Pilots Cafe (Instrument Training) Flashcards
When is an instrument rating required?
- When acting as PIC under IFR or in weather conditions less than prescribed for VFR (61.3)
- When carrying passengers for compensation or hire on cross country flights in excess of 50nm or at night (61.133)
- Flight in class A airspace (91.135)
- Special VFR between sunset and sunrise (91.157)
To act as PIC
To act as PIC (61.56)
- Flight review 24 calendar months before the month of flight. Consists of 1 hour of flight training and 1 hour of ground training
- can be substituted by a proficiency check, practical test, WINGS program, flight instructor renewal
- A flight simulator or FTD may be used to meet the flight review requirements (part 142, same aircraft)
To carry passengers as PIC (61.57)
-3 takeoffs and landings in the same category, class, and type in the last 90 days
- Night, 3 takeoffs and landings 1 hour after sunset, 1 hour before sunrise. Full stop.
To act as PIC under IFR or in weather conditions less than VFR minimums (61.57(c))
- Within the 6 calendar months preceding the month of flight, you performed or logged (in actual or simulated)
‘6HITS’
6 instrument approaches
Holding procedures and tasks
Intercepting and tracking courses through the use of navigational electronic systems. - Additional 6 months to regain currency with safety pilot
- If past additional 6 months Instrument proficiency check (IPC)
When can you log instrument time?
61.57
- A person may log instrument time only for that flight time when the person operate the aircraft solely by reference to instruments under actual or simulated instrument flight conditions
- An authorized instructor may log instrument time when conducting flight instruction in actual instrument flight conditions
What must be in an IPC?
- Air traffic control clearances and procedures
- Flight by reference to instruments
- Navigation systems
- Instrument approach procedures
- Emergency operations
- Post flight procedures
Logging Instrument Approach Procedures - Requirements
- operate solely by reference to instruments
- Be established on each required segment of the IAP down to its published minimums. (IE initial, intermediate, and final approach segments unless vectored to the approach
- If in simulated, down to minimums
- if in actual just need to start the FAF in IMC or go through a cloud on descent.
Personal documents required for flight
Medical
ID
Certificate
Aircraft documents required for flight
ARROW
Airworthiness certificate
Registration certificate
Radio station license
Operating limitations and information (AFM)
Weight and balance
Aircraft Maintenance inspections required
AAVIATES
Annual
ADs
Vor check (30 days)
100 hour inspection for hire
Altimeter and static system (24 calendar months)
Transponder (24 calendar months)
ELT (12 calendar months, 1 hour, 50% useful life)
STC (supplemental type certificate
When is an IFR flight plan required?
When under IFR in a controlled airspace.
Must file and receive appropriate clearance.
How to file an IFR flight plan?
FSS
phone (1800 wx brief)
over the radio (GCO/RCO)
in person
—–
Online
1800wxbrief.com
www.fltplan.com
—–
EFB
foreflight or garmin
—-
ATC
radio or phone
Pop up IFR clearance
—-
File 30 minutes before departure
Scheduled flights file 4 hours before departure
Pop Up IFR Clearance
-Can ask for one in VFR conditions
-Subject to ATC workload
-Must be at or above minimum IFR altitude or climb to it under VFR
How to cancel flight plans (AIM 5-1-15)
Towered - Automatically
Non-towered - Contact ATC/ FSS to cancel
A pilot may cancel IFR flight anytime out of IMC and out of Class A
Preferred IFR routes
Published in the Chart Supplement. The AIM recommends filing a preferred route if one is available. (AIM 5-1-6)
How do you know if an alternate destination is required? (91.169)
1-2-3 rule
A destination alternate is always required unless:
An instrument approach is published and available for the destination AND
1 hour before and 1 hour after the ETA
Ceilings 2000 ft
Visibility 3 sm
Minimum weather conditions required at an alternate
91.169
Precision - 600 ft ceilings, 2 sm
Non-precision - 800 ft ceilings, 2 sm
No instrument approach at alternate - ceiling and visibility must allow descent from MEA approach and landing under VFR
GPS considerations for filing an alternate
WAAS without Baro-VNAV - LNAV or circling minimums at the alternate
IFR cruising altitudes
91.179
Direction based on Magnetic Course
——
Below FL290
0-179 - odd thousand or flight level
180 - 359 - even thousand or flight level
——
Above FL290 (non RVSM)
0-179 - flight levels at 4k ft intervals starting at FL290 (290, 330, 370)
180 - 359 - Flight levels at 4k intervals starting at FL 310 (310, 350, 390)
——
