Questions tagged [instrument-flight-rules]
Instrument flight rules (IFR) are a set of regulations governing aircraft operations. IFR permits flying and navigating by instruments alone in conditions where there is no visual reference outside the aircraft.
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Is Pitot Heat required for IFR?
CFR 125.205 states that
§ 125.205 Equipment requirements: Airplanes under IFR. No person may
operate an airplane under IFR unless it has— (a) A vertical speed
indicator; (b) A free-air temperature ...
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What's the best way to get through clouds when not instrument rated?
The obvious answer to this is... don't go into clouds.
But if you are flying among scattered or broken clouds and you go up above them, then when you reach your destination it's overcast and there is ...
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Cleared straight in approach
I was flying IFR (in a simulator with Vatsim ATC) cleared direct to ROXXE on the RNAV 04 at KAVP at 4000 on a course of 275. The controller said "Cross ROXXE at or above 4000, cleared straight in ...
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Navaid information on SID
I noticed this information under the navaid boxes on the Logan Four departure from KBOS. What do they mean? Additionally could you point me to what publication they would be explained in?
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Holding with no radial specified
During my instrument check ride a couple years ago I was given an unpublished hold by ATC at a fix in the approach. For the hold ATC said something to the effect of "... hold west of [fix name] .....
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Can I fly a SID/STAR if a navaid is NOTAMed inoperative, using RNAV?
Take a SID like this, BARPI2K at LJPZ.
The textual Route description says
BARPI TWO KILO
Climb on track 315 to 1700 ft; LT to PZ L; overhead PZ L; LT on HDG 295; intercept PZ QDR 325 PZ L to BARPI. ...
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Airline pilots and unplanned but not necessary manouevres
This story details how an EasyJet captain flew a presumably unplanned circle to give everyone on board a look at the Northern Lights.
Are captains allowed to do this sort of thing on a whim, or would ...
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how to determine the optimum FL for A320 to make a flight plan?
I want to make an ifr flight plan for A320 based on fcom, but I don't understand how to make one
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When should the missed approach procedure be executed?
When flying a straight-in precision or non-precision instrument approach, when should the missed approach procedure be executed?
Note that this is being asked in the context of FAA regulations, but ...
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What did Chuck do wrong in this Chicken Wings comic?
What did Chuck do wrong, other than being in an airplane?
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What is a Tromboning arrival procedure?
I only know that Tromboning is a RNAV arrival procedure which has the trombone shape, and it's an application of CDO (Continuous Descent Operation) along with Point Merge Procedure. Can you give me ...
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Canadian Approach Plates: Why does the minima show that DME is required but the procedure name does not?
I see so many plates that contain lines of minima requiring the use of DME, but the title does not indicate DME is required. For example, the "LOC RWY 27" approach into CYYJ. The title ...
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RAIM Checks when using GNSS in lieu of DME for distance information
I understand that a RAIM has to be checked on the ground as part of preflight, as well as before the commencement of an RNAV/RNP approach.
What I am unable to find information on online, is whether a ...
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1. Why does the glide slope guide you down to 0.7NM away from the runway? 2. Best way to circle from 28 to active runway 36?
Why does the glide slope guide you down to 0.7NM away from the runway? 2. Best way to circle from 28 to active runway 36? Note parachute jump site takes place on SE corner
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Amending Operating Limitations for IFR operations
I own an experimental aircraft and have installed all the equipment necessary to fly under IFR. I found that there's a line on the Operating Limitations document that says "Day/Night VFR ...
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How is the VOR-A approach at KVCB meant to be flown?
This is the VOR-A approach into KVCB:
The plate indicates that "Circling NA west of Rwy 2-20." But runway 2 is left traffic and runway 20 is right traffic. How is one meant to avoid the ...
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Changing SID without changing the flight plan
Pilots are demanding conventional SID rather than RNAV SID planned on flight plan due gps problem. In that case is it enough for a tower controller to coordinate the conventional SID with the approach ...
