IFR Quick-Review Study Guide - Airplane .
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The IPC must cover these areas of operation: IFR RECENCY TIMELINE
■ Air traffic control clearances and procedures. Looking back 6 calendar months No “6 HITS” / IPC / the checkride
from the month of the flight: in the previous 6 calendar months? After 6 cal.
■ Flight by reference to instruments. Performed “6 HITS” or had an IPC You have 6 additional calendar months
of expired
■ Navigation systems. or the Instrument checkride months to perform & log recency,
(In an appropriate aircraft for the “6 HITS” in simulated IMC w\ safety an IPC is
■ Instrument approach procedures. instrument rating to be exercised) pilot or in a FFS, FTD, or ATD. the only
way to
■ Emergency operations, and IFR Current! NOT Current (grace period) reestablish
it.
■ Post-flight procedures.
12 Calendar Months
IFR recency of experience exemptions
■ A PIC who is actively employed by a Part 121 or 135 operator is exempt from the IFR recency of experience
requirements of Part 61.57 when operating under Part 91, 121 or 135 (as applicable) for that operator as long as
he complies with recency of experience requirements applicable for that operation.
For example, a Part 121 airline pilot does not need to log “6 HITS” to operate under Part 91 or 121 for that airline
as long as he is an active pilot with the company and current with that airline’s FAA approved training schedule.
However, he is not IFR current for flying outside the airline unless he also complies with the 6 HITS within
6 months rule.
USE OF FULL FLIGHT SIM, FTD, OR ATD FOR ACQUIRING INSTRUMENT AERONAUTICAL EXPERIENCE (§61.51)
■ For training towards a certificate or rating, an authorized instructor is present to observe and signs the person’s logbook
to verify the time and content of the session.
■ For IFR recency requirements, log:
Training device, time and content.
(§61.51, §61.56, §61.57, §91.109, Instrument- Airplane ACS)
LOGGING INSTRUMENT APPROACH PROCEDURES – REQUIREMENTS
1. You must operate the aircraft, FFS, ATD or FTD solely by reference to instruments. – §61.51(g)(1)
A flight instructor may log an IAP conducted by the student in actual IMC. (See FAA letter to Levy, 2008)
2. Be established on each required segment of the IAP down to its published minimums (MDA or DA).
The Initial (starting at the IAF), Intermediate and Final approach segments are required for logging the
approach, unless:
When radar vectored to final by ATC. (In simulated IMC, vectors from the safety pilot are also accepted).
3. If conducted in simulated IMC in an aircraft, or in a FFS, ATD or FTD, simulated conditions must continue down to
MDA or DA.
4. In an aircraft, flight must be in actual or simulated IMC.
5. In an aircraft, if conditions change from actual IMC to VMC during the final approach segment, you can still log the
approach.
(See FAA INFO 15012, 2015)
AERONAUTICAL DECISION MAKING
PREFLIGHT SELF-ASSESSMENT – “IM SAFE”
■ I - Illness - Do I have any symptoms?
■ M - Medication - Have I taken prescription or over-the-counter drugs?
■ S - Stress - Am I under psychological pressure, worried about finances, health or family discord?
■ A - Alcohol - No drinking within 8 hours. (“8 hours bottle to throttle”). No more than .04% of alcohol in blood.
■ F - Fatigue - Am I tired / adequately rested?
■ E - Emotion - Am I emotionally upset?
(§91.17, AIM 8-1-1)
RISK MANAGEMENT & PERSONAL MINIMUMS – “PAVE”
■ P - Pilot (general health, physical / mental / emotional state, proficiency, currency)
■ A - Aircraft (airworthiness, equipment, performance)
■ V - EnVironment (weather hazards, terrain, airports / runways to be used & other conditions)
■ E - External pressure (meetings, people waiting at destination, etc.)
(Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge)
DECISION MAKING – “DECIDE”
■ D - Detect that a change has occurred.
■ E - Estimate the need to counter the change.
■ C - Choose a desirable outcome.
■ I - Identify solutions.
■ D - Do the necessary actions.
■ E - Evaluate the effects of the actions
(Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge)
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