Pilot Cafe - IFR Review (Answered) 184
Q&A. 100% Verified. 2025/2026.
Minimum Aeronautical Experience for IFR rating (Part 61.65)
50hrs X-country PIC (10hr in airplane)
40hrs of actual or simulated instrument time (15hr with CFII
Including:
>>250NM flight
>>Along airways or directed by ATC
>>IAP at each airport
>>3 types of IAP using nav systems
>>File IFR flight plan
3hrs of training within 2 months of practical test
Personal Document Required for Flight (61.3)
Pilot Certificate
Medical Certificate
Photo ID
Radio License (if flying outside of US)
Aircraft Documents Required for Flight (21.5, 91.103, 91.9, 91.203)
A-Airworthiness Certificate
R-Registration Certificate
R-Radio License (international)
O-Operating Handbook for aircraft
W-Weight and balance calculations
Logging Instrument Time requires:
Instrument time can be logged only for the time when a person operates an aircraft solely by
instruments under actual or simulated IMC
Instrument PIC recency requirements
66HITS, or
Using ATD (approved PC-based flight sim and hardware):
>>3hrs instrument experience
>>holding procedures
>>6 IAP
>>2 unusual attitude recoveries in descending condition
If you fail to meet currency in first 6month, who can sign you off in following 6mos?
Safety pilot
Flight instructor
Examiner
If you fail to meet currency within past 12months, what must you do to meet requirements?
,Instrument proficiency check by CFII, examiner or approved person
Requirements to carry passengers as PIC?
DAY = 3 takeoffs and landings within last 90 days in same category and type of aircraft
NIGHT = same as above except must be completed between 1hr after sunset to 1hr before sunrise
Requirements to act as PIC
Flight review within last 24 months
FAR has exceptions
Characteristics of an Obstacle Departure Procedure (ODP)?
Obstruction clearance
May be flown without ATC clearance unless a SID or other instructions are assigned (eg. Radar
vectors)
Graphic ODP denote "Obstacle" in the title (all New RNAV ODPs are avail in graphical format)
Found in Terminal Procedures Publication
Characteristics of a Standard Instrument Departure (SID)
Obstruction clearance
Help reduce radio congestion and workload
Pilot nav SID - pilot navigates with minimal radio
Vector SID - ATC gives route by vectors (not printed)
Some SID show non-standard radio procedures
File "NO SID" in flight plan remarks if you don't want/can't fly one
ALL RNAV SIDs and RNAV graphical ODPs require RNAV1 (ie. +-1 NM from centerline for 95% of
flight)
Characteristics of a Standard Terminal Arrival (STAR)
Transition from en route structure to point from which approach can begin
Transition routes connect en route to STAR
Usually named based on where basic STAR begins
"NO STAR" if you don't want/can't fly
RNAV STARs require RNAV1 (+-1 NM for 95% of flight)
Where are IFR Flight plans required?
Class A
Controlled airspace while in IFR
How can you file an IFR Flight Plan?
Call a briefer by phone?
Radio FSS
Online (formerly DUATs), software like Foreflight
Radio/Phone ATC
When should you file IFR flight plan?
At least 30min prior to departure.
, How long is an IFR flight plan stored in the system?
1.5 hours
How do you cancel an IFR flight pLan?
Towered airports - ATC cancels for you upon landing
Non-towered airports - call/radio FSS or ATC
ATC while airborne as long as VFR conditions and not Class A
IFR Minimum Altitudes
1000ft above highest obstacle / 4NM of course
2000ft above highest obstacle in mountains / 4NM course
IFR Cruising Altitudes
East ODD 1000's (0-179degrees)
West EVEN 1000's (180-359degrees)
East ODD, West EVEN odder
IFR minimum fuel requirements state that you need fuel to initial destination + alternate airport + ?
45min at normal cruising speed
How do you know if you need to file an alternate airport?
+-1hr of ETA
2000ft ceiling and 3SM Visibility
What minimum requirement must be met at an airport to list it as alternate?
Alternate airport minima specified in the procedures, or if none
600ft ceiling and 2 SM visibility for precision approach
800ft ceiling and 2 SM visibility for non-precision approach
No IAP, ceiling and visibility allowing decent from MEA, approach and landing under basic VFR
Clearance VOID time?
The time at which your clearance is void and after which you may not takeoff. You must notify ATC
within 30 min after the void time if you did not depart.
Hold for Release
You may not takeoff 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 no earlier and no later than 5 minutes from the EDCT.
