Part 91

Question 1

What are the fuel reserve requirements for an IFR flight in a NON-TURBINE powered aeroplane?

Answer 1

• PIC shall not operate an aircraft under IFR unless the aircraft carries sufficient fuel, taking into account weather reports and forecasts, to complete the flight to the aerodrome of intended landing and:
• When an alternate aerodrome is not required:
• For non-turbine powered aeroplanes, must have a fuel reserve to fly for an extra 45 minutes at holding speed at a height of 1500 feet above the aerodrome once reaching the aerodrome of intended landing.
• When an alternate is required, the aeroplane must be able to fly from the aerodrome of intended landing to the alternate aerodrome and:
• For a non-turbine powered aeroplane, have a fuel reserve to fly for an extra 45 minutes at holding speed at a height of 1500 feet above the aerodrome once reaching the alternate aerodrome for the intended landing.

Question 2

What are the fuel reserve requirements for an IFR flight in a TURBINE powered aeroplane?

Answer 2

• When an alternate aerodrome is not required:
• For turbine powered aeroplanes and helicopters, fly for an extra 30 minutes at holding speed at a height of 1500 feet above the aerodrome once reaching the aerodrome of intended landing.
• When an alternate is required, the aeroplane must be able to fly from the aerodrome of intended landing to the alternate aerodrome and:
• For turbine powered aeroplanes and helicopters, fly for an extra 30 minutes at holding speed at a height of 1500 feet above the aerodrome once reaching the alternate aerodrome.

Question 3

What are the conditions required in order for a PIC operating under IFR to nominate an alternate?

Answer 3

• A PIC operating under IFR must list as least 1 alternate aerodrome in the flight plan unless:
• The aerodrome of intended landing has a standard instrument approach procedure published in the applicable AIP; and
• At the time of submitting the flight plan, the meteorological forecasts indicate for at least 1 hour before and 1 hour after the ETA at the aerodrome of intended landing, that:
• The ceiling at the aerodrome will be at least 1000 feet above the minimum published in the applicable AIP for the instrument approach procedure likely to be used; and
• Visibility will be at least 5km or 2km more than the minimum published in the applicable AIP, whichever is the greater.

Question 4

Describe the meteorological met minima in order for an aerodrome to be nominated as an IFR alternate? (PA and NON PA)

Answer 4

• A PIC of an aircraft must not list any aerodrome as an alternate on the IFR flight plan unless the meteorological forecasts at the time of submitting the flight plan indicate that at the ETA at the alternate aerodrome, the ceiling and visibility at the aerodrome will be at or above the following meteorological minima:
• If an instrument approach procedure with alternate minima has been published in the applicable AIP for that aerodrome, the meteorological conditions must be at or above the specified alternate aerodrome minima for that instrument approach procedure; or
• For a precision approach procedure, a ceiling of 600 feet, or 200 feet above DA/DH, whichever is the higher and a visibility of 3000m or 1000m more than the prescribed minimum whichever is greater; or
• For a non-precision approach, a ceiling of 800 feet or 200 feet above MDA/MDH, whichever is the higher and a visibility of 4000m or 1500m more than the prescribed minimum, whichever is the greater; or
• If an instrument approach procedure has not been published in the applicable AIP for the alternate aerodrome, the ceiling and visibility minima must be greater or at the minima specified under Part 91 Subpart D for an air operation performed under VFR.

Question 5

State the power supply requirements for the selection of an aerodrome as an alternate of an IFR air operation

Answer 5

• A PIC of an aircraft must not list any aerodrome as an alternate in the IFR flight plan unless that alternate aerodrome is equipped with a secondary electric power supply for:
• The ground based electronic navigation aids necessary for the IAP to be used; and
• Aerodrome lighting for night operations.

Question 6

State the requirements for the filing of a flight plan for flight under IFR?

Answer 6

• A PIC of an Aircraft must:
• Submit a flight plan to an appropriate ATS unit prior to any flight under IFR.
• Unless otherwise authorised by ATS, submit the flight plan at least 30 minutes prior to the beginning of the flight.
• Must advise ATS as soon as possible of any delay exceeding 30 minutes in beginning the flight or departing from any aerodrome of intended landing.
• Earliest you can submit a flight plan is submitting it 24 hours before flight.
• Terminate the flight plan as soon as practicable on completion of any flight at an aerodrome without an ATS.

Question 7

State the requirements for adhering to an IFR flight plan and where must the pilot operate relating to routes?

