Instrument Flashcards
Pirep
Pilot weather report
Metar
Routine surface weather report. Every hour.
SPECI ISSUED WHEN SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN ONE or more reported elements since last metar
TAF
Terminal aero dome forecast
5SM around station
Issued 4 times a day, every 6 hours
Class B airspace dimensions
Surface to 10,000 MSL
Inner ring 10NM
Outer ring 30NM
Class D airspace dimensions
4NM radius 2500 AGL
Hold for release
May not takeoff until being released for IFR departure
VOR check sign off
(hint: DEPS)
Date
Error
Place
Signature
Magnetic compass errors and limitations (hint: DVMONA)
Deviation
Variation
Magnetic dip
Oscillation
North/south turn errors (UNOS- undershoot north/overshoot south)
Acceleration errors (ANDS - accelerate north/decelerate south)
Oxygen requirements
Part 91 only: part 121 and 135 are different
12,500-14,000 crew must use O2 for flight over 30 min
+14,000 crew must be provided and use O2 for total duration of flight
+15,000 each occupant must be provided with O2
Instrument Ice
Structural ice forming over aircraft
Instruments and sensors: pitot + static
Minimum equipment required for VFR day flight (hint: ATOMATOFLAMES)
Altimeter Tachometer Oil temp indicator- each engine Manifold pressure gauge- each engine Airspeed indicator Temperature gauge - for each liquid Oil pressure gauge- each engine Fuel quantity gauge - each tank Landing gear position lights (retractable) Anti collision lights Magnetic compass ELT (if required by 91.207) Safety belts/shoulder harnesses
Airspace speed limits
Less than 10,000 250kts
Below class B 200kts
Class C/D within 4NM and below 250-200kts
Above 10,000 Mach 1
Static port blockage
Airspeed indicator- shows correct speed if you at altitude blockage occurred
Lower altitude - higher than it should
Higher altitude - lower than it should
Altimeter - will freeze on altitude where it was blocked
VSI - freezes on zero
Gyroscopic instruments
Attitude indicator- rigidity in space
Heading indicator- rigidity in space
Turn indicators - principle of precession
DP(departure procedure)
- must be assigned by ATP
- must at least possess textual description
- provides obstruction clearance from terminal area to the enroute structure
- detailed procedure to depart airport
- transition to enroute structure safely
Approach clearance minimums
Contact +visual
Contact:
- must be requested by the pilot
- at least 1sm reported ground visibility and remain clear of clouds
- available at airports with approved instrument approach procedures
Visual:
- initiated by pilot or ATC
- Requires at least 1000’ ceilings + 3sm visibility
- pilot must have airport or traffic to follow in sight at all times
4 parts of an ILS
Localizer
Glide slope
Marker beacons
Approach light system
Mandatory reports under IFR
Hint: MARVELOUSVFR500
Missed approach Airspeed +\- 10kts Reaching holding fix(time+alt) VFR on top ETA change +\- 3 min Leaving holding fix/point Outer marker Unforecasted weather Safety of flight Vacating an altitude/FL Final approach fix Radio/Nav failure Compulsory reporting points 500 unable climb/descent 500 fpm
*required only in non radar environment
What are your personal minimums
1000ft ceiling + 3sm visibility
Lower mins over time with experience
Preflight self assessment
Hint: IMSAFE
Illness Medication Stress Alcohol Fatigue Emotion
To carry passengers as PIC
- 3 takeoffs and landings in last 90 days in same category, class, and type
- periods between 1 hour after sunset to 1 hour before sunrise: 3 takeoffs and landings to a full stop in last 90 days during that period
- to act as PIC; flight review in last 24 calendar months
Holding pattern timing
Adjust outbound leg so inbound leg takes:
- at or below 14,000 MSL 1 min
- above 14,000 MSL 1.5 min
- DME/GPS holds -fly outbound leg to the specified distance from the fix/waypoint
Aircraft documents required for flight
Hint: ARROW
Airworthiness certificate Registration certificate Radio station license (for international flights) Operating limitations + AFM Weight + Balance data
Class B airspace, basic VFR weather minimums
3SM visibility +stay clear of clouds
Class C airspace, Basic VFR weather minimums
3SM, 1000 above, 500 below, 2000 horizontal (3152)
Class D airspace, basic VFR weather minimums
3SM, 1000 above, 500 below, 2000 horizontal (3152)
Class C airspace dimensions
Surface to 4000 MSL
Inner ring 5NM
Outer ring 10NM 1,200-4000’
Pitot blockage
Only affects airspeed indicator
- RAM air clogged + drain hole open airspeed will drop to zero
- both clogged airspeed acts as altimeter
- drain clogged airspeed will read faster
Leaving the clearance limit
Is the clearance limit a fix from which an approach begins?
