Instrument Rating

What is the minimum fuel reserve required for an IFR flight when no alternate is required?

• A30 minutes beyond the planned flight time at normal cruise speed
• B45 minutes beyond the planned flight time at normal cruise speed
• CFuel to fly to the destination, then to the alternate, plus 45 minutes
• DFuel to fly to the destination at cruise power for 1 hour

For an airplane IFR flight under Part 91, with no special ATC authorization, when must the flight plan include an alternate airport?

• AUnless the destination has an approved instrument approach and satisfies both the 2,000-f…
• BOnly when destination weather is below the published landing minimums at ETA
• COnly when destination weather is below 600-2 or 800-2 at ETA
• DFor every flight, even when the destination qualifies for the no-alternate exception

What are the standard alternate airport minimums for an airport with a precision approach?

• A300-foot ceiling and 1 statute mile visibility
• B400-foot ceiling and 2 statute miles visibility
• C600-foot ceiling and 2 statute miles visibility
• D800-foot ceiling and 2 statute miles visibility

A pilot plans a Part 91 IFR flight in an airplane from ABC to XYZ. From 1 hour before to 1 hour after ETA, the forecast at XYZ is a broken ceiling 1,500 feet above airport elevation and visibility 4 statute miles. XYZ has a published ILS approach with landing minimums of 200 feet and 1/2 SM. Is an alternate required?

• AYes, because the ceiling is below 2,000 feet
• BYes, because visibility is less than 5 miles
• CNo, because both ceiling and visibility are forecast to be above landing minimums
• DYes, because the ceiling is below 3,000 feet

When selecting an alternate airport, what minimums apply if the airport has only a VOR approach?

• A200-foot ceiling and 1/2 mile visibility
• B600-foot ceiling and 2 statute miles visibility
• C800-foot ceiling and 2 statute miles visibility
• D1,000-foot ceiling and 3 statute miles visibility

What weather information should a pilot consider when planning an IFR cross-country flight?

• AOnly the destination airport METAR
• BWeather charts, METARs, TAFs, SIGMETs, AIRMETs, and PIREPs along the entire route
• COnly the TAF for the departure and destination airports
• DOnly surface analysis charts

Under Part 91, must an airplane pilot always select an IFR alternate with a precision approach?

• AFor all IFR flights
• BWhen the destination has only non-precision approaches available
• CWhen the destination weather is forecast to be below precision approach minimums
• DA pilot is never required to use an alternate with a precision approach

What is the purpose of a VOR equipment check before an IFR flight?

• ATo verify the VOR receiver meets the 14 CFR 91.171 accuracy requirements
• BTo check the audio quality of the identifier
• CTo test the DME function
• DTo verify GPS accuracy

A VOR receiver check using a VOT indicates the bearing is 180° TO. What is the acceptable range?

• A176° to 184°
• B178° to 182°
• C175° to 185°
• D170° to 190°

What altitude should be selected for an IFR flight in Class A airspace?

• AAny altitude the pilot requests
• BThe altitude assigned by ATC
• CThe MEA of the airway being flown
• DFL180 or above

What is the minimum en route altitude (MEA) on an airway?

• AThe lowest altitude that provides obstacle clearance and navigation signal coverage
• BThe altitude that provides 1,000 feet of obstacle clearance
• CThe minimum safe altitude for the route
• DThe lowest altitude that ATC can assign

What is the difference between an MEA and an MOCA?

• AThere is no difference; they are the same
• BMEA provides navigation coverage; MOCA only provides obstacle clearance
• CMOCA provides navigation coverage within 22 NM of the VOR; MEA provides coverage along th…
• DMEA is for IFR; MOCA is for VFR

When planning an IFR flight, where can a pilot find information about preferred IFR routes?

• AIn the Airport/Facility Directory (Chart Supplement)
• BOn the IFR En Route Chart
• CIn the Terminal Procedures Publication
• DIn the AIM Chapter 5

What does the "T" on an IFR en route chart low altitude airway indicate?

• ATemporary restriction
• BTower at that location
• CT-routes for RNAV/GPS equipped aircraft
• DTerminal area

What is the maximum indicated airspeed allowed below 10,000 feet MSL in Class B, C, D, and E airspace?

• A200 knots
• B250 knots
• C288 knots
• DNo speed limit below 10,000 feet

When departing an airport without an operating control tower under IFR, what is the pilot required to do?

