Instrument Rating Checkride

What documents do you need to be legal?

Medical, certificate, photo ID

What makes you current?

Biannual flight review, 3 take offs and landings within the last 90 days if carrying passengers

Instrument Currency

• 1 hold

• 1 track and intercept

• 6 approaches within 6 calendar months

What makes an approach able to be logged for currency?

Starting at initial fix or ATC vectors, simulated IMC to minimums, or actual IMC over the final fix

What do you need after 12 calendar months of not being current?

Instrument proficiency check with DPE or CFII

Types of VOR Checks?

• VOT Check

• Airborne Check

• 2 VORs against each other

• Ground based checkpoint

How to do a VOT check?

Tune to a ground station, will read 180° TO or 360° FROM

How to do an airborne VOR check?

Tune to VOR station over a known radial

Maximum tolerance for VOT check?

4°

Maximum tolerance for an airborne VOR check?

6°

What is the maximum tolerance for a dual VOR check?

4°

What is the maximum tolerance for a ground based VOR check?

4°

How do you log VOR checks?

Date, error, place, signature

What happens to the altimeter when flying from high pressure to low pressure?

You will be lower than the altimeter reads

What happens to your altimeter when flying from low to high pressure?

You will be higher than your altimeter reads

In low temperatures, the altimeter will show _______ than you actually are.

Higher

In high temperatures, the altimeter will show _________ than you actually are.

Lower

How does the airspeed indicator work?

There is a diaphragm with static air inside and ram air outside. The indicator measures the difference between the two air pressures.

What’s the difference between indicated and calibrated airspeed?

Calibrated airspeed corrects for instrumentation error when there is a higher angle of attack.

What’s the difference between calibrated and true airspeed?

True airspeed corrects for atmospheric conditions.

What’s the difference between true airspeed and ground speed?

True airspeed is your airspeed through the air, and ground speed corrects for wind

How do you convert calibrated to true airspeed?

E6B

How many gyroscopes does the aircraft have?

3

How does the gyroscope work?

It orients itself on the ground, spins around 3 axis, remains the same during different movements

What is gyroscopic precession?

Tendency for the gyroscope to drift away from its original position.

Does a glass cockpit have a gyroscope?

No, aside from a potential backupH

How does a glass cockpit exist without gyroscopes?

Altitude Heading Reference System—AHRS, measures inertia and acceleration

What can be done in the event of vacuum failure?

Use alternate static source

What are the 3 types of weather briefs?

Outlook, standard, abbreviated

What is an AIRMET?

Notice of potentially hazardous weather for light aircraft

What is an AIRMET Sierra?

Mountain obscuration

What are the different types of AIRMETs?

Turbulence, icing, mountain obscuration

What is an AIRMET Tango?

Turbulence

What is an AIRMET zulu?

Icing

When are AIRMETs issued?

2:45 zulu

Why don’t AIRMETs come out at 00:00 zulu?

Weather conditions/forecasts need to be reviewed before issuing areas of concern

How long are AIRMETs valid?

6 hours

What is a SIGMET?

A notice of hazardous weather conditions for all aircraft

What types of SIGMETs are there?

Convective, Turbulence, Icing

How long is a convective SIGMET valid?

2 hours

What are two types of convective sigmets?

Embedded thunderstorms, line of thunderstorms

How long are non-convective SIGMETs valid?

4 hours

Why does a METAR show specific temperatures (to the 10th degree?)

Shows potential for visible moisture

How long is a TAF valid?

24-30 hours

What does the snowflake mean on an approach chart?

Cold weather airport, colder temperatures impact altimeter readings

G - GRABCARD

Generator/alternator

R - GRABCARD

Radios

A1 - GRABCARD

Altimeter

B - GRABCARD

Ball (turn coordinator)

C - GRABCARD

Clock

A2 - GRABCARD

Attitude Indicator

R2 - GRABCARD

Rate of turn indicator

D - GRABCARD

Directional gyro

What are the two components of ILS?

Glideslope and localizer

What happens if the glideslope is unavailable in an ILS approach?

It becomes a localizer-only approach

Why can’t you come in too high on an ILS approach?

False glideslope

What is WAAS?

Wide Area Augmentation System, enhances GPS accuracy, allows for LPV & LNAV/VNAV approaches

What is RAIM?

Detects and alerts pilots to signal errors.

Difference between WAAS & RAIM?

Raim checks accuracy, WAAS enhances accuracy

What are the types of RNAV/GPS approaches?

LPV, LNAV/VNAV, LNAV, & LP

What is an LPV approach?

Most accurate GPS approach, uses WAAS

What is an LNAV/VNAV approach?

Provides vertical guidance, less accurate than LPV