When is an instrument rating required?
- When acting as PIC under IFR or in weather
conditions less than prescribed for VFR. - When carrying passengers for compensation
or hire on cross-country flights in excess of
50 NM or at night. - For flight in Class A airspace
- For Special VFR between sunset and sunrise
What is the minimum aeronautical experience required for the instrument rating?
- 50 hours X-Country PIC time
- 40 hours actual or simulated instrument time
▷ Of which, 15 hours with CFII.
□ Including one X-Country flight of:
□ 250 NM along airways or by directed ATC
routing.
□ An instrument approach at each airport.
□ 3 different kinds of approaches using
navigation systems.
□ With a filed IFR flight plan.
□ 3 hours instrument flight training in last 2 calendar
months prior to practical test - Use of approved full flight simulator or FTD, if trained by
authorized instructor:
▷ Max. 30 hours if instrument time completed under part
142
▷ Max 20 hours if not completed under 142 - Use of FAA approved Aviation Training Device, if trained
by an authorized instructor:
▷ Max 10 hours of instrument time if basic ATD
▷ Max 20 hours of instrument time if advanced ATD - No more than 20 hours of total instrument time can be
credited in a full flight simulator, FTD or ATD, except the
30 hours exception under part 142 mentioned above.
What is the VFR recency of experience required?
- Flight review every 24 months
- 3 TOLs in the previous 90 days
- If carrying passengers at night, those TOLs must be from a period of 1 hour after sunset to 1 hour before sunrise to a full stop
(The takeoffs and landings may be accomplished in a
FFS or FTD if it is approved for landings and used in a
part 142 training center.)
What is the recency of experience requirements? (under IFR in weather conditions less than VFR)
“6 HITS”
Within 6 calendar months preceding the month of
flight:
■ 6 instrument approaches.
■ Holding procedures & tasks.
■ Intercepting & Tracking courses through the use of
navigational electronic systems.
■ The above can be completed in a FFS, ATD, or FTD
provided the device represents the category of
aircraft for the instrument rating privileges to be
maintained and the pilot performs the tasks and
iterations in simulated instrument conditions. A flight
instructor is not needed.
No “6 HITS” logged looking back six months?
a. Safety pilot requirements?
b. Reg?
You have an additional 6 months to regain currency by
performing the “6 HITS” with a safety pilot (under
simulated conditions), an instructor or examiner.
a. Holds at least a private pilot certificate with the
appropriate category and class.
▷ Have adequate vision forward and to each side of
the aircraft.
▷ Aircraft must have a dual control system.
b. 61.57(c)
More than 6 months since IFR current?
An Instrument Proficiency Check (IPC) is required.
Administered by a CFII, examiner, or other approved
person. Guidelines are in the ACS.
■ Some IPC tasks, but not all, can be conducted in a FTD
or ATD. (See ACS)
- To meet recent instrument experience requirements, the
following information must be recorded in the person’s
logbook:
■ Location & type of each instrument approach
accomplished, and
■ The name of the safety pilot, if required.
Is there an IFR recency of experience exemption?
Yes, a PIC who is actively employed by a part 121 or 135 operator is exempt from the IFR recency of experience requirements of part 61.57 when operating under part 91, 121 or 135 (as applicable) for that operator as long as he complies with recency of experience requirements applicable for that operation.
What are the requirements of use of full flight sim, FTD, or ATD for acquiring instrument aeronautical experience?
For training towards a certificate or rating, an authorized instructor is present to observe and signs the person’s logbook to verify the time and content of the session.
■ For IFR recency requirements, log:
▷ Training device, time and content
What are the requirements of logging instrument approach procedures?
- You must operate the aircraft, FFS, ATD or FTD solely by reference to instruments.
▷ A flight instructor may log an IAP conducted by the student in actual IMC. - Be established on each required segment of the IAP down to its published minimums.
▷ The initial (starting at the IAF), intermediate and final approach segments are required for logging the approach, unless:
▷ When radar vectored to final by ATC. (In simulated IMC, vectors from the safety pilot are also accepted). - If conducted in simulated IMC in an aircraft, or in a FFS, ATD or FTD, simulated conditions must continue down to MDA or DA.
- In an aircraft, flight must be in actual or simulated IMC.
- In an aircraft, if conditions change from actual IMC to VMC during the final approach segment, you can still log the approach.
What is the “DECIDE” model for decision making?
■ D - Detect that a change has occurred.
■ E - Estimate the need to counter the change.
■ C - Choose a desirable outcome.
■ I - Identify solutions.
■ D - Do the necessary actions.
■ E - Evaluate the effects of the actions
Taxi Briefing?
■ A - Assigned / planned runway.
■ R - Route.
■ C - Crossings and hold short instructions.
■ H - Hot spots & hazards (e.g., NOTAMs, closed
taxiways/runways, surface condition).
What are the requirements of an IFR flight plan?
■ No person may operate an aircraft in controlled
airspace under IFR unless that person has:
▷ Filed an IFR flight plan; and
▷ Received an appropriate ATC clearance.
■ It is legal to fly IFR in uncontrolled airspace (class G)
without a flight plan or clearance. However, once airborne,
you must remain in uncontrolled airspace until you file a
flight plan and get an ATC clearance to enter the controlled
airspace.
How to file an IFR flight plan?
▷ FSS
□ by phone (1-800-WX-BRIEF)
□ over the radio (GCO/RCO)
□ In person.
