IFR Cross-Country Flight Planning

Question 1

How did you select your route?

Answer 1

Factors include preferred IFR routes, airways, terrain, weather, alternate airports, and ATC guidance. Online tools like ForeFlight and FAA preferred route databases are useful.

Ref: AIM 5-1-8

Question 2

What are the different ways to plan an IFR cross-country?

Answer 2

Use preferred IFR routes, low/high-altitude enroute charts, GPS direct routing, or TEC routes for short distances.

Ref: AIM 5-1-8

Question 3

What is an IFR Preferred Route?

Answer 3

Routes pre-designed by ATC to optimize traffic flow and avoid conflicts. They simplify planning and reduce workload for pilots and controllers.

Ref: AIM 5-1-8

Question 4

What is a TEC Route?

Answer 4

Tower Enroute Control (TEC) routes provide IFR routing between metro areas at low altitudes, generally below 10,000 feet.

Ref: AIM 5-1-8

Question 5

How did you select your altitude?

Answer 5

Considerations include aircraft performance, terrain clearance, IFR minimum altitudes (MEA/MOCA), winds aloft, and weather.

Ref: PHAK Chapter 16

Question 6

What factors affected your flight planning?

Answer 6

Weather, fuel requirements, alternates, traffic flow, airspace restrictions, and terrain.

Ref: PHAK Chapter 16

Question 7

How did you calculate top of climb?

Answer 7

Use groundspeed, rate of climb, and altitude change.

Formula:
TOCDistance
=
AltitudeChange
RateofClimb
×
Groundspeed
TOCDistance=
RateofClimb
AltitudeChange

×Groundspeed

Ref: PHAK Chapter 10

Question 8

How did you find your TAS for the flight plan?

Answer 8

Calculated using POH performance charts, adjusted for pressure altitude and temperature.

Ref: POH Section 5

Question 9

What are the IFR Fuel Requirements for this flight?

Answer 9

Enough fuel to reach the destination, alternate (if required), and 45 minutes of reserve at normal cruise.

Ref: FAR 91.167

Question 10

Does the initial or cruise altitude go on your filed flight plan?

Answer 10

The initial cruising altitude is entered on the flight plan.

Ref: AIM 5-1-8

Question 11

Why would your clearance differ from your flight plan?

Answer 11

ATC adjusts for traffic, weather, airspace restrictions, or preferred routes.

Ref: AIM 5-1-8

Question 12

What are the different ways of receiving an IFR clearance at a non-towered airport?

Answer 12

Call Clearance Delivery (if available).

Call ATC via phone (FSS or Direct ATC line).

Use a Remote Communications Outlet (RCO).

Leidos EasyClearance system.

Ref: AIM 5-2-3

Question 13

How do you close an IFR flight plan at a non-towered airport?

Answer 13

Contact Flight Service or ATC by radio or phone immediately after landing.

Ref: AIM 5-1-15

Question 14

When is an alternate airport required?

Answer 14

If weather at the destination airport is below:

2,000 ft ceiling or
3 SM visibility within 1 hour before/after ETA.

Ref: FAR 91.169

Question 15

What factors go into your decision when choosing an alternate airport?

Answer 15

Weather, available approaches, fuel availability, distance, and airport facilities.

Ref: FAR 91.169

Question 16

What are the standard alternate minimums?

Answer 16

Precision approach: 600 ft ceiling, 2 SM visibility.
Non-precision approach: 800 ft ceiling, 2 SM visibility.

Ref: FAR 91.169