What are the fuel requirements for IFR flight?
FAR 91.167
Fuel from departure airport to the destination airport plus flight to the alternate (if required), plus 45 minutes of fuel at normal cruise
When does an alternate need to be filed?
An alternate should always be filed unless both the following are true:
Airport has a SIAP published AND
From 1 hour before to 1 hour after the ETA, the weather at the destination is at least 2000' ceilings and 3 sm of visibility
Recency requirements to act as PIC under IFR
FAR 61.57c
Within the previous 6 months: - 6 instrument approaches - Holding procedures - Intercept and track navigational courses
After 6 months: - Must comlplete the 6 HITS - A safety pilot must be present with a current medical and at least a PVT pilot certificate, with appropriate category and class ratings
After 12 months: - An instrument proficiency check must be performed by a CFII, DPE, or authorized person
What are the four components of the ILS?
Localizer
Glide Slope
Marker Beacon
Approach light system
What are the three conditions necessary for the formation of thunderstorms?
1. Suficient water vapor (Humidity)
2. An unstable temperature lapse rate
3. An initial uplifting force (EX: front passage, mountains, heating from below, etc)
Lost comm procedures for altitude and route
FAR 91.185 - AVEF MEA
Route: AVEF - in order A - Assigned route, if none; V - Vectored, if none; E - Expected, if none; F - Filed route
Altitude: MEA - fly the highest among M - Minimum altitude prescribed for IFR E - Expected (example: "expect 5000' after 10min) A - Assigned, the last assigned by ATC
Explain the difference between a contact approach and a visual approach. What are the minimum weather requirements for both?
Contact Approach:
- Cannot be initiated by ATC, but can be requested by the pilot to expedite arrival instead of the published procedure if the following is met:
- The airport has a standard or special instrument approach procedure
- Reported ground visibility is at least one mile
- You can remain clear of clouds with one mile flight visibility
Visual Approach:
- Can be initiated by ATC or the pilot
- ATC must ensure that you have the airport or the preceding aircraft in sight
- Is authorized when ceiling is reported to be at least 1000' AGL and 3 miles of visibility, and you can remain clear of the clouds at all times
Decode the following examples from the Winds and Temps aloft forecasts:
6000' 12000' 24000'
9900 1312+05 752202
6000' Winds calm
12000' Winds 130 at 12 kts, temp is +05 degrees C
24000' Winds 250 at 122kts, temp is -02 degrees C -Temps are always negative above FL240 -When the winds are above 100kts, 5 is added to the first digit of the wind direction
Required instruments for IFR flight
FAR 91.205 ATOMATOFLAMES, FLAPS, GRABCARD
VFR Day: A - Anti-Collision Lights T - Tachometer O - Oil pressure gauge M - Mag compass A - Airspeed indicator T - Temp gauge O - Oil temp gauge F - Fuel gauges L - Landing gear position lights A - Altimeter M - Manifold Pressure Gauge E - ELT S - Seat Belts VFR night: F - Fuses L - Landing light A - Anti-collision lights P - Position lights S - Source of power IFR: G - Generator/Alternator R - Radio 2-way A - Altimiter B - Ball C - Clock A - Attitude indicator R - Rate of turn indicator D - Directional Gyro D - DME above 24,000'
**AIRMETS/SIGMETS** What are the different types of AIRMETS? How long are they valid for? What are SIGMETS? How long are they valid for? What are CONVECTIVE SIGMETS? How long are they valid for?
AIRMETS -
Tango - Mod Turbulence, surface winds greater than 30kts, and/or LLWS
Zulu - Mod icing, freezing levels
Sierra - IFR conditions and MTN obscurations
Valid 6 hours
SIGMETS - Advises of non-convective weather potentially hazardous to all types of aircraft - Valid 4 hours
CONVECTIVE SIGMETS - Advisory of convective weather significant to all aircraft. Always implies severe or greater turbulence, severe icing or LLWS - Valid 2 hours
What instruments are affected by a static port blockage and how will they react?
Airspeed Indicator, Altimeter, Vertical Speed Indicator.
ASI - Will show a decrease in speed with an increase in altitude, and an increase in speed with a decrease in altitude.
Altimeter - Freeze at the altitude the block occurred
VSI - Show 0
When can you descend below MDA/DA?
FAR 91.175
All three conditions must be met:
1. The aircraft is continuously in a position from which a descent to landing on the intended runway can be made at a normal rate of descent using normal maneuvers.
2. The flight visibility is not less than the visibility prescribed in the standard instrument approach being used.
3. At least one of the following visual references for the intended runway is distinctly visible and identifiable to the pilot:
- The approach light system, except you may descend below 100' above the touchdown zone only if the red terminating bars or red side row bars are also visible and identifiable
- The threshold, its markings, or its lights
- The Runway, its markings, or its lights
- The touchdown zone, its markings, or its lights
- The visual slope indicator
- The runway end identifier lights
How many different approaches are considered precision? What are they? How many different approaches are considered non-precision? What are they?
Precision approaches
ILS = Instrument landing system
MLS = Microwave landing system
PAR = Precision approach radar
GLS = GNSS landing system
TLS = Transponder landing system
Non-Precision approaches
VOR = VHF Omni-directional range
NDB = Non-Directional Beacon
RNAV/GNSS (LNAV minimums)
LOC = Localizer
LDA = Localizer-type directional aid (identical to LOC but not aligned with the runway)
SDF = Simplified directional facility
ASR = Approach surveillance radar
Contact Approach
Visual Approach
What are the five different types of fog and how do they form?
Radiation fog - occurs on calm clear nights when the ground cools rapidly due to the release of ground radiation
Advection fog - warm, moist air moves over a cold surface. Winds are required for advection fog to form
Ice fog - forms when the temp is far below freezing and water vapor turns directly into ice crystals.
Upslope fog - moist, stable air is forced up a terrain slope and cooled down to its dew point by adiabatic cooling
Steam fog - cold, dry air moves over warm water. Moisture is added to the air mass and steam fog forms
The GPS system is composed of three major segments, what are they?
- The Space Segment - Composed of a constellation of 24 satellites approx 11,000 NM above the Earth - The Control Segment - Consists of a master control station, monitoring stations, and ground antennas - The User Segment - Consists of all components associated with the GPS receiver