I'm willing to try altering what happens when there's CB or TCU in a cloud layer, from forcing I to forcing M. We'll see what effect that has.

The assertion that somebody would not go flying after seeing some I indicators on SkyDemon implies that person is not reading the actual weather bulletins. If they are not reading the actual bulletins we are absolutely right to make the presence of potentially "energetic" cloud force the weather indicators to change. We want everyone to read the weather bulletins (of course) but if they're not going to, imagine how we would feel if someone got into trouble because our indicators said V and they assumed that meant "perfect" conditions.

If a student relies on SD to evaluate the weather instead of using METAR/TAF/charts, ... there is something wrong, you're right

M

The V/M/I indications in SkyDemon have everything to do with a user's own levels of comfort and nothing to do with a legal definition of IMC, for very good reasons. This should be obvious, since there IS no legal definition of "marginal" conditions.

I didn't know that TCU/CB in the vicinity of an airport would force it to display as IFR in SD. I would rather SD stick to proper legal definitions of VFR/IFR or -- as an alternative -- use the personal VFR minima entered by the user.

-- Chris.

Of course not, because there is no such regulation.

Certainly pilots should be wary of flying in the vicinity of CBs even in visual conditions, but that doesn't mean it is always dangerous or foolhardy. In particular, the mere mention of CB in a forecast doesn't mean that you should avoid (VFR) flight.

And why is that? As pointed out above, the presence (or not) of a CB has nothing whatsoever to do with the VMC/IMC distinction.

Hi Tim,

thanks for clarification!

Cheers,
 Oliver

Hi,

This is just your personal opinion and I would somehow agree but it is interesting, that other tools calculate the other way around.

Whether a situation is IMC or not is based on some defined facts as visibility and ceiling depending on the surrounding airspace. As far as I know CB is none of these facts and most of even the commercial flights that operates under IFR would probably avoid CBs as well.

Therefore CB - to my opinion - will not lead to IMC (which implies legal issues when operating under VFR) but every pilot should be aware of and take his/her own decision. Once there is a common definition of a "meterological state" no tool should mix it up with interpretation even if it is for safety purpose. Just my 2ct.

Cheers,
 Oliver

Hi,

To me, CB means IMC and, looking at your METAR, I second Skydemon's interpretation.