FL 290 - FL 410 (in RVSM)
Becomes the same as below fl 290
IFR takeoff minimums (91.175)
Part 91 no minimus
for part 121, 125, 129, 135
- prescribed t/o minimums for the runway
If none
- 1-2 engines 1 sm visibility
- more than 2 engines 1/2 sm visibility
Departure Procedures (BASIC) (AIM 5-2-9)
Ensure obstacle clearance provided the aircraft
-crosses the departure end of the runway at least 35 agl
-reaches 400 agl before turning
climbs at least 200 ft/nm or as published on the chart
- Pilots are encouraged to file and fly a DP at night, during MVFR or in IMC
How do you convert FT/NM to FT/MIN
(Ground speed/ 60) * FT/NM = FT/MIN
What are the 2 types of DP
ODP (Obstacle Departure Procedure)
- provides obstacle clearance
- printed textually or graphically
- graphic ODP’s are titled OBSTACLE
SID (Standard instrument Departure)
- provides obstacle clearance and reduces pilot/ controller workload
- may include lost comms procedures
- always published graphically
What are the categories of DP’s based on required equipment
Non- RNAV DP
- Uses ground based navigation
RNAV DP
- Require at least RNAV 1 performance
- Identified with the word RNAV in the title
RADAR DP
- Uses ATC radar vectors to a roue, NAVAID, or fix after departure
- Annotated RADAR REQUIRED
Diverse Departure Procedures
- If a runway fails to meet the diverse departure criteria, An ODP is developed
Criteria:
-40:1 (152 ft/nm)
-expands until reaching 1,000 or 2,000 ft (non mountainous or mountainous - limited to 25 NM (NM)or 46 NM(MOUNTAINOUS)
When departing with no ODP
-35 ft at threshold
-400 departure end of runway altitude before turning
-Continue climbing to Minimum IFR altitudes
Diverse Vector Area
- Locations with an ODP
- Available to allow radar vectors in lieu of the pilot flying the ODP
- Allows atc to vector below Minimum vectoring altitude, or minimum IFR altitude immediately after takeoff
- Found in “takeoff minimums and ODP” section of the TPP. It includes a statement that initial headings are provided by ATC and any applicable climb gradients
Climb Over Airport (VOCA)
- In VMC
- Visually conducts climbing turns over the airport up to the published ‘climb to’ altitude, from which he proceeds to the instrument portion of the departure.
- Designed to avoid obstacles beyond 3sm from the departure end of the runway as an alternative to complying with climb gradients greater than standard 200 ft/nm
- advise ATC as early as possible of intentions
- Published in the “Takeoff minimums and ODP” section of the TPP
-May appear as an option on graphic ODPs
IFR Departure Clearance (AIM 5-2-6)
CRAFT
Clearance limit
Route
Altitude
Frequency
Transponder Code
Clearance Void Time- Time at which your clearance is void. Must notify ATC within 30 minutes after void time if not departed
Hold for release - you may not take off until being released for IFR departure
Release time - The earliest time the aircraft may depart under IFR
Expect departure clearance time (EDCT) - A runway release time given under traffic management programs in busy airports. Aircraft are expected to depart on earlier and no later than 5 minutes from the EDCT
Abbreviated departure clearance - “cleared ….. as filed …”
Standard Terminal Arrival (STAR)
- Serves as a transition between enroute structure and a point from which an approach to landing can be made.
- Transition routes connect enroute fixes to basic STAR procedure
- uses conventional navaid or RNAV
- Reduce pilot/controller workload
- Minimize radio comms
- Simplify clearance delivery
- Do not descend until authorized by ATC (descend via)
Climb/Descent Clearances
Climb Via (SID name)
-follow sid’s altitudes and course (AIM 5-2-9
- comply with speed restrictions
—–
Descend Via (STAR’s name)
- When IFR clearance includes a STAR maintain last assigned altitude until receiving authorization
- Descend at pilot’s discretion to meet all altitude and course restrictions
- comply with all speed restrictions
——
Expect
- not a clearance, used for planning purposes
——
Maintain
- begin the climb or descent immediately when given a clearance to climb and maintain or descend and maintain.
—–
Cross (fix) at (altitude)
- climb/descend at pilot’s discretion and comply with crossing restrictions
Cruise clearance
- allocates a block of airspace to the flight. (minimum IFR altitude to specified clearance)
- you are free to climb and descend, but you must verbally report leaving altitude on descent and you can’t return to it unless cleared.
- Cruise clearance allows you to begin an approach at the destination without receiving an additional “cleared for approach” clearance.
- IT does not allow descent in IMC under IFR minimum altitudes, nor does it imply ATC is exercising control over aircraft in class G airspace.