• ADepart and contact ATC immediately after takeoff
• BFile an IFR flight plan and obtain a clearance from the controlling facility before depar…
• CDepart VFR and request an IFR clearance in the air
• DNo special requirements; IFR clearances are not needed at non-towered airports

What information is required when filing an IFR flight plan?

• AAircraft type and equipment suffix only
• BAircraft identification, type, true airspeed, departure point, route, destination, altitu…
• COnly the destination airport and requested altitude
• DPilot certificate number and medical expiration date

What does the equipment suffix "/A" indicate in an IFR flight plan?

• ANo DME and no transponder
• BDME and a transponder with Mode C (altitude reporting)
• CDME but no transponder
• DGPS with a transponder with Mode C

If a pilot needs to change destination or alternate after receiving an IFR clearance, what action is required?

• AThe pilot can simply proceed to the new destination
• BThe pilot must request and receive an amended clearance from ATC
• CThe pilot must land at the original destination first
• DNo action is required; the pilot can modify the flight plan at any time

What is the purpose of pilotage and dead reckoning in IFR flight planning?

• AThey are not used in IFR flight
• BTo serve as backup navigation methods if primary navigation fails
• CTo calculate fuel requirements only
• DTo determine wind direction only

What instruments are required for IFR flight according to 14 CFR 91.205?

• AVOR indicator only
• BAirspeed indicator, altimeter, magnetic direction indicator, and depending on aircraft ty…
• CGPS receiver only
• DAttitude indicator only

What is the purpose of checking the pitot-static system before an IFR flight?

• ATo ensure the GPS is working
• BTo verify the accuracy of instruments that depend on air pressure: airspeed indicator, al…
• CTo check the VOR receiver
• DTo test the transponder

How can a pilot detect a blocked pitot tube during flight?

• AThe altimeter will read zero
• BThe airspeed indicator will not respond to changes in airspeed, or may act as an altimeter
• CThe vertical speed indicator will show a climb
• DThe attitude indicator will tumble

What is the significance of a blocked static port in the pitot-static system?

• AOnly the airspeed indicator is affected
• BThe altimeter and vertical speed indicator will not change with actual altitude changes
• COnly the vertical speed indicator is affected
• DThe attitude indicator will fail

What is the purpose of the vacuum system check during IFR preflight?

• ATo test the radio equipment
• BTo ensure the gyroscopic instruments (attitude indicator and heading indicator) will func…
• CTo check the fuel system
• DTo test the landing gear

During preflight, how should a pilot verify the magnetic compass is accurate?

• ACompare it to the heading indicator on the ground
• BCompare it to GPS ground track
• CCheck that it is full of fluid and swings freely; significant deviation requires compensa…
• DThe compass does not need to be checked

What transponder code indicates a loss of communications?

• A7700
• B7600
• C7500
• D7777

What should a pilot do if the attitude indicator fails during IFR flight?

• AImmediately declare an emergency and land at the nearest airport
• BUse the turn coordinator, magnetic compass, and altimeter as references for partial panel…
• CUse GPS attitude information only
• DDescend to VFR conditions immediately

What is the minimum equipment required for an aircraft to file and fly IFR in Class A airspace?

• AVOR only
• BTwo-way radio, transponder with altitude encoding, and appropriate navigation equipment f…
• CGPS only
• DADF only

During an instrument cockpit check, the heading indicator shows a 15-degree difference from the magnetic compass. What action should the pilot take?

• AThis is normal; no action required
• BReset the heading indicator to match the compass and consider having the compass compensa…
• CLand immediately
• DUse GPS heading instead

What is the purpose of checking NOTAMs during IFR preflight?

• ATo check for temporary flight restrictions and facility outages that may affect the flight
• BTo check the weather
• CTo file the flight plan
• DTo calculate fuel burn

When is a Mode C transponder required for IFR flight?

• AOnly in Class B airspace
• BIn Class A, B, and C airspace, and within 30 NM of a Class B primary airport (Mode C veil)
• COnly above 10,000 feet MSL
• DTransponders are not required for IFR flight

What should be included in an IFR cockpit check regarding navigation radios?

• AOnly verify that the radios turn on
• BVerify VOR checks are current, test audio identifications, and check receiver functionali…
• COnly check the GPS
• DNavigation radio checks are not required