For pilots, why is flying on IFR (“Instrument Flight Rating”) so difficult? Can’t a pilot just focus on their instruments and stay oriented and on course?

Question

(Edit: “Rules,” not “Rating.” Sorry.)

Obviously I don’t know beans about flying, but I see many stories about inexperienced pilots who get disoriented flying through clouds, sometimes even to the point of flying upside-down. Aren’t there instruments on your control panel which tell you your speed, altitude, and orientation? How can you be plummeting towards the ground and not notice?

I hope this question isn’t so ignorant as to be insulting. I know flying is difficult and complicated and it’s easy to criticize from here on the ground. I wish I was skilled enough to know how to fly a plane. I just see many stories about accidents where inexperienced pilots seem to be making apparently ridiculous mistakes.

In: Other

Answer 1

Two factors that others have not mentioned. First, instruments are MUCH less precise than looking out the window. You can easily see a 1 degree bank or pitch, but on the relatively small instruments, is not so obvious. Second, VFR pilots are have not practiced the routine of looking at all the instruments. The “scan” is difficult if not practiced, and quite fatiguing as well. It’s like trying to juggle while riding a bike–each element is a simple skill, but put it all together and it’s not easy