Oral Comprehensive Instrument

(Some things are out of order or repeated because I combined several sets to make this)

INDEX

• PILOT QUALIFICATIONS

• WEATHER INFORMATION

• CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT PLANNING

• AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS RELATED TO IFR OPERATIONS

• AIRCRAFT FLIGHT INSTRUMENTS AND NAVIGATION SYSTEMS

• COMPLIANCE WITH ATC CLEARANCES

• DEPARTURE, EN ROUTE, AND ARRIVAL OPERATIONS

• LOSS OF COMMUNICATIONS

• CHECKING INSTRUMENTS AND EQUIPMENT

PILOT QUALIFICATIONS

(skip card)

What qualifies you to take the instrument checkride?

• I’ve completed Auburn’s 141 course

• I’ve completed the required ground and flight training

• I’ve passed my written exam

• I’ve received an endorsement from my instructor

• I meet all the requirements under 61.65

What are your current privilegies as a private pilot?

• Can act as PIC carrying passengers

• Can tow a glider

• Can fly for charity

• Can test a light sport aircraft

• Can conduct search and rescue operations

• Can show an aircraft to a prospective buyer

What are your current limitations as a private pilot?

• Cannot fly passengers or property for compensation or hire

• Cannot pay less than the pro rata share

Where can privileges and limitations be found in the FARs?

61.113

What new privileges or limitations will you gain with an instrument rating?

• Can file and fly under IFR

• Can fly into class A airspace

• Can conduct special VFR at night

What do you need to do to keep your instrument currency? (I.A.K1)

6 instrument approaches within the preceding 6 calendar months w/ holding, intercepting, & tracking courses (6HITs)

GARROW (what does it stand for)

• G1000 Cockpit Guide

• Airworthiness Certificate

• Registration (valid 7 years)

• Radio Station License (only for international)

• Operating Limitations

• Weight & Balance

• (plus our 13 placards & compass deviation card)

AAV1ATE (what does it stand for)

• Annual

• Airworthiness Directives

• VOR Check (every 30 days)

• 100 hr (Only if for hire)

• Altimeter (every 24 calendar months)

• Transponder (every 24 calendar months)

• ELT (every 12 calendar months, 1hr continuous use, or ½ battery life)

Do we need a VOR check and why?

Not unless we are using the VORs as our primary source of navigation but we have suitable RNAV in lieu of VORs

If we do complete a VOR check what needs to be recorded?

• Date

• Error

• Place

• Signature

What ways can we check a VOR? What are the tolerances?

• Dual (± 4)

• Ground (± 4)

• VOT (± 4)

• Airborne (± 6)

What makes you legal to receive an instrument rating at Auburn?

• Hold at least a current private pilot certificate

• Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language

• Receive an endorsement from an instructor

• Pass the practical test

• Pass the knowledge test

• Complete the 141 course

• Have all of my documents

What is 6 HITs?

6 Instrument approaches, w/ Holding, Intercepting, & Tracking procedures

What can you take your instrument proficiency in?

The same category of aircraft you plan on flying or an approved flight simulator

Who may give an instrument proficiency check?

A DPE or an authorized instructor

Where may instrument proficiency be found in the FAR?

61.57

ATOMATOFLAMES (what does it stand for)

• Altimeter

• Tachometer

• Oil Pressure

• Magnetic Compass

• Airspeed Indicator

• Temperature Gauge

• Oil Temperature Gauge

• Fuel Gauge

• Landing Gear Indicator

• Anti-Collision Lights

• Manifold Pressure

• ELT

• Safety Belts

What is 91.175?

Takeoff & Landing Under IFR

What are the possible visual references for 91.175(c.)?

• The threshold, threshold markings, & threshold lights

• The runway, runway markings, & runway lights

• The touchdown zone, TDZ markings, & TDZ lights

• The REILs

• The glideslope indicator (PAPI or VASIs)

• Approach lighting down to 100’AGL then only ALSF to the ground (red bars)

Where can required equipment for IFR flight be found?

91.205(d)

What is on 91.205(d)?

• Generator/alternator

• Radio (& suitable navigational equipment)

• Altimeter (pressure-sensing/precision)

• Ball (slip/skid indicator)

• Clock

• Attitude indicator

• Rate of turn indicator

• Directional gyro

Define pressure-sensing, precision altimeter.

• Pressure-sensing: It has a colesman window

• Precision: It is measured in 20’ increments

What does BasicMed allow us to do?