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When a VOR is an IAF, must it be treated as a fly-over waypoint, or is fly-by acceptable?
I have a VOR approach at KMDQ that has you fly outbound from the VOR as the IAF, do a procedure turn and come back to the VOR as the Final approach fix. My question is, when you are using it as the ...
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Best way to mentally calculate wind correction angle (WCA) when in a holding pattern?
I have been out of flying for a while and need to brush up on my holding patterns. I need a quick method or rule of thumb to calculate the wind correction angle (WCA) for example when flying outbound ...
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Why some airspaces don't have high-altitude IFR airways?
I noticed on enroute charts that some airspaces (mainly over Balnkans - e.g. LWSS, LYBA, LDZO, LOVV etc) do not have high-altitude IFR airways. Unfortunately searching online didn't reveal much. What ...
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How do IFR flights in IMC in Class G airspace not collide?
According to Wikipedia, in Class G airspace, "Operations may be conducted under IFR or VFR. ATC has no authority but VFR minimums are to be known by pilots. Traffic Information may be given as ...
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what does upwind engine and down wind engine mean?
can anyone illustrate with a picture what does upwind engine and downwind engine mean?
for example, i came across this - “The outer engines are critical. If there is any crosswind then the upwind ...
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Why don't LPV approaches use WAAS GPS for DA
In an LPV approach, the WAAS GPS (not the barometric altimeter) is used to generate the vertical guidance. But the decision altitude for going missed is determined using barometric altimeter. Why isn'...
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FMC and MCDU not talking
I have a test bed in which the FMC and MCDU are hooked up to one another.
FMC menu was populated on MCDU and was able to be navigated.
After making some changes to the FMC GPS #2 lines, the FMC ...
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Can ATC reject a GA aircraft IFR flight plan to a busy Bravo/Charlie airport?
This may be a dumb question, but can ATC reject or amend your flight plan to prevent a GA training aircraft from flying into a busy airport (i.e. Atlanta)?
As an example, flying VFR near Nashville, ...
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How often do airline pilots actually have to avoid other aircraft that ATC did not tell them about at cruise altitude?
I know any pilot flying in VMC, whether under VFR or IFR, must "see and avoid." How often do airline pilots actually "see" and have to "avoid" other traffic at cruise ...
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With respect to IFR alternate minimums, why are helicopter minimums lower than airplane minimums?
According to 91.169, airplanes need 2,000-ft elevation while helicopters need 1,000 ft. Airplanes also need three set miles visibility while helicopters only need two. Is this because helicopters fly ...
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What is the difference between DH and RA in Jeppesen charts?
In CAT II and CAT III Approach Charts, the Jeppesen version of charts depicts both the "DH" and the "RA".
And, I found out that they are somewhat different.
So, why do these ...
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How far back can the FAA go in requiring documentation of IFR currency?
I did an IPC recently and got to thinking how long I needed to retain the proof of re-up. Let's say that a pilot stays IFR current for 10 years after the hiatus requiring an IPC. For whatever reason, ...
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What are the constraints and procedures regarding IMC formation flight?
"Instrument Meteorological Conditions" are those in which flight under Visual Flight Rules is not permitted. This changes based on airspace but for the most part IMC means that flight ...
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Can aircraft in formation shoot instrument approaches as a formation?
Formations taking off and landing together is obviously a thing in VFR, but I'm curious if these operations are possible/remotely safe when the formation is flying in IMC.
Example: A two-ship flight ...
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Why does the FAA allow a dual receiver check for IFR
FAR 91.171 allows a pilot to use independent VORs to do the VOR check as opposed to using a testing facility. The reg says as long as they are within 4 degrees of each other the pilot is good to go. ...
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How to determine QNH zones like New Zealand did?
I saw a file stating that New Zealand has 11 zones and was wondering how it was determined and divided, does anyone have any idea?
the paper offers a short description that doesn't cover much ...
