FAA IFR Pilot Requirements

Overview

This lecture provides a comprehensive summary of the FAA instrument rating requirements, procedures, and operational rules for IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) pilots, including flight planning, equipment, procedures, and key regulations.

Instrument Rating Basics

• Instrument time is logged when flying solely by reference to instruments under actual or simulated conditions (61.51g).
• Instrument rating required to act as PIC in IFR conditions, Class A airspace, certain cross-country ops, and for Special VFR at night.
• Must have a current medical and instrument rating to be PIC under IFR.

Experience & Currency Requirements

• 50 hours cross-country PIC time; 10 hours in airplanes.
• 40 hours instrument time, 15 with CFII; simulators/ATDs count with limits.
• 250 NM cross-country flight, 3 types of approaches, 3 hrs training in last 2 months.
• Instrument currency: 6 instrument approaches, holdings, intercept/tracking every 6 months (“6 HITS”); IPC if not current after 12 months.

Safety Pilot & Passenger Carrying

• Safety pilot must be rated in category/class, have current medical, and adequate visibility.
• 3 takeoffs/landings in last 90 days for passenger carrying; full stop for tailwheel/night ops.

Required Documents & Aircraft Equipment

• Pilot: certificate, medical, photo ID.
• Aircraft: ARROW (Airworthiness, Registration, Radio license (if international), Operating limitations, Weight/balance).
• Day VFR: “A TOMATO FLAMES”; Night: add “FLAPS”; IFR: “GRABCARD”.
• Required maintenance: annual, 100hr (if for hire), altimeter, transponder, ELT, etc., on set schedules.

Preflight & IFR Flight Planning

• Assess with IMSAFE, PAVE, DECIDE.
• Required info: NWKRAFT (NOTAMs, Weather, Known delays, Runway info, Alternatives, Fuel, T/O & Landing data).
• File IFR flight plan: online, with ATC, FSS, or electronically; preferred routes recommended.

IFR Operations & Procedures

• No IFR T/O mins for Part 91; other parts require mins based on number of engines.
• Departure/arrival procedures: ODP (obstacle), SID (standard), STAR; always follow CRAFT for clearance.
• Minimum IFR altitudes: 1,000 ft above obstacles (non-mountainous), 2,000 ft (mountainous), or MEA.
• Required reporting: missed approach, leaving a hold, nav loss, safety issues, etc.

Navigation, Charts, and Approaches

• MEA: Minimum Enroute Altitude; MOCA: Minimum Obstruction Clearance Altitude.
• Obey published altitudes, holding speeds, and position reporting outside of radar.
• Types of approaches: ILS, VOR, RNAV, LOC, NDB, ASR, LDA, SDF, PAR, etc.

Instruments & Equipment

• Gyroscopic: attitude, heading indicator, turn coordinator.
• Pitot-static: airspeed, altimeter, VSI; know errors and failure modes.
• Glass cockpits use AHRS, ADC, and integrate PFDs/MFDs; RAIM/WAAS for GPS integrity.

Lost Communications and Emergencies

• Altitude: fly highest of MEA, assigned, or expected.
• Route: AVEF (Assigned, Vectored, Expected, Filed).
• Remain predictable and comply with lost comms procedures.

Weather, Icing, and Hazards

• Know types/levels of icing, thunderstorm stages, and types of hydroplaning.
• Supplemental oxygen required above 12,500 ft (various crew/passenger rules).

ADS-B, Transponder, and Electronic Devices

• ADS-B required in Class A, B, C, above 10,000 ft MSL (exceptions apply).
• Transponder failures require ATC notification and possible deviation.
• Electronic devices limited onboard, with operator discretion for exceptions.

Key Terms & Definitions

• PIC — Pilot in Command.
• CFII — Certified Flight Instructor – Instrument.
• MEA — Minimum Enroute Altitude; ensures nav and obstacle clearance.
• MOCA — Minimum Obstruction Clearance Altitude; nav coverage up to 22 NM.
• IPC — Instrument Proficiency Check; required for lapsed currency.
• 6 HITS — 6 approaches, holds, intercept/track nav systems (IFR currency).
• GRABCARD — Acronym for required IFR equipment.
• IMSAFE — Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue, Emotion/Eating (pilot self-check).
• RAIM — Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring; GPS signal integrity.
• WAAS — Wide Area Augmentation System; GPS accuracy enhancement.

Action Items / Next Steps

• Review acronyms (IMSAFE, PAVE, GRABCARD, 6 HITS, NWKRAFT).
• Ensure compliance with all logging and recency requirements.
• Study minimum required equipment and reporting procedures.
• Practice lost communications and holding procedures.
• Prepare required personal and aircraft documents before flight.