IFR Quick Review Guide Flashcards
When is an instrument rating required? 61.51
- -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 Airplane-Instrument rating minimum aeronautical experience?
- 50 hours X-country PIC time (of which 10 hr in airplane)
- 40 hours actual or simulated instrument time (of which 15 hrs with CFII)
- One X-country flight of 250NM along airways or directed by ATC, perform an instrument approach at each airport, 3 different kinds of approaches using navigation system, with a filed IFR flight plan
- 3 hours instrument flight training in last calendar months prior to practical test
What is the Simulator-Instrument rating minimum aeronautical experience?
- Approved full flight simulator or FTD, if trained by authorized instructor: Max. 30 hrs if completed under part 142, or 20 if not under part 142
- FAA approved aviation training device, if trained by an authorized instructor: Max 10hrs of instrument time if basic ATD, Max 20 hrs if instrument time if advanced training ATD
- No more than 20 hrs of total instrument time can be credited in a full flight simulator, FTD or ATD, expect the 30 hrs exception under part 142.
Recency of experience to act as PIC under IFR or wx conditions less than VFR. 61.57(C)
6HITS
- 6 instruments 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 instruments conditions
Not current looking back 6 months
- You can still log the required “6 HITS” with a safety pilot (under simulated conditions), examiner or instructor.
- Safety pilot requirements: at least a private pilot with appropriate category and class, have adequate vision forward and to each side of the aircraft, aircraft must have a dual control system.
Not current looking back 12 months. 61.57(d)
- Instrument proficiency check (IPC) by a CFII, examiner, or other approved person is required. Some IPC tasks, but not all, can be conducted in an FTD or ATD.
- To carry passengers as PIC: 3 takeoffs & landings in category, class and type in the las 90 days (at periods between 1hr after sunset and 1hr before sunrise must be to a full stop)
To act as PIC in the last 24 months
Flight review
What information must be recorded to meet recent instrument experience requirements?
- Location & type of each instrument approach accomplished
- The name of the safety pilot, if required.
- If using a flight simulator, FTD or ATD: and authorized instructor is present to observe and signs the person’s logbook to verify time and content of the session.
- for IFR recency requirements: log training device, time and content.
Personal documents required for flight
- Pilot certificate
- Medical certificate
- Authorized photo ID (passport, driver’s license, etc)
- Restricted radiotelephone operator permit (for flights outside the US)
AIRCRAFT DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR
FLIGHT
A - Airworthiness certificate
R - Registration certificate
R - Radio station license (for flights outside the US)
O - Operating limitations & information (in AFM)
W - Weight & Balance data (aircraft specific)
(§21.5, §91.103, §91.9, §91.203, ICAO Article 29)
AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE INSPECTIONS
REQUIRED FOR IFR
■ A - Airworthiness Directive (AD) required inspections.
(§39)
■ V - VOR check every 30 days. (For IFR; §91.171)
■ I - Inspections: (§91.409)
▷ Annual inspection - 12 Cal. Months (all aircraft).
▷ 100-hour (time-in-service) inspection required if:
□ Carrying a person for hire (other than crew
member), or
□ Flight instructing for hire in an aircraft provided by
the person giving the instruction.
□ “For hire” refers to the person , not the aircraft.
◦ Flight school providing airplane + instructor for hire:
100-hours required
◦ Student-owned aircraft: 100-hours not required.
◦ Rental (no pilot or instructor): 100-hr not required.
□ The 100-hr inspection may be exceeded by up to 10
hours if aircraft is enroute to a place where it can be
done. This additional time must be included in
computing the next 100-hours inspection.
□ An annual inspection can substitute for the 100-hour if
done within 100 hours of time-in-service.
▷ A progressive inspection schedule, if specifically
approved by the FAA, may replace the annual and 100
hour inspections.
■ A - Altimeter, automatic altitude reporting (used by
transponder) & static system every 24 calendar months.
(For IFR in controlled airspace; §91.411)
■ T - Transponder every 24 calendar months. (§91.413)
■ E - ELT (§91.207)
▷ inspected every 12 calendar months.
▷ Battery must be replaced after more than 1 hour of
cumulative transmitter use or if 50% of its useful life
has expired (or, for rechargeable batteries, 50% of the
useful life of charge has expired).
■ S - Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) required
inspections.
PREFLIGHT SELF-ASSESSMENT
■ I - Illness - Do I have any symptoms?
