Basic Instrument Maneuvers ( IMC )

Question 1

IMC (What does it stand for?)

Answer 1

Instrument Meteorological Conditions

Question 2

When is a VFR Pilot in IMC Conditions?

Answer 2

Anytime he or she is unable to maintain airplane attitude control by reference to the natural horizon, regardless of the circumstances or the prevailing weather conditions.

Additionally anytime he or she is inadvertently, or intentionally for an indeterminate period of time, unable to navigate or establish geographical position by visual reference to landmarks on the surface.

Question 3

Key Components of Maintaining Airplane Attitude Control

Answer 3

• Trim the airplane with the elevator trim so that it will maintain hands-off level flight at cruise air- speed.
• Resist the tendency to over control the airplane. Fly the attitude indicator with fingertip control. No attitude changes should be made unless the flight instruments indicate a definite need for a change.
• Make all attitude changes smooth and small, yet with positive pressure. Remember that a small change as indicated on the horizon bar corre- sponds to a proportionately much larger change in actual airplane attitude.
• Make use of any available aid in attitude control such as autopilot or wing leveler.

Question 4

You can trust your senses in IMC with no visual reference.

Answer 4

FALSE: sensations are often generated, leading the pilot to believe the attitude of the airplane has changed when, in fact, it has not. These false sensations result in the pilot experiencing spatial disorientation.

Question 5

Turns are perhaps the most potentially dangerous maneuver for the untrained instrument pilot for two reasons.

Answer 5

• The normal tendency of the pilot to over control, leading to steep banks and the possibility of a “graveyard spiral.”
• The inability of the pilot to cope with the instability resulting from the turn.

Question 6

Maximum IMC Bank Angle

Answer 6

10° bank angle

Question 7

Maximum Descent IMC

Answer 7

500 f.p.m.

Question 8

Are combined maneuvers useful in IMC?

Answer 8

No.

Combined maneuvers, such as climbing or descending turns should be avoided if at all possible by an untrained instrument pilot already under the stress of an emergency situation.