▷ Online
□ www.1800wxbrief.com (Leido)
□ www.fltplan.com (Garmin)
▷ EFB (e.g., Foreflight)
▷ With ATC (over radio, or phone if no other means available)
□ Pop-up IFR clearances let pilots transition from VFR to
IFR, even without a previously filed flight plan
(required by §91.173(a)), under ATC authorization.
□ While filing a flight plan (with FSS) is preferred, pop-ups
allow to quickly get the flight into the system. (i.e, when
weather is deteriorating fast during VFR). They are
subject to ATC workload and not guaranteed.
□ You must be at or above the minimum IFR altitude, or
climb to it under VFR.
How long in advance do you need to file an IFR flight plan?
File at least 30 minutes prior to estimated departure. Nonscheduled flights above FL230 should be filed at least 4 hours before est. departure time.
How do you cancel an IFR flight plan?
▷ Towered airports - automatically canceled by ATC upon
landing.
▷ Non-towered airports - Pilot must contact ATC / FSS to
cancel (by radio or phone)
▷ Can cancel anytime in flight if out of IMC and out of
class A airspace
What are the IFR minimum fuel requirements?
Enough fuel to the destination airport, plus:
- To the most distant alternate, plus:
- 45 min at normal cruise speed
When is a destination alternate required?
0-1-2-3 rule
- There are 0 IAPs available at the destination, or
- For at least 1 hour before to 1 hour after ETA:
- Ceiling is forecasted to be less than 2000’ above airport
elevation; and
- Visibility is forecasted to be less than 3 SM.
What are the minimum weather conditions required at an airport to list it as an alternate?
The alternate airport minima published in the
procedure charts, or, if none:
■ Precision approach:
600 ft ceiling and 2 SM visibility.
■ Non-precision approach:
800 ft ceiling and 2 SM visibility.
■ No instrument approach available at the
alternate?
- Ceiling & visibility must allow descent from MEA,
approach and landing under VFR.
What are some GPS considerations for filing an alternate?
- Equipped with a non-WAAS GPS? You can flight
plan based on GPS approaches at either the
destination or the alternate, but not at both. - WAAS Without baro-VNAV? May base the flight
plan on use of LNAV approaches at both the
destination and alternate. - WAAS with baro-VNAV? May base the flight plan
on use of LNAV/VNAV or RNP 0.3 at both the
destination and the alternate.
IFR CRUISING ALTITUDES
– In uncontrolled airspace
Based on magnetic course:
- Below FL290
0º-179º ODD thousands (below 18,000’)
or Flight Levels (at or above FL180)
180º-359º EVEN thousands (below 18,000’) or Flight
Levels (at or above FL180)
- Above FL290 (in non-RVSM)
0º-179º Flight Levels at 4,000’ increments starting at
FL290 (e.g., FL 290, 330, 370)
180º-359º Flight Levels at 4,000’ increments starting at
FL310 (e.g., FL 310, 350, 390)
- Above FL290-FL410 (in RVSM)
0º-179º Odd Flight Levels at 2,000’ intervals starting at
FL290 (e.g., FL 290, 310, 330)
180º-359º Even Flight Levels at 2,000’ intervals starting
at FL300 (e.g., FL 300, 320, 340)
– In controlled airspace
IFR Cruising altitudes are as assigned by ATC.
IFR TAKEOFF MINIMUMS
No T/O minimums mandated for part 91 operations.
Part
121, 125, 129, 135:
■ Prescribed T/O minimums for the runway, or, if none:
■ 1-2 engines airplanes: 1 SM visibility
■ More than 2 engines: ½ SM visibility
- Upside down triangle with T inside: Non-Standard TO mins / Departure Procedures.
- Triangle with A inside: Non-Standard IFR alternate minimums exist.
- Triangle with A inside + NA: Alternate minimums not authorized due to
unmonitored facility or the absence of weather
reporting service.
Departure procedures (DP) ensure obstacle clearance, provided:
a. FPNM to Feet-Per-Minute conversion:
The airplane crossed the departure end of the
runway at least 35 ft AGL,
▷ reaches 400 ft AGL before turning, AND
▷ climbs at least 200 Feet per NM (FPNM), or as
published otherwise on the chart.
a. FPM = FPNM X Groundspeed / 60
What are two types of DPs?
- Obstacle Departure Procedure (ODP)
□ Provides only obstacle clearance.
□ Printed either textually or graphically.
□ Graphic ODPs are titled “(OBSTACLE).” - Standard Instrument Departure (SID)
□ In addition to obstacle clearance it reduces
pilot and controller workload by simplifying
ATC clearances and minimizing radio
communications.
□ May depict special radio failure procedures.
□ SIDs are always printed graphically.
What are the types of DPs, depending on equipment required:
a. Are you required to accept a SID?
Non-RNAV DP - for use by aircraft equipped with
ground-based navigation (i.e., VOR, DME, NDB).
▷ RNAV DP - for aircraft equipped with RNAV
equipment (e.g., GPS, VOR/DME, DME/DME).
Require at least RNAV 1 performance. Identified with
the word “RNAV” in the title.
▷ RADAR DP - ATC radar vectors to an ATS route,
NAVAID, or fix are used after departure. RADAR
DPs are annotated “RADAR REQUIRED.”
a. No, but you must remark “No SIDs” in flight plan