Everything except fly for compensation or hire excluding being an instructor or DPE

What are the BasicMed limitations?

• Can’t fly into Class A airspace

• Can’t fly an aircraft rated for over 12,500 lbs

• Can’t fly over 250 kts

• Can’t fly an aircraft rated for over 7 occupants

If you exceed your IFR currency by a month, what can you do?

Regain currency with a safety pilot

Who is qualified to be a safety pilot?

Someone with at least a private certificate who is rated for the same category and class of aircraft

Could a private pilot with just an SEL rating act as a safety pilot in a complex or high-performance aircraft? What all does a safety pilot need?

Yes, provided the aircraft is the same category and class. The safety pilot needs adequate vision and dual/throwover controls

If you were acting as a safety pilot, when could you log PIC time?

When the Pilot Flying (PF) is operating under a view-limiting device (foggles, the hood, etc.)

WEATHER INFORMATION

(skip card)

Why is clear ice worse than rime?

It’s hard to detect, it’s heavy, it changes the shape of the airfoil, and it tends to seep back towards the control surfaces.

What are the categories of aircraft icing?

• Structural

• Induction

• Instrument

What are the characteristics of a warm front?

• Stratiform clouds

• Steady precipitation

• Bad visibility

• 10-15 mph

What are the characteristics of a cold front?

• Cumulus and cumulonimbus clouds

• Heavy on-and-off precipitation

• Better visibility

• 25-30 mph

What are the characteristics of an occluded front?

• Thunderstorms

What would you do if you got into icing conditions?

• Run the checklist

• Contact ATC

• Speed up

• Turn around / Ascend or Descend (depending on weather)

• Turn on pitot heat + defrosters

Can we legally proceed into icing conditions?

No, it is banned in the PIM

What is the most likely area we would get structural icing and why?

The tailplane, it’s just smaller than other leading edges

What should we expect to see if we get tailplane icing and what should we do?

• We would expect to see elevator buffeting to a violent nose down pitch

• We need to retract flaps, pitch nose up, and potentially reduce power

CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT PLANNING

(skip card)

What do we legally have to check before every cross-country flight?

• NOTAMs

• Weather

• Known ATC delays

• Runway Lengths

• Alternates

• Fuel Requirements

• Takeoff & Landing Distances

What does the D in a black square on the TPP mean?

It means that the runway length is shorter than listed (declared distance)

What does 10317 mean on a METAR?

Your 6 hour max temperature is 31.7 degrees (celcius)

What would 20267 mean on a METAR?

Your 6 hour minimum temperature is 26.7 degrees (celcius)

Can you use a brown airport as an alternate?

Yes, provided you can make a descent from the MEA to land under basic VFR

When do you need an alternate if flying to an airport without an IAP?

Always

Tell me about the MON.

• It means the Minimum Operational Network

• It is for in case we suddenly lose satellite capability

• They retain non-satellite based approaches (ILS, Localizer, etc)

• You will always be within 100 nm of one

What are the IFR cross-country fuel requirements?

• Fuel from departure to first point of intended landing

• + Fuel to farthest alternate

• + 45 minutes at normal cruise

How long before a flight should an instrument flight plan be filed?

At least 30 minutes prior

AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS RELATED TO IFR OPERATIONS

(skip card)

VVFAGGS

• VHF Com 1

• VOR Nav 1

• FD (Flight Director)

• Autopilot (mode logic / brain)

• GPS

• Glideslope

• Servo Logic (what controls the pitch, roll, & trim)

AMTES

• ADC/AHRS

• Magnetometers

• Transponder

• EAU

• Servos

What kind of transponder do we have?

Mode S

What does a Mode S transponder provide?

• Unique ICAO identifier / Callsign

• Squawk code

• Pressure altitude

• Position

• Speed

• Heading

What is adverse yaw?

The unintentional tendency for the aircraft to yaw in the opposite direction of a turn

What causes adverse yaw?

The wing-up aileron coming down creates more drag causing it to yaw out

Describe our engine

We’ve got a direct drive, horizontally opposed, four cylinder, overhead valve, air cooled, fuel injected engine with a wet sump lubrication system. The engine is a Lycoming Model IO-360-L2A rated at 180 horsepower at 2700 RPM. Major accessories include a starter and belt driven alternator mounted on the front of the engine, dual magnetos, vacuum pump, engine driven fuel pump, and a full flow oil filter mounted on the rear of the engine accessory case.

