INSTRUMENT ORAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
IFR Flight Time Requirements - CORRECT ANSWER- a) 50 hours cross country as
PIC (at least 10 in airplanes)
b) 40 hours Instrument (actual or simulated)
c) 15 hours instrument dual training from CFI (in same type)
d) 3 hours instrument training within 60 days prior to test
e) 250 NM cross-country conducted under IFR with 3 different types of approaches
When is Instrument Rating required? - CORRECT ANSWER- a) On IFR Flight Plan
b) In Class A Airspace
c) In weather conditions less than VFR
d) Under special VFR within Class B, C, D, and E surface areas between sunset and
sunrise (night)
Recency-of-experience requirements for IFR - CORRECT ANSWER- a) 6 instrument
approaches, holding patterns, and intercepting/tracking of courses using navigation aids
within the preceding six months.
b) 3 take-offs and landings within preceding 90 days (full stop at night) to carry
passengers
c) Biennial flight review
If instrument currency expires, what can be done to become current again? -
CORRECT ANSWER- Within six months of expiration, complete the requirements
(instrument approaches, holding patterns, and intercepting/tracking courses) with a
safety pilot in simulated IFR conditions only. After that, must get a check with an
examiner, authorized instructor, or FAA-approved person.
Requirements of safety pilot - CORRECT ANSWER- a) Possess a current medical
certificate
b) Possess a private pilot's license with appropriate category/class ratings
c) If flight is conducted on an IFR flight plan, safety pilot must have instrument rating
Info a PIC must be familiar with before a flight - CORRECT ANSWER- All available
information, including:
a) weather reports and forecasts
b) fuel requirements
c) alternatives if flight cannot be completed as planned
d) known ATC delays
,e) runaway lengths of intended use
f) takeoff and landing distances
What are fuel requirements for flight in IFR conditions? - CORRECT ANSWER- With
alternate airport: enough fuel to fly to intended airport (holding pattern included), then to
alternate, then for 45 minutes after at cruise speed
Without alternate airport: enough to fly to destination airport and land with 45 min fuel
remaining
Before conducting IFR flight using GPS equipment for navigation, what checks should
be made? - CORRECT ANSWER- a) verify that GPS equipment is properly installed
and certified for planned IFR
b) verify that database is current (not expired)
c) review the GPS NOTAM/RAIM information for planned route of flight
Aircraft instruments/equipment required for IFR flight - CORRECT ANSWER- G -
generator or alternator of sufficient capacity
R - radios for navigation
A - altimeter (sensitive)
B - ball (for turn coordination)
C - clock with sweep-second hand
A - attitude indicator
R - rate-of-turn coordinator
D - directional gyro
D - DME / RNAV (for flight at FL240 and above if VOR equipment necessary for
planned route)
Required tests/inspections of aircraft/equipment for IFR flight - CORRECT ANSWER- A
- annual
V - VOR (30 days)
1 - 100 hour
A - altimeter (24 months)
T - transponder (24 months)
E - ELT (12 months)
Pitot/static system (within past 24 months)
,Portable electronic devices on aircraft - CORRECT ANSWER- Not allowed, especially
on commercial operators/carriers or any aircraft operated IFR.
Exceptions: portable voice recorders, hearing aids, heart pacemakers, electric shavers,
or any other portable electronic devices that will not cause interference with NAV/COM.
Documents on board to be legal for IFR - CORRECT ANSWER- A - airworthiness
certificate
R - registration certificate
R - radio station license (if international operations)
O - owner's manual or operating limitations
W - weight and balance data
How often is GPS waypoint information updated? - CORRECT ANSWER- Every 28
days, and maintained by National Flight Data Center (NFDC)
When must pilot file an IFR flight plan? - CORRECT ANSWER- Prior to departure from
within or prior to entering controlled airspace: submit flight plan and receive clearance
from ATC if weather conditions are below VFR minimums. File 30 minutes prior to
departure to preclude delay in receiving departure clearance.
When can you cancel IFR flight plan? - CORRECT ANSWER- Any time the flight is
operated during VFR conditions outside of Class A.
Be aware that other procedures may be applicable in area, such as designated TRSA,
Class C, or Class B.
