IFR Knowledge

Question 1

IFR required equipment

Answer 1

Generator/Alternator 
Radios 
Altimeter 
Ball 
Clock
Attitude indicator 
Rate of turn indicator 
Directional Gyro

Question 2

Instrument Cockpit Check

Answer 2

Magnetic compass-full of fluid no leaks or cracks. Deviation card present
Airspeed-zero knots
Attitude indicator-wings level
Altimeter is adjusted and reads within 75’ of field
VSI-zero FPM
HSI matches Compass

When turning,
rate banks in correct direction and ball opposite direction
HSI and Compass move freely
Attitude indicator does not bank

Question 3

When do you need an instrument rating?

Answer 3

• Filing an IFR flight
• Flying less than VFR minimums
• Special VFR at night

Question 4

What do you need to fly IFR as far as recent experience?

Answer 4

Within the preceding 6 months:
-6 approaches 
-Holding 
-Intercepting 
-Tracking 
(66 HIT)

Question 5

What if you do not accomplish your required IFR recency within the preceding six months?

Answer 5

A 6 month grace period is authorized and you can go up with a safety pilot to accomplish 66 HIT

If you don’t do that, you need an IPC

Question 6

What is required for the IFR checkride?

Answer 6

40 hours of simulated IMC 
15 hours of instruction 
50 hours XC time PIC 
Written done 
Practical test endorsement

Question 7

A TAF covers:

Answer 7

5 mile radius around the airport and is valid for 30 hours.

They are updated 4 times a day at 6 hour intervals

Question 8

Types of AIRMETS

Answer 8

S: IFR conditions, mountain obs
T: Turbulence
Z: Icing

Question 9

How can you check weather in flight?

Answer 9

FSS
Center and approach 
PIREPS 
iPad if equipped 
HIWAS on VOR’s

Question 10

Legal fuel requirements for IFR

Answer 10

Fly to destination, shoot a missed approach, arrive at alternate with 45 min fuel remaining at normal cruise

Question 11

How do you locate a preferred route for IFR flight planning?

Answer 11

Use the feature on foreflight,

NFDC preferred routes on the FAA website, or chart supplement

Question 12

How can you file an IFR flight plan?

Answer 12

Call FSS, use DUATS, or file on foreflight

Question 13

How to close an IFR flight plan at a non towered airport

Answer 13

Cancel in the air is landing assured, call FSS on phone or RCO, contact center or approach using radio if in range.

Question 14

Oxygen requirements

Answer 14

From 12,500 to 14,000 for more than 30 min

Above 14,000 pilots need continuous O2

Above 15,000 passengers need O2

Question 15

When do you need an alternate?

Answer 15

The 123 rule.
You always need an alternate unless from 1 hour before to 1 hour after your ETA, the weather is forecasted to be greater than 2,000’ ceilings and greater than 3SM visibility

Question 16

What is required of an alternate?

Answer 16

• if the airport has a precision approach it needs weather to be at least 600’ ceiling and 2SM visibility at time of arrival
• if the airport has non precision approaches it needs weather to be at least 800’ and 2SM visibility at time of arrival.
• if no approach present, you must be able to descend from MEA to land under VFR conditions

(All of this applies to standard alternate minimums, non standard as indicated on a plate by a black “A” would take priority)

Question 17

What is RAIM

Answer 17

Radio Autonomous Integrity Monitoring

It cross checks positional data between satellites to provide redundancy and accuracy.

You need 5 satellites minimum to achieve RAIM

Question 18

What is WAAS

Answer 18

Wide area augmentation system

It uses ground based positional data that communicates with the GPS to allow for increased accuracy and sensitivity that is required for LPV type approaches that provide vertical guidance.

Question 19

What do you have to do if a piece of equipment is inop?

Answer 19

Determine it is not required
Placard
Deactivate
Mechanic logbook entry

Question 20

Can you legally fly IFR with an expired NAV database?

Answer 20

Yes, however you need to check each point to ensure they have not changed or moved

Question 21

CRAFT

Answer 21

Clearance 
Route 
Altitude 
Frequency 
Transponder code

Question 22

IFR lost comms

Answer 22

AVEF MEA

Route: 
-Assigned 
-Vectored 
-Expected 
-Filed 
Altitude: 
Highest of:
-MEA
-Expected 
-Assigned

Question 23

What is a clearance void time?

Answer 23

A time given typically at non towered airports. If not off the ground by that time, clearance is void and you need to request a new one. If you don’t take off and do nothing, they will send search and rescue