Yes: start descent and approach as close as possible to the EFC or (ETA if no EFC)
No: at EFC or clearance limit(if no EFC), proceed to a fix from which an approach begins and start the approach
Expect departure clearance time (EDCT)
Runway release time given under traffic management programs at busy airports. Aircraft are expected to depart no earlier and no later than 5 min from EDCT
ODP
Obstacle departure procedure
- only provides obstruction clearance
- may be flown without an ATC clearance unless a DP(SID) or other instructions are assigned
What is a contact approach?
- the pilot may deviate from the published instrument approach procedure and proceed to the destination airport by visual reference to the surface
What is a visual approach?
- where the pilot proceeds by visual reference and clear of clouds to the airport
- must have airport or traffic to follow in sight at all times
Visual descent point (VDP)
Defined point on the final approach course of a non-precision straight in approach procedure from which normal descent from MDA to runway touchdown point may begin provided adequate visual reference is established
What is structural ice?
3 types
- visible moisture, aircraft surface temp below freezing
Rime
Clear
mixed
What is needed to descend below MDA or DA?
- Flight visibility
- Position to land in TDZ using normal maneuvers
- RW environment in sight
Required equipment for VFR night
FLAPS
All VFR day equipment +
Fuses Landing light Anti collision light Position lights (NAV lights) Source of power (battery)
Aircraft maintenance inspections required for IFR (AVIATE)
Annual inspection (12 calendar months) VOR (30 days) 100 hour inspection (if for hire) Altimeter, altitude reporting and static system (24 calendar months) Transponder (24 calendar months) ELT (12 calendar months)
Clearance void time
- time at which your clearance is void and after which you may not takeoff
- must notify ATC within 30 min after void time if you did not depart
Marker beacons
- provides range info over specific points along ILS approach
Outer marker: 4-7 miles out, aircraft should intercept glide slope +- 50ft. Blue
Middle marker: 3500 ft from runway, glide slope meets decision height, 200ft above TD zone. Amber
Inner marker: between MM and RW threshold, glide slope meets decision height on CAT II ILS approach
Convective sigmet
- inflight advisory of convective weather significant to all aircraft
- issued hourly and valid for 2
- issued for: Severe thunderstorms due to; surface winds > or = to 50kts, hail at surface > than 3/4 inch Tornadoes Embedded thunderstorms Line of thunderstorm at 60 miles long
Sigmet
- a nonscheduled in flight advisory of non convective weather potentially hazardous to all types of aircraft
- forecast period is 4 hours max
- issued when: (not associated with thunderstorms) severe icing, severe turbulence, dust/sand storms, volcanic ash
Airmet
- advisory of significant weather at lower intensities than sigmet. Valid for 6 hours
- Airmet(T): mod-turb. Surface winds of 30kts or >, non-convective low level wind shear
- Airmet(Z): mod-icing, provides freezing level heights
- Airmet(S): IFR conditions, extensive mountain obscurations
Fog + Types
- a cloud that begins w/in 50ft of the surface
- occurs when ground air temp reaches dew point or dew point is raised to OAT by added moisture to air
- radiation: calm, clear nights. Ground cools rapidly
- advection: warm moist air over a cold surface
- upslope: moist stable air forces up terrain slope and cooled to dew point by adiabetic cooling
- steam: cold dry air moves over warm water
WAAS
- Wide area augmentation system
- errors are broadcasted back to satellite and then to aircraft equipped w/ GPS WAAS receivers
- covers wide area
- allows for APV approaches such as LPV LNAV/VNAV
RAIM
- range autonomous integrity monitoring
- function of GPS receivers that monitors the integrity of the satellite signals
- minimum of 5 satellites or 4 +baro aid
- fault exclusion = 6 satellites or 5 + baro aid
Do not fly a procedure turn when?