Minimum IFR altitudes (obstacle clearance)
(91.177)
Except for takeoff or landing, or otherwise authorized by the FAA, no person may operate an aircraft under IFR below
- Minimum altitude prescribed for the flown segment, or if none
- Mountainous areas: 2k feet above highest obstacle within a horizontal distance of 4nm from the course
- Non-mountainous areas: 1k feet above the highest obstacle within 4nm course
IFR minimum fuel requirements
(91.167)
departure => destination => alternate (if required) + 45 min cruise
DA / DH
On a vertically guided approach, the altitude above the threshold at which the pilot decides to continue or go around
MAA
Maximum authorized altitude
MCA
Minimum crossing altitude
-the lowest altitude at certain fixes that an airplane must cross when flying in the direction of a higher MEA
MDA / MDH
Minimum Descent Altitude
- the LOWEST height above the runway threshold which descent is authorized on a non-precision approach until the pilot can have visual contact with the airport environment
MEA
Minimum Enroute Altitude
-The lowest altitude (MSL) between radio fixes which assures ACCEPTABLE NAVIGATIONAL SIGNAL COVERAGE and meets the OBSTACLE CLEARANCE requirements.
- a MEA gap established an area of loss in navigational coverage and annotated “MEA GAP” on IFR charts
MOCA
*11000
Minimum Obstruction Clearance Altitude (on a route)
-Lowest published altitude that meets obstruction clearance and assures acceptable signal coverage only within 22 NM of a VOR
MORA
Minimum off route altitude (JEPPESEN)
- Route MORA provides obstruction clearance within 10 NM to either side of airway centerlines and within a 10nm radius at the ends of airways
- Grid MORA provides obstruction clearance within a latitude/longitude grid block
MRA
Minimum Reception Altitude
- The lowest altitude on an airway segment where intersection can be determined using radio navigational aids
MTA
Minimum Turning Altitude
-Provides vertical and lateral obstacle clearance in turns over certain fixes annotate with the MCA X icon and a note describing the restriction
MVA
Minimum Vectoring Altitude
- The lowest altitude at which an IFR aircraft will be vectored by a radar controller, except as otherwise authorised for radar approaches, departures, and missed approaches.
- MVA’s may be lower than the minimum altitudes depicted on aeronautical charts, such as MEAs or MOCAs
OROCA
Off Route Obstruction Clearance Altitude
- Provides obstruction clearance with a 1,000 ft buffer (non mountainous) or 2,000 ft (mountainous)
- May not provide navigation or communication signal coverage
Indicated Altitude
Uncorrected altitude indicated on the dial when set to local pressure settings
Pressure Altitude
Altitude above the standard 29.92 datum plane. (QNE)
- Used when flying above the transition altitude (FL 180)
Density Altitude
Pressure altitude corrected for non standard temperatures
True Altitude
Actual altitude above Mean Sea Level (MSL)
Absolute Altitude
Height above airport elevation (QFE)
Indicated Airspeed
(IAS)
- Indicated on the airspeed indicator
Calibrated Airspeed
(CAS)
Indicated airspeed corrected for instrument and position errors
Equivalent Airspeed
(EAS)
Calibrated corrected for compressibility error
True Airspeed
(TAS)
Actual speed through the air.
-TAS and calibrated airspeed corrected for non standard temperature and pressure.
Ground Speed
Actual airspeed over the ground
-True Airspeed corrected for wind conditions
Additional required equipment for IFR flight
GRABCARDD
-Generator
-Radio (and suitable navigation equipment for route to be flown)
-Altimeter (sensitive)
-Ball Inclinometer (slip skid)
-Clock (h, m, s, fixed to cockpit)
-Attitude indicator
-Rate of turn indicator
-Directional Gyro (Heading Indicator)
-Dme or suitable Rnav equipment above fl 240
VOR (basic facts)
Very High Omni directional Range
- Full scale deflection is 10 degrees
- Standard service volumes do not apply to published routes
- must verify correct and usable VOR station with morse ID before using it
- The MON is always available within 100 NM anywhere in the US
- Limitations
Cone of confusion, Reverse Sensing, Line of Sight
VOR Receiver Checks
Every 30 calendar days
+- 4
+- 6 airborne checkpoints
Above prominent ground landmark on a selected radial at least 20 nm from a vor flying at a “reasonable low altitude” +- 6
-DEPS
Date
Error
Place
Signature
VOR Service Volumes
Terminal (T)
1k - 12k 25 NM radius
Low (VL)
1k - 18k 40 NM radius
(new) 5k- 18k 70 NM radius
High (VH)
1k - 14.5k 40 NM radius
(new) 5k - 14.5k 70 NM radius
14.5k - 18k 100 NM radius
18k - 45k 130 NM radius
45k - 60k 100 NM radius