Abbreviated departure clearance
Cleared to "..." as filed
Q&A. 100% Verified. 2025/2026.
Minimum Aeronautical Experience for IFR rating (Part 61.65)
50hrs X-country PIC (10hr in airplane)
40hrs of actual or simulated instrument time (15hr with CFII
Including:
>>250NM flight
>>Along airways or directed by ATC
>>IAP at each airport
>>3 types of IAP using nav systems
>>File IFR flight plan
3hrs of training within 2 months of practical test
Personal Document Required for Flight (61.3)
Pilot Certificate
Medical Certificate
Photo ID
Radio License (if flying outside of US)
Aircraft Documents Required for Flight (21.5, 91.103, 91.9, 91.203)
A-Airworthiness Certificate
R-Registration Certificate
R-Radio License (international)
O-Operating Handbook for aircraft
W-Weight and balance calculations
Logging Instrument Time requires:
Instrument time can be logged only for the time when a person operates an aircraft solely by
instruments under actual or simulated IMC
Instrument PIC recency requirements
66HITS, or
Using ATD (approved PC-based flight sim and hardware):
>>3hrs instrument experience
>>holding procedures
>>6 IAP
>>2 unusual attitude recoveries in descending condition
If you fail to meet currency in first 6month, who can sign you off in following 6mos?
Safety pilot
Flight instructor
Examiner
If you fail to meet currency within past 12months, what must you do to meet requirements?
,Instrument proficiency check by CFII, examiner or approved person
Requirements to carry passengers as PIC?
DAY = 3 takeoffs and landings within last 90 days in same category and type of aircraft
NIGHT = same as above except must be completed between 1hr after sunset to 1hr before sunrise
Requirements to act as PIC
Flight review within last 24 months
FAR has exceptions
Characteristics of an Obstacle Departure Procedure (ODP)?
Obstruction clearance
May be flown without ATC clearance unless a SID or other instructions are assigned (eg. Radar
vectors)
Graphic ODP denote "Obstacle" in the title (all New RNAV ODPs are avail in graphical format)
Found in Terminal Procedures Publication
Characteristics of a Standard Instrument Departure (SID)
Obstruction clearance
Help reduce radio congestion and workload
Pilot nav SID - pilot navigates with minimal radio
Vector SID - ATC gives route by vectors (not printed)
Some SID show non-standard radio procedures
File "NO SID" in flight plan remarks if you don't want/can't fly one
ALL RNAV SIDs and RNAV graphical ODPs require RNAV1 (ie. +-1 NM from centerline for 95% of
flight)
Characteristics of a Standard Terminal Arrival (STAR)
Transition from en route structure to point from which approach can begin
Transition routes connect en route to STAR
Usually named based on where basic STAR begins
"NO STAR" if you don't want/can't fly
RNAV STARs require RNAV1 (+-1 NM for 95% of flight)
Where are IFR Flight plans required?
Class A
Controlled airspace while in IFR
How can you file an IFR Flight Plan?
Call a briefer by phone?
Radio FSS
Online (formerly DUATs), software like Foreflight
Radio/Phone ATC
When should you file IFR flight plan?
At least 30min prior to departure.
, How long is an IFR flight plan stored in the system?
1.5 hours
How do you cancel an IFR flight pLan?
Towered airports - ATC cancels for you upon landing
Non-towered airports - call/radio FSS or ATC
ATC while airborne as long as VFR conditions and not Class A
IFR Minimum Altitudes
1000ft above highest obstacle / 4NM of course
2000ft above highest obstacle in mountains / 4NM course
IFR Cruising Altitudes
East ODD 1000's (0-179degrees)
West EVEN 1000's (180-359degrees)
East ODD, West EVEN odder
IFR minimum fuel requirements state that you need fuel to initial destination + alternate airport + ?
45min at normal cruising speed
How do you know if you need to file an alternate airport?
+-1hr of ETA
2000ft ceiling and 3SM Visibility
What minimum requirement must be met at an airport to list it as alternate?
Alternate airport minima specified in the procedures, or if none
600ft ceiling and 2 SM visibility for precision approach
800ft ceiling and 2 SM visibility for non-precision approach
No IAP, ceiling and visibility allowing decent from MEA, approach and landing under basic VFR
Clearance VOID time?
The time at which your clearance is void and after which you may not takeoff. You must notify ATC
within 30 min after the void time if you did not depart.
Hold for Release
You may not takeoff 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 no earlier and no later than 5 minutes from the EDCT.
Abbreviated departure clearance
Cleared to "..." as filed