SHARPTT
Straight in approach Hold in lieu Arc Radar vectored to final P no PT Timed approach Teardrop course reversal
IFR takeoff minimums
- no T/O minimums for part 91 ops
- part 121, 125, 129, 135:
- prescribed T/O minimums for specific runway or if none:
- 1-2 engines 1SM visibility
- more than 2 engines 1/2SM visibility
Max holding speeds
- up to 6000 MSL 200 kts
- 6001 to 14,000 MSL 230 kts
- above 14,000 MSL 265 kts
- may be restricted to 175 kts on some instrument approach procedures
- at air force fields 310 kts
- at Navy fields 230 kts
STAR
Standard terminal arrival route
- serves as a transition from the enroute structure to a point from which an approach can begin
- transitions routes connect en route fixes to the STAR procedure
VOR limitations and receiver checks
Limitations:
- cone of confusion
- reverse sensing
- requires line of sight to station
Receiver checks(every 30 cal days):
- VOT +- 4
- repair station +- 4
- VOR ground checkpoint +/- 4
- VOR airborne checkpoint +/- 6
- dual VOR cross-check +/- 4
- above prominent ground landmark +/- 6
When using alternate static source, what happens?
Airspeed - indicated faster than it should
Altimeter - indicate higher than it should
VSI - momentarily show a climb
Lost communications procedure
Altitude to fly (MEA)
Route to fly (AVEF)
Fly the highest among:
Minimum altitude prescribed for IFR
Expected
A - last altitude assigned
In order: Assigned route or if none Vectored E - last expected Filed route
Instrument approach types
Non-precision/precision
Non-precision (MDA) - lateral navigation LOC/VOR/GPS VOR: VOR approach RNAV: GPS approach LOC: localizer approach LDA: localizer directional aid
Precision (DA)
- lateral/localizer and vertical/glide slope
ILS: instrument landing system
3 ways to enter straight in = no PT
Full procedure turn = procedure turn
Circling
IFR flight plan
- required before entering controlled airspace under IFR or IMC conditions
- how to file: FSS, DUATs, radio or phone w/ ATC
- file at least 30 min prior to est departure time
- stored in system for 1.5 hours after proposed departure time
- towered airports: automatically canceled by ATC upon landing
- non-towered: must contact ATC or FSS to cancel
- can cancel anytime not in IMC or class A
Preflight info required for IFR
Hint: NWKRAFT
Notams
Weather reports and forecasts
Known ATC delays
Runway lengths and info
Alternatives available if flight cannot be complete as planned
Fuel requirements
Takeoff and landing performance data (minimums)
Enroute weather information sources
EFAS HIWAS ATIS ASOS AWOS
What is induction ice? (2 types)
- ice reducing amount of air for engine intake
- intake ice
- carburetor ice: steep temp drop in carburetor Venturi. OAT between -7 to 21 degrees and high humidity (80%)
Required equipment for IFR day and night (GRABCARD)
- for IFR day: all VFR day equip + grabcard
- for IFR night: all VFR day + VFR night +
Generator/alternator
Radios
Altimeter adjustable for barometric pressure
Ball (slip/skid indicator)
Clock installed as part of aircraft equipment
Attitude indicator
Rate of turn indicator
Directional gyro
When is an IFR rating required?
- Under IFR, controlled airspace
- WX minimums < vfr
- Class A airspace
- Special VFR at night
Risk management + personal minimums
PAVE
Pilot
Aircraft
Environment
External pressure
Position report items
Aircraft ID Position Time Altitude/FL Type of flight plan ETA to next fix Name of next reporting point along route Any pertinent remarks