What type of aircraft equipment determines your "special equipment" suffix when filing
IFR? - CORRECT ANSWER- a) radar beacon transponder
b) DME equipment
c) TACAN-only equipment
d) Area Navigation equipment (RNAV) - LORAN, INS
e) Advanced Area Navigation equipment - Global Positioning System (GPS)/Global
Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)
f) Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) authorization
Block 7 of flight plan - altitude specified? - CORRECT ANSWER- Initial altitude, make
subsequent requests to controller when in air
, ***Alternate Airport Requirements*** - CORRECT ANSWER- 1-2-3 rule: Alternate
required if from 1 hour before to 1 hour after forecast arrival at destination airport has
2000 foot ceilings and less than 3 SM visibility. Alternate requirements:
a) If IAP is published for alternate, use those minimums, otherwise 600-2 (600 foot
ceilings, 2 SM visibility) for Precision Approach, and 800-2 for Nonprecision Approach
b) If no IAP has been published, ceiling and visibility minimums are those required for
descent from MEA, approach, and land under basic VFR
Define "ceiling" - CORRECT ANSWER- Height above Earth's surface (AGL) of lowest
cloud layer defined as obscured, broken, overcast, but not thin or partial.
What are preferred routes, and where can they be found? - CORRECT ANSWER-
Routes in high traffic areas that ATC designates to- and from- busy airports. Found in
A/FD
What are Enroute Low-Altitude Charts? - CORRECT ANSWER- Provide aeronautical
information for navigation under IFR conditions below 18,000 feet MSL (under Class A).
Revised every 56 days.
What are Enroute High-Altitude Charts? - CORRECT ANSWER- Provide information for
navigation above 18,000 feet MSL. Four-color chart series includes jet route structure;
VHF NAVAIDs with frequency, identification, channel, geographic coordinates; selected
airports; reporting points. Revised every 56 days.
What are "area charts"? - CORRECT ANSWER- Area charts show congested terminal
areas such as Dallas/FW or Atlanta at a large scale. They are included with
subscriptions to any conterminous US set Low (Full set, East or West sets). Revised
every 56 days.
Where can information on possible navigational aid limitations be found? - CORRECT
ANSWER- NOTAMs as well as A/FDs will contain current limitations
What are the required reports for equipment malfunction under IFR-controller airspace?
- CORRECT ANSWER- a) Failure of VOR, TACAN, ADF, or low frequency navigation
receiver capability
b) GPS anomalies while using IFR-certified GPS/GNSS receivers
c) Complete or partial loss of ILS receiver capability
d) Impairment of air/ground communication capability
e) Loss of any other equipment installed in the aircraft which may impair safety and/or
the ability to operate in IFR
ANSWERS
IFR Flight Time Requirements - CORRECT ANSWER- a) 50 hours cross country as
PIC (at least 10 in airplanes)
b) 40 hours Instrument (actual or simulated)
c) 15 hours instrument dual training from CFI (in same type)
d) 3 hours instrument training within 60 days prior to test
e) 250 NM cross-country conducted under IFR with 3 different types of approaches
When is Instrument Rating required? - CORRECT ANSWER- a) On IFR Flight Plan
b) In Class A Airspace
c) In weather conditions less than VFR
d) Under special VFR within Class B, C, D, and E surface areas between sunset and
sunrise (night)
Recency-of-experience requirements for IFR - CORRECT ANSWER- a) 6 instrument
approaches, holding patterns, and intercepting/tracking of courses using navigation aids
within the preceding six months.
b) 3 take-offs and landings within preceding 90 days (full stop at night) to carry
passengers
c) Biennial flight review
If instrument currency expires, what can be done to become current again? -
CORRECT ANSWER- Within six months of expiration, complete the requirements
(instrument approaches, holding patterns, and intercepting/tracking courses) with a
safety pilot in simulated IFR conditions only. After that, must get a check with an
examiner, authorized instructor, or FAA-approved person.
Requirements of safety pilot - CORRECT ANSWER- a) Possess a current medical
certificate
b) Possess a private pilot's license with appropriate category/class ratings
c) If flight is conducted on an IFR flight plan, safety pilot must have instrument rating
Info a PIC must be familiar with before a flight - CORRECT ANSWER- All available
information, including:
a) weather reports and forecasts
b) fuel requirements
c) alternatives if flight cannot be completed as planned
d) known ATC delays
,e) runaway lengths of intended use
f) takeoff and landing distances
What are fuel requirements for flight in IFR conditions? - CORRECT ANSWER- With
alternate airport: enough fuel to fly to intended airport (holding pattern included), then to
alternate, then for 45 minutes after at cruise speed
Without alternate airport: enough to fly to destination airport and land with 45 min fuel
remaining
Before conducting IFR flight using GPS equipment for navigation, what checks should
be made? - CORRECT ANSWER- a) verify that GPS equipment is properly installed
and certified for planned IFR
b) verify that database is current (not expired)
c) review the GPS NOTAM/RAIM information for planned route of flight
Aircraft instruments/equipment required for IFR flight - CORRECT ANSWER- G -
generator or alternator of sufficient capacity
R - radios for navigation
A - altimeter (sensitive)
B - ball (for turn coordination)
C - clock with sweep-second hand
A - attitude indicator
R - rate-of-turn coordinator
D - directional gyro
D - DME / RNAV (for flight at FL240 and above if VOR equipment necessary for
planned route)
Required tests/inspections of aircraft/equipment for IFR flight - CORRECT ANSWER- A
- annual
V - VOR (30 days)
1 - 100 hour
A - altimeter (24 months)
T - transponder (24 months)
E - ELT (12 months)
Pitot/static system (within past 24 months)
,Portable electronic devices on aircraft - CORRECT ANSWER- Not allowed, especially
on commercial operators/carriers or any aircraft operated IFR.
