Pass Your Instrument Pilot Checkride

Question 1

What do you need to have done to apply for an Instrument check ride?

Answer 1

1. At least a Private Certificate.
2. 50 hours of Cross Country.
3. 40 Hours Instrument training, 15 with a CFII. 20 Hrs can be in a Sim.
4. Logged ground time and passed the written test.
5. 3 hours of training in the last 2 months.
6. 250 NM Cross country.

Question 2

When is a Flight Plan required and how long before a flight it be filed?

Answer 2

A Flight Plan is required to fly in Controlled Airspace under IFR. It should be filed at least 30 minutes before departure.

Question 3

Can a Flight Plan be cancelled?

Answer 3

Yes, if it’s VFR and you’re outside Class A. Cancel in flight by saying “Cancel my IFR Fight Plan”.

Question 4

Can a Flight Plan have IFR and VFR portions?

Answer 4

Yes, it’s called a Composite Flight plan. If you do this, ensure the IFR part is closed when you arrive at your destination.

Question 5

The Destination airport doesn’t have an Instrument procedure, but 1hr before and after ETA the weather is forecast to have a ceiling of at least 2,000 ft and 3 SM. Is an Alternate required?

Answer 5

Yes. It conforms to the 1-2-3 rule but it’s not got an IAP so an Alternate is required.

Question 6

When can an Airport be used as an Alternate?

Answer 6

If it has an Instrument procedure conforming to 2 SM visibility and 600 ft ceiling for a precision approach or 800 ft ceiling for a non-precision approach. Or if the airport doesn’t have an IAP, if it forecast to be VFR it can be used.

Question 7

Where are preferred routes found?

Answer 7

In the Chart Supplement. They’ve been established to improve efficiency and flow of traffic.

Question 8

What is a low enroute chart and how long are they valid?

Answer 8

IR chart used for flights up to18,000 ft. Valid for 56 days.

Question 9

What’s a NOTAM

Answer 9

A notice to airman is information that is either received too late for it to be added into a chart or official publication such as the Chart supplement or it’s of a temporary nature.

Question 10

What type of information is commonly included in NOTAMs?

Answer 10

1. Closure of runways, taxiways etc.
2. Nav aid availability

Question 11

What are the 3 types of NOTAMS

Answer 11

1. D NOTAMS - critical information such as airport closures.
2. L NOTAMS - closure of runways, failure of airport beacons etc.
3. FDC NOTAMS - regulation information such as Instrument procedure amendments.

Question 12

What are the errors associated with Compasses?

Answer 12

Turning error - on North/South turns, over steer South, understeer North (UNOS)
Acceleration error - due to DIP error, heading East/West, Acceleration indicates a turn to North, Deceleration indicates a turn to South (ANDS). The only time it can be considered accurate is when flying straight and level with a constant airspeed.

Question 13

Where can you find out about NOTAMs

Answer 13

1. National NOTAM system
2. Call FSS

Question 14

What is True altitude?

Answer 14

Altitude relative to sea level.

Question 15

What is Density altitude?

Answer 15

Pressure altitude corrected for non-standard temperature. It’s the altitude that the aircraft “feels” it’s at.

Question 16

What’s absolute altidude?

Answer 16

It’s the same as QFE.

Question 17

What is Slip and Skid?

Answer 17

Slip is too much bank and/or insufficient rudder. Skid is too little bank and/or too much rudder.

Question 18

When should the heading indicator be set at the beginning of a flight?

Answer 18

After 5 minutes, align it to the Compass heading. And check after taxi and turns prior to take-off.

Question 19

How do you check for VOR error over FAA VOR checkpoints?

Answer 19

1. Center the CDI needle
2. When over the check point there will be an indication of error is any exist.

Question 20

How do you check the accuracy of the VOR using a VOT on the ground?

Answer 20

1. Tune into the correct Frequency
2. Turn on the OBS
3. Center the CDI needle
4. 360 degrees will give a From, 180 degrees will give a To flag.
5. Any error will be indicated as the OBS error.

Question 21

How often must a VOR check be made and what must be recorded?

Answer 21

Every 30 days. Date and place of the check, bearing error (if any) who made the check (signature).

Question 22

At 30 NM and 60 NM how far off track is a DOT of displacement?

Answer 22

1 NM at 30 NM, 2 NM at 60 NM

Question 23

When can a GPS be used for IFR navigation?

Answer 23

1. If it’s approved by FAA
2. Databases must be up to date.
3. If there is an alternative (non GPS) form of navigation appropriate to the route of flight.

Question 24

What causes weather?

Answer 24

Temperature imbalances over the surface of the earth.

Question 25

What are Isobars?

Answer 25

Areas of equal pressure.

Question 25

What are the 3 forces influencing winds?

Answer 25

Pressure gradient force, Coriolis force, Surface friction.

Question 26

What is an Airmass?

Answer 26

A body of air with uniform temperature, and pressure.

Question 27

What is a Front?

Answer 27

The transition area between 2 airmasses, with different Temperature, Humidity and Wind.

Question 28

What are the 4 types of Front?

Answer 28

Warm, Cold, Occluded Cold fronts move faster and catch up Warm fronts), and Stationary.

Question 29

What change in conditions will you experience when you fly across a Front?

Answer 29

1. Change in Wind and Temperature.
2. With the passage of a Front (Warm or Cold) an airport may experience some windshear.

Question 30

What negative side effects are associated with Fronts?

Answer 30

Cold fronts - frontal waves, tornadoes, squall lines.

Question 31

Why is the lapse rate a useful tool for predicting weather?

Answer 31

It tells us about the stability of the air.

Question 32

What contributes to the growth rate of precipitation?

Answer 32

Upward movement of air and moisture. As the altitude increases the temperature decreases, condenses and falls as precipitation.

Question 33

Name the scenarios when an Instrument rating is mandatory for a flight.

Answer 33

1. Below VFR minimums.
2. In Class A.
3. PiC on an Instrument flight plan.
4. SVFR at night.

Question 34

When can we go below minimums on final?

Answer 34

1. One of the visual references is insight.
2. Stabilized approach using normal maneuvers and descent is possible.
3. Visibility is at or above approach plate requirement.