Editing Instrument meteorological conditions (section)

{{Short description|Flight category requiring pilots to fly with instruments rather than sight}}
[[File:CAT IIIA Landing.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|A pilot's view of the runway just before landing in thick fog at night]]

In [[aviation]], '''instrument meteorological conditions''' ('''IMC''') are [[weather conditions]] that require pilots to fly primarily by reference to [[flight instruments]], and therefore under [[instrument flight rules]] (IFR), as opposed to flying by outside visual references under [[visual flight rules]] (VFR). Typically, this means flying in cloud or poor weather, where little or nothing can be seen or recognised when looking out of the window. Simulated IMC can be achieved for training purposes by wearing [[view-limiting device]]s, which restrict outside vision and force the trainee to rely on instrument indications only.