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Why do airliners over south-west Europe cruise at flight levels with inversed numbers?
Over North America and Europe, usually when airliners go east (heading 0-179) they cruise at a flight level with an odd number (e.g. FL370) and when going west (180-359) they cruise at an even number (...
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Glidepath difference
I recently flew an RNAV/LPV instrument approach in IMC. Although out of the clouds by then, I was watching my vertical guidance on my NAV (which was at center) and noticed I was below glideslope for ...
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EASA - Legal Alternate when ILS to a specific RW is U/S
Interesting question this morning. My alternate has RW07/25; the ILS to 25 was U/S. TAF was for OVC007.
My alternate minima are:
If DH < 250 then use DH + 200. With the ILS inop, had I needed to ...
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Can we infer whether a given approach is visual only from the track data and the meteorological conditions?
I understand that even during IFR, the ATC can authorize visual approach to the pilots. Are there any tell-tale signs from track data (for example as on FlightRadar24) that will show the aircraft is ...
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Why we don't have to apply cold temperature correction on final approach segment heights (except DA/MDA)?
As shown below, ICAO doc 8168 (PANS OPS) says that cold temperature correction have to be applied on initial and intermediate segments and on the DA and MDA (and missed approache altitudes). But why ...
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What are the weather minimums in order to take off under IFR conditions?
I've heard different answers for what limits if you can take off IFR from an airfield. I've heard that you have to be restricted to the lowest compatible mins on an instrument approach field and I've ...
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How to fly the step-down fixes on the LOC 32 approach at Dothan (KDHN)?
From Oaldy to CABTA is 2600, then is it CABTA to KENSY down to 2200? Using Localizer only...I see the glideslope intercept says 2200 but Kensy is father up.
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Can you switch from VFR to IFR during a flight?
Is it possible for a pilot flying under VFR to switch to IFR during a flight?
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Significance of "weather conditions less than the minimums prescribed for VFR flight"
"weather conditions less than the minimums prescribed for VFR flight" has repeatedly come up in FAR chapters pertaining to IFR.
One example is 61.3 (e):
No person may act as pilot in ...
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Do you have to look outside at all under IFR?
Do pilots flying under IFR ever have to look outside the plane?
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KHAF runway 30 ODP in the works, appears to be missing a segment
Asked the FAA about this & they replied that the procedure has been redesigned since the one at the link was posted, that the old charts will be removed from the website, and that the newly ...
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Is it possible to perform a descent like the picture below which I share?
In the picture, after crossing the VOR fix aircraft does not complete a parallel holding and directly descent on the other side of the racetrack outbound track. In my opinion with Jeppesen General ...
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Crossing extended runway centerline while intercepting LOC
I know it shouldn't happen but in case it happens for whatever reason, what is correct procedure to save the day. I mean the case that the aircraft is turning but it gets to the wrong side by, let's ...
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How can I land on an "IFR-only" airport? [closed]
I was flying Cessna Skyhawk in Microsoft Flight Simulator from Nowy Targ EPNT to Tatry LZTT. I set the weather to cloudy for the purpose of training (a little bit) IFR flight. In general quite big ...
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TruTrak Vision PMA Autopilot Limitations for coupled instrument procedures- C172M - STC SA04231CH
I am currently flying a Cessna 172M with a TruTrak Vision Autopilot installed under STC SA04231CH. Section 2.4 of the approved AFMS states:
This autopilot has not been evaluated by the FAA to meet ...
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EASA Part-NCO; Approach light system
EASA Part-NCO, specifically OP.110, refers to 4 different lighting systems (NALS, BALS, IALS, FALS) to be considered when determining the landing minima. However, there are quite a few different ...
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What is the diference between RVR and RVR with letter?
There are at least two symbols for the RVR representation on Jeppesen charts.
But I can't seem to find the definition for those. By any chance would you guys care to explain what each one means?
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