Describe our propellor

The plane is equipped with a fixed-pitch, two bladed, one piece forged aluminum alloy propellor that is 76 inches. ((Anodized to retard corrosion?))

Describe our landing gear

The landing gear is a tricycle type, with a steerable nosewheel and two main wheels. Shock absorption is provided by the tubular spring steel main landing gear struts and the air/oil nose gear shock strut.

Describe our brakes

Each main gear wheel is equipped with a hydraulically actuated disc-type brake on the inward side.

When does the low voltage annunciation come on?

Below 24.5 volts

When does high volt annunciation start?

32 volts

(but the ACU should pop the breaker at 31.75v)

What converts AC to DC in the engine?

The Rectifier

What kind of power does the alternator produce?

Alternating Current

What systems are on the ADC?

Airspeed, altitude, vertical speed, temperature

What additional kind of airspeed can the ADC provide?

True Airspeed (TAS)

What systems are on the AHRS?

Attitude, heading (HSI), slip/skid (ball), rate of turn

Where is the magnetometer in the plane located?

Left wing

Where is the flap motor in the plane located?

Right wing

What provides our primary source of heading information?

Magnetometer

How does a magnetometer know which way its facing?

Flux gates / Magnetic flux

What type of autopilot do we have?

GFC700

How do we know that we’ve lost RAIM?

A yellow LOI (Loss of Integrity) message above the HSI

What 3 things do our servos control?

Pitch, roll, & trim

How often are Convective SIGMETs issued?

Every hour (55min past the hour)

How often are regular SIGMETs issued?

As needed

How often are AIRMETs issued?

Every 6 hours

How long are AIRMETs valid?

6 hours

How long are Convective SIGMETs valid?

2 hours

How long are regular SIGMETs valid?

4 hours (unless hurricanes or volcanic ash which are 6)

What is on the GIA’s?

• VHF Com 1 (or 2)

• VOR Nav 1 (or 2)

• Flight Director

• Autopilot

• Glideslope

• GPS

• Servo Logic

What’s between the GIA’s in the G1000 system?

• ADC/AHRS

• Magnetometer

• Transponder

• EAU

• Servos

What is the magnetometer connected to in the G1000 system?

Just the ADC/AHRS

What is the transponder connected to in the G1000 system?

Only GIA1 & GIA 2

What do you need to record after a VOR check?

• Date

• Error

• Place (DME & Radial)

• Signature

What method of instrument flying do we use to fly?

The Control & Performance method

What are the 3 types of VOR?

• VOR

• VORDME

• VORTAC

If just the static port is blocked what can you expect?

• Altimeter frozen

• VSI reading zero

• Airspeed indicator reads fast or slow depending on altitude

If your pitot tube is blocked but not the drain hole what can you expect?

Airspeed will read zero

If your pitot tube AND drain hole are blocked but not the static port, what can you expect?

Airspeed will act like an altimeter

What are the phases of a VOR and what do they do?

• Reference: stationary signal

• Variable: sweeping signal

What errors are associated with VORs?

• Line of sight

• Cone of confusion

• Area of ambiguity

• Declination

What errors are associated with DME?

• Line of sight

• Slant range

What are the Autopilot Limitations?

• Speed: over 70kts, under 150, electric trim under 163

• Left seat must be occupied

• Altitudes: above 800’ agl or 200’ on approach

• Pre-flight check must be completed

• Fuel imbalance no greater than 90lbs (or 15 gal)

• Audio Panel must be functional

• Takeoff & Landings prohibited

• Cat 1 Approaches only

• Missed approach: must establish climb rate first

What are the G1000 limitations?

• Can’t use as primary:

  • Traffic

  • Terrain 

  • Navigation

  • Fuel Quantity

• Latitudes:

  • Above 72 / Below 70

• Can’t use split comms

• Current Cockpit Reference Guide must be available on system status

• Database must be up to date for:

  • Navigation

  • Approaches

What does ICEFLAGS stand for?

• Inversion

• Coriolis

• Elevator

• False Horizon

• Leans

• Autokinesis

• Graveyard Spin/Spiral

• Somatogravic

Describe the Inversion Illusion.

Climb to straight and level makes you feel like you’re tumbling back. That feeling can cause you to push nose forward.

Describe the Coriolis Illusion.

Sudden head movements can cause a tumbling sensation.

Describe the Elevator illusion.

Sudden updrafts can cause you to push the nose down.