Answer 7

• A PIC of an aircraft must, when an IFR flight plan has been submitted, adhere to that flight plan or the applicable portion of flight plan, unless:
• A request for change has been made and clearance obtained from an appropriate ATC unit.
• An emergency situation arises which requires immediate action to deviate from the flight plan.
• A PIC of an aircraft operating under IFR must,
• When on a route published in the applicable AIP, operate along the defined centre line of the route; or
• When on any other route, operate directly between the navigation facilities and points defining the route; or
• When on an area navigation route or parallel offset route, operate along the centreline of the route specified by ATS.
• If a deviation from the flight plan is made, the PIC must notify the appropriate ATS unit as soon as practicable

Question 8

State the requirements for an inadvertent departure from an IFR flight plan

Answer 8

• Each PIC of an aircraft operating under IFR, shall in the event of an inadvertent departure from the current flight plan:
• Advise the ATS unit of:
• Any deviation from track; and
• Any variation of 5% or more of the TAS or any variation of 0.01 or more of the Mach number given in the flight plan; and
• A revised ETA when the estimated ETA to the next reporting point notified to the ATS unit is in error by more than 2 minutes; and
• Must regain track as soon as practicable.

Question 9

What are the conditions required in order for a PIC of an aircraft to not take-off in icing conditions?

Answer 9

• A PIC operating an aircraft under IFR shall not perform a take off in an aircraft that has:
• Snow, ice or frost adhering to any propeller, windscreen or powerplant installation, or to an airspeed, altimeter, rate of climb or flight attitude instrument system; or
• Snow, ice or frost adhering to the wings, stabilisers or control surfaces; and
• Must not fly an aircraft into known or forecast icing conditions unless the aircraft is certificated with ice protection equipment for flight in the type of known icing conditions.

Question 10

What are the conditions that allow a PIC under IFR to take-off in icing conditions?

Answer 10

• A PIC may perform a take-off in an aircraft that has snow, ice or frost adhering to the aircraft if the take-off is performed in accordance with the flight manual, or instructions and data provided by the aircraft manufacturer, for take-off in such conditions.
• If weather reports and briefing information immediately prior to the flight indicate to the PIC that forecast icing conditions that would prohibit the flight will not be encountered during the flight because of changed weather conditions, the above restrictions based on forecast conditions do not apply.

Question 11

Describe the minimum altitudes for IFR flights (for mountainous region and non-mountainous region)?

Answer 11

• Except for take-off and landing, a PIC must not operate an aircraft under IFR below:
• The minimum altitudes published in the AIP
• If a minimum altitude is not published in the AIP:
• For operations over a mountainous zone designated under part 71 or applicable AIP, a height of 2000 feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal radius of 5nm from the position of the aircraft.
• A height of 1000 feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal radius of 5nm from the position of the aircraft.

Question 12

Describe the IFR cruising altitudes or flight levels for flights below 13000 ft AMSL, at or above FL150 but below FL410 and flights above FL410.

Answer 12

• A PIC of an aircraft within the NZFIR operating under IFR in level cruising flight must, unless authorised by ATC for flights in controlled airspace, maintain the following altitude or flight levels:
• WHEN OPERATING AT OR BELOW 13,000 FT AMSL:
• On a magnetic track of 270 degrees clockwise to 089 degrees, any odd thousand-foot altitude AMSL; or
• On a magnetic track of 090 degrees clockwise to 269 degrees, any even thousand-foot altitude AMSL
• WHEN OPERATING AT OR ABOVE FL150, UP TO AND INCLUDING FL410 AND:
• On a magnetic track of 270 degrees clockwise to 089 degrees, any odd flight level beginning at and including FL 150; or
• On a magnetic track of 090 degrees clockwise to 269 degrees, any even flight level beginning at and including FL 160.
• WHEN OPERATING ABOVE FL410
• On a magnetic track of 270 degrees clockwise to 089 degrees, any odd flight level, at 4000-foot intervals beginning at and including FL450; or
• On a magnetic track of 090 degrees clockwise to 269 degrees, any odd flight level at 4000-foot intervals beginning at and including FL430.

Question 13

When must a PIC of an aircraft operating under IFR within the NZFIR not maintain level cruising flight?

Answer 13

• At any level between 13,000 feet AMSL and FL150, unless authorised to do so by ATC.
• At any flight level below FL160 when the area QNH zone setting is 980 hPa or less.
• Below FL160 when operating in IMC within a 20nm radius around Mount Cook.

Question 14

When can a PIC of an aircraft operating under IFR within the NZFIR maintain level cruising flight between 13,000 ft and FL150?

Answer 14

• A PIC of an aircraft within the NZFIR operating under IFR outside controlled airspace may maintain level cruising flight between 13,000 ft AMSL and FL150 if the PIC:
• Is unable to operate the aircraft in level cruising flight at or below 13,000 feet AMSL or at or above FL 150
• Has established that there is no conflict with other aircraft at the altitude flown
• Has given to the relevant ATS unit prior notification of the altitude to be flown

Question 15

State the requirements for radio communications when operating under IFR?

Answer 15

• Each PIC of an aircraft operating under IFR shall, unless otherwise authorised by ATC:
• Maintain a continuous listening watch on the appropriate frequency; and
• Report as soon as possible to an appropriate ATS unit:
• The time and altitude of passing each designated reporting point, or the reporting points or the times specified by ATC; and
• Any other information relating to the safety of the flight.
• A PIC of an aircraft operating under IFR shall, while the aircraft is under radar control, report passing those reporting points specifically asked by ATC.