Switch to IFR
All PlansYou're instrument-rated. The airplane is IFR-certified. The VFR WX Score is in the basement because of ceilings or vis — and you already know that weather is everyday IFR. PlaneWX now answers the question on the same briefing: what would this score be if it were IFR?
Idea from Wayne (@waynemcc)
Wayne, a PlaneWX mentor, asked for a second number on the same weather — not a second briefing, not a silent rules change. If IFR would actually help, show it. If ice, turbulence, or storms still dominate, stay quiet. That's the feature.
Watch: a VFR briefing, the green IFR number, and switching the leg in one tap. Open in Loom
What You'll See
On a qualifying VFR trip, a green X% if IFR* appears next to the VFR WX Score — on the briefing header and on your trip cards. The asterisk is the currency note: PlaneWX assumes you are instrument current. It does not check.
Example
12% VFR
86% if IFR*
Same route, same altitude, same weather. The VFR number is being crushed by ceilings, vis, or en-route IMC against your VFR minimums. Under IFR those rules-specific hits drop away.
It is not a second briefing
PlaneWX does not call the weather models again. It re-scores the briefing you already have under IFR minimums. Ice, turbulence, and convection still count — they don't disappear because you filed IFR.
When It Appears
All four have to be true, or you won't see a hint. Silent is the point — a misleading “if IFR” is worse than nothing.
- 1
The leg is VFR
IFR trips already use IFR minimums. There is nothing to compare.
- 2
You have an instrument rating
Set on your Pilot Profile. PlaneWX does not verify that you are current.
- 3
The aircraft is marked IFR-certified
On the aircraft profile. A VFR-only airframe never gets the hint.
- 4
IFR would actually help — by a lot
The IFR WX Score must be at least 20 points higher, and at least 20 of those points have to come from ceiling, visibility, or IMC rules — not from shared hazards that still apply under IFR.
How to Switch
- 1
Open the briefing
The green IFR number is also on your dashboard trip cards. Tapping the card opens the briefing — it does not switch the leg.
- 2
Tap Switch to IFR & re-brief
The button sits under the dual score on the briefing, and again in Path to Favorable when IFR clears a VFR ceiling or vis problem.
- 3
Confirm
The dialog tells you the leg will become IFR and the WX Score will update to the IFR number. The currency disclaimer is always there. Cancel leaves the trip VFR.
Assumes you are instrument current. PlaneWX does not verify currency. That is your call as PIC — 14 CFR 61.57, and whatever your insurer and personal minimums require on top of that.
What Changes After You Switch
The WX Score becomes the IFR number
The ring, the breakdown, and the trip card all show the score you were promised. The dual-score chip goes away — you are on IFR now.
The narrative refreshes; the number does not get rewritten
Prose can catch up to IFR. The WX Score you just promoted stays locked until the next normal weather refresh, so a wording pass cannot quietly change the number you confirmed.
Later weather still scores as IFR
Auto-refresh and Live Refresh keep using IFR minimums. If ice or storms get worse, the score can still drop. Switching rules is not a hall pass.
Why You Might Not See It
Ice, turbulence, or storms still dominate
Filing IFR does not make those go away. If the VFR score is low for reasons that still apply under IFR, PlaneWX shows nothing. That is working as designed.
The improvement is small
A 8-point bump is not worth a second number on the card. The gate is 20 points of real rules-specific relief, so the hint only appears when IFR would change the decision, not decorate it.
You're looking at someone else's trip
Dual score and Switch to IFR are owner-only. Shared, public, and group views never show them — switching someone else's flight rules is not a spectator sport.
Instrument rating or IFR-certified is off
Check Pilot Profile for the instrument rating, and the aircraft for IFR-certified. Both have to be an explicit yes.
What This Is Not
- Not an automatic flip to IFR. You confirm, or the leg stays VFR.
- Not a currency check. PlaneWX does not know if you are IFR current.
- Not a second AI briefing. Same weather, IFR minimums, new WX Score.
- Not a substitute for an official weather briefing or your own 91.103 review. PlaneWX is decision support.