon needs to be adjusted.  We now must be aware of our aircraft's ability to meet the performance requirements of any assigned ODPs or SIDs, we must configure the cockpit to fly any required courses or routes, and we must know we can reach our clearance limit with IFR fuel reserves on-board.  A good briefing considers all of these factors at minimum, and a better one includes a forecast of where the aircraft will be flown in the event of an emergency.

Factors which may impact your decision-making in the event of an on-departure IFR emergency:

1) Bases.  Very low ceilings limit opportunities to choose an off-field landing site in the event of an engine failure in a single-engine airplane.

2) Available VFR weather at nearby airports.  In the event of an electrical failure, can you navigate to an area of VFR conditions?  Dead reckoning and basic pilotage skills may play a role here, but if you don't know where the VFR conditions are to be found before departure, you won't able to find them.

3) Do you have a handheld GPS on-board?  Many modern handheld GPSs offer phenomenal capabilties, even the ability to fly an "instrument approach" -- only to be used in emergency situations, of course.

The pilot's decision-making and planning is more complex when departing IFR in a twin such as our Gulfstream American Cougar (GA-7).  Now the pilot must decide whether his/her single engine performance is sufficient to a) continue the departure procedure or provided instructions via clearance, b) be able to maintain an MEA and c) execute a single-engine approach and landing back at the departure airport, or if necessary, a different airport.

What's most important is that the pilot considers his/her options on the ground before departure rather than in the clouds.  An old Air Force saying:  Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance.  It is true in instrument and multiengine flying, as well as all other walks of aviation.

If you expect the unexpected, you will never be surprised.  Fly safe.

-Ryan Ferguson
ATP/CFII/MEI
ryan@hawkerpro.com
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