Instrument Oral Exam Prep

Under 14 CFR 61.57(c), within the preceding 6 calendar months you must have performed and logged: 6 instrument approaches, holding procedures and tasks, and intercepting/tracking courses using navigational systems. If not current, you can regain currency with a safety pilot or use an approved ATD. After 12 months, you need an Instrument Proficiency Check (IPC).

Under 91.169, you must file an alternate if the destination weather, from 1 hour before to 1 hour after your ETA, is forecast to have a ceiling less than 2,000 feet or visibility less than 3 statute miles (the 1-2-3 rule). The alternate itself must meet weather criteria: for a precision approach, ceiling 600 feet and 2 SM vis; for a non-precision approach, ceiling 800 feet and 2 SM vis.

Per 91.185: Route — fly AVE-F (Assigned, Vectored, Expected, Filed). Altitude — fly the highest of MEA, Expected altitude, or Assigned altitude for each segment. Timing — if in VMC or if VMC is encountered, land as soon as practicable. If in IMC, continue to your destination, begin the approach at your ETA or the expected approach clearance time, whichever is later.

A good brief includes: approach name and runway, final approach course, glideslope intercept altitude, decision altitude (DA), missed approach procedure, frequencies (localizer, tower, missed approach), airport elevation, required equipment, and any notes (e.g., 'DME required' or 'procedure NA at night'). Practice the flow until it takes less than 60 seconds.

Decision Altitude (DA) is used for precision approaches (ILS, LPV). At DA, you make a decision — land or execute missed approach. You do not level off at DA. Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA) is used for non-precision approaches (VOR, LNAV, LOC). You descend to MDA and level off. You cannot descend below MDA until you have the runway environment in sight (per 91.175).

Draw the holding pattern with the inbound course. Then draw a line 70 degrees from the inbound course on the non-holding side. This divides the compass into three sectors: Direct entry (fly directly to the fix and turn outbound), Teardrop entry (fly to the fix, turn 30 degrees to the outbound side, then turn back inbound), and Parallel entry (fly to the fix, turn to parallel the outbound course, then turn back). Your heading relative to the inbound course determines which sector you are in.

Wide Area Augmentation System corrects GPS signal errors using ground reference stations and geostationary satellites. WAAS-equipped GPS allows LPV (Localizer Performance with Vertical guidance) approaches, which provide precision-like guidance down to 200-foot minimums — comparable to an ILS but without a ground-based localizer or glideslope transmitter.

Mandatory reports (not on radar): time and altitude at compulsory reporting points, leaving an assigned altitude, unable to climb/descend 500 FPM, TAS change of 5% or 10 knots, missed approach, entering a hold, and any loss of nav/comm capability. Also report unforecast weather, and always report when leaving an altitude for a newly assigned one.