■ M - Medication - Have I taken prescription or over-thecounter drugs?
■ S - Stress - Am I under psychological pressure, worried
about finances, health or family discord?
■ A - Alcohol - No drinking within 8 hours. (“8 hours bottle to
throttle”). No more than .04% of alcohol in blood.
■ F - Fatigue - Am I tired / adequately rested?
■ E - Emotion - Am I emotionally upset?
(§91.17, AIM 8-1-1)
PREFLIGHT INFO REQUIRED FOR IFR: (§91.103)
■ N - NOTAMs.
■ W - Weather reports and forecasts.
■ K - Known traffic delays as advised by ATC.
■ R - Runway length of intended use.
■ A - Alternatives available if flight cannot be completed as
planned.
■ F - Fuel requirements
■ T - Takeoff and landing performance data.
RISK MANAGEMENT & PERSONAL MINIMUMS
■ P - Pilot (general health, physical / mental / emotional state,
proficiency, currency)
■ A - Aircraft (airworthiness, equipment, performance)
■ V - EnVironment (weather hazards, terrain, airports /
runways to be used & other conditions)
■ E - External pressure (meetings, people waiting at
destination, etc.)
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
PASSENGER BRIEFING
■ S
▷ Seat belts fastened for taxi, takeoff, landing.
▷ Shoulder harness fastened for takeoff, landing.
▷ Seat position adjusted and locked in place
■ A
▷ Air vents location and operation
▷ All environmental controls (discussed)
▷ Action in case of any passenger discomfort
■ F
▷ Fire extinguisher (location and operation)
■ E
▷ Exit doors (how to secure; how to open)
▷ Emergency evacuation plan
▷ Emergency/survival kit (location and contents)
■ T
▷ Traffic (scanning, spotting, notifying pilot)
▷ Talking, sterile flight deck expectations
■ Y
▷ Your questions? Speak up!
TAXI BRIEFING
■ A - Assigned / planned runway.
■ R - Route.
■ C - Crossings and hold short instructions.
■ H - Hot spots & Hazards s (e.g., NOTAMs, closed taxiways/
runways, surface condition).
TAKEOFF BRIEFING
D - Departure review (e.g. takeoff type, initial heading, first fix &
course, clearance readout).
E - Establish Expectations (e.g., flying pilot, PIC, positive
transfer of controls).
P - Plan / special considerations (e.g., weather, visibility, terrain,
unfamiliar field, inoperative equipment / MELs).
A - Alternate (takeoff alternate, if needed, or return plan)
R - Runway conditions and length.
T - Trouble / Tactics (e.g., rejected takeoff, engine failure).
S - Speak up! Questions / concerns?
IFR FLIGHT PLAN REQUIREMENTS
■ Requirement: 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.
§91.173
How to file an IFR flight plan?
▷ FSS
□ by phone (1-800-WX-BRIEF)
■ over the radio (GCO/RCO frequencies)
□ In person.
▷ Online
□ www.1800wxbrief.com (Leido)
□ www.fltplan.com (Garmin)
▷ EFB (e.g., Foreflight)
▷ With ATC (over radio, or phone if no other mean available)
■ File at least 30 minutes prior to estimated departure. Nonscheduled flights above FL230 should be filed at least 4
hours before est. departure time. (AIM 5-1-8)
Flight plan cancelation (AIM 5-1-15)
▷ Towered airports - automatically cancelled by ATC upon
landing.
▷ Non-towered airports - Pilot must contact ATC / FCC to
cancel (by radio or phone)
▷ Can cancel anytime in flight if out of IMC and out of
class A airspace.
IFR MINIMUM FUEL REQUIREMENTS §91.167
- Fuel to fly & land to destination airport
- Thereafter, fuel to fly & land to most distant alternate
- Thereafter, fuel to fly 45 min at normal cruise speed in still air.
NEED A DESTINATION ALTERNATE?
A destination alternate is always required, unless:
■ An instrument approach is published and
available for the destination, AND,
■ For at least 1 hour before to 1 hour after ETA:
▷ Ceiling will be at least 2000’ above airport
elevation; and
▷ Visibility will be at least 3 SM.
§91.169
MIN WX 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.
§91.169
FILING AN ALTERNATE - GPS CONSIDERATIONS
■ 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.
AIM 1-1-17b.5, 1-1-18c.9, 1-2-3d
IFR CRUISING ALTITUDES §91.179
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)