Exceptions: portable voice recorders, hearing aids, heart pacemakers, electric shavers,
or any other portable electronic devices that will not cause interference with NAV/COM.
Documents on board to be legal for IFR - CORRECT ANSWER- A - airworthiness
certificate
R - registration certificate
R - radio station license (if international operations)
O - owner's manual or operating limitations
W - weight and balance data
How often is GPS waypoint information updated? - CORRECT ANSWER- Every 28
days, and maintained by National Flight Data Center (NFDC)
When must pilot file an IFR flight plan? - CORRECT ANSWER- Prior to departure from
within or prior to entering controlled airspace: submit flight plan and receive clearance
from ATC if weather conditions are below VFR minimums. File 30 minutes prior to
departure to preclude delay in receiving departure clearance.
When can you cancel IFR flight plan? - CORRECT ANSWER- Any time the flight is
operated during VFR conditions outside of Class A.
Be aware that other procedures may be applicable in area, such as designated TRSA,
Class C, or Class B.
What type of aircraft equipment determines your "special equipment" suffix when filing
IFR? - CORRECT ANSWER- a) radar beacon transponder
b) DME equipment
c) TACAN-only equipment
d) Area Navigation equipment (RNAV) - LORAN, INS
e) Advanced Area Navigation equipment - Global Positioning System (GPS)/Global
Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)
f) Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) authorization
Block 7 of flight plan - altitude specified? - CORRECT ANSWER- Initial altitude, make
subsequent requests to controller when in air
, ***Alternate Airport Requirements*** - CORRECT ANSWER- 1-2-3 rule: Alternate
required if from 1 hour before to 1 hour after forecast arrival at destination airport has
2000 foot ceilings and less than 3 SM visibility. Alternate requirements:
a) If IAP is published for alternate, use those minimums, otherwise 600-2 (600 foot
ceilings, 2 SM visibility) for Precision Approach, and 800-2 for Nonprecision Approach
b) If no IAP has been published, ceiling and visibility minimums are those required for
descent from MEA, approach, and land under basic VFR
Define "ceiling" - CORRECT ANSWER- Height above Earth's surface (AGL) of lowest
cloud layer defined as obscured, broken, overcast, but not thin or partial.
What are preferred routes, and where can they be found? - CORRECT ANSWER-
Routes in high traffic areas that ATC designates to- and from- busy airports. Found in
A/FD
What are Enroute Low-Altitude Charts? - CORRECT ANSWER- Provide aeronautical
information for navigation under IFR conditions below 18,000 feet MSL (under Class A).
Revised every 56 days.
What are Enroute High-Altitude Charts? - CORRECT ANSWER- Provide information for
navigation above 18,000 feet MSL. Four-color chart series includes jet route structure;
VHF NAVAIDs with frequency, identification, channel, geographic coordinates; selected
airports; reporting points. Revised every 56 days.
What are "area charts"? - CORRECT ANSWER- Area charts show congested terminal
areas such as Dallas/FW or Atlanta at a large scale. They are included with
subscriptions to any conterminous US set Low (Full set, East or West sets). Revised
every 56 days.
Where can information on possible navigational aid limitations be found? - CORRECT
ANSWER- NOTAMs as well as A/FDs will contain current limitations
What are the required reports for equipment malfunction under IFR-controller airspace?
- CORRECT ANSWER- a) Failure of VOR, TACAN, ADF, or low frequency navigation
receiver capability
b) GPS anomalies while using IFR-certified GPS/GNSS receivers
c) Complete or partial loss of ILS receiver capability
d) Impairment of air/ground communication capability
e) Loss of any other equipment installed in the aircraft which may impair safety and/or
the ability to operate in IFR
