Vfr Vs Ifr. Opposingly in an ifr flight the pilot listens to the atc s instructions carefully and follow. Ifr flight flies with reference to flight deck instruments and navigation by reference of electronic signals.
In other words you must be on an ifr flight plan or request special vfr clearance from tower. Depending on the weather conditions a pilot may opt for one set of rules or the other. Similar to vfr ifr is a set of rules that govern an aircraft flying in instrument meteorological conditions or imc.
All of the vfr pilot privileges also apply.
There are a number of other factors that influence the decision but for simplicity s sake it s the weather that make you fly vfr or ifr. A miscommunication between the tower and the pilot in an ifr flight is unsafe. Vfr pilots can t do special vfr at night unless they are instrument rated. Ifr means navigating entirely on instruments or under atc control.