Instrument Regulations Study Guide

14 CFR Part 1 - Definitions

 Air Traffic Clearance – 91.123 – When an ATC clearance is obtained, no PIC may

deviate from the clearance unless an amended clearance is obtained, an emergency exists,

or if responding to a traffic alert resolution advisory.

 Alternate Airport – An IFR flight plan must include an alternate airport if 1 hr before

ETA to 1 hr after ETA WX minimums are less than 3 SM visibility, 2000 ft ceilings.

 Category – (with respect to pilots) – pilot certification for aircraft category, airplane,

rotorcraft, balloon, airship, etc.

 Category – (with respect to aircraft) – category of aircraft: normal, utility, acrobatic,

experimental transport, etc.

 Class – (with respect to pilots) – pilot certificate for aircraft class, single engine land,

multi-engine land, single engine sea, multi engine sea

 Class - (with respect to aircraft) – single engine land, multi engine land, single engine

land, multi engine land

 Controlled Airspace – airspace A, B, C, D, E where ATC clearances can be obtained.

 Flight Visibility – minimum in-flight cockpit visibility determined by the pilot in order to

commence an approach.

 Ground Visibility – prevailing horizontal surface visibility near the Earth’s surface as

reported by a weather station or accredited ground observer

 IFR Conditions – IMC – Instrument Meteorological conditions, or any conditions less

than 1,000 ft ceilings and 3 SM visiblity

  Major Alteration – Part 43 Appendix A - a major alteration is a modification not in the

aircraft, aircraft engine, or propeller specifications.

 Major Repair – Part 43 Appendix A - Repairs to parts of an airframe and repairs of the

following types, involving the strengthening, reinforcing, splicing, and manufacturing of

primary structural members or their replacement, when replacement is by fabrication

such as riveting or welding, are airframe major repairs.

 Pilot in Command – final responsibility for the safety of the flight. Only one pilot can log

 Special VFR Conditions – remain clear of clouds, in-flight visibility less than 1 SM, must

be requested by the pilot. When conditions are less than VFR. Must be in controlled

airspace.

14 CFR Part 61 – Certification of Pilot

 61.3 – Requirement for Certificates, Ratings, and Authorizations – aeronautical

experience required for each rating respectively, pilot must have in possession a

government issued photo ID, pilot certificate, medical certificate

 61.56 – Flight Review – every 24 calendar months, in lieu of a flight review we can

obtain additional ratings

 61.57 - Recent Flight Experience: Pilot in Command – VFR requirements, IFR

requirements - 66HIT – within 6 preceding calendar months, to act as PIC in IMC log at

least 6 approaches, with holding, intercepting, and tracking. Additional 6 month grace

period, then after 12 total calendar months, IPC is required with CFII. VFR – no

passengers are to be carried unless PIC has logged 3 TOs and landings within preceding

90 days and landings must be to full stop at night if passengers are to be carried at night
14 CFR Part 91 – General Operating Rules

 91.103 – Pre-flight Action – NWKRAFT – become familiar with NOTAMs, Weather

briefing, Known ATC delays, runway lengths, alternate airports if required, fuel

requirements, takeoff and landing distances

 91.205 – Required Equipment – ATOMATOFLAMES + FLAPS, and GRABCARDD for

IFR

 91.167 – Fuel Requirements for Flight in IFR Conditions – 45 mins required at reaching

destination airport

 91.169 – IFR Flight Plan: Information Required – required to fly alternate airport under

123 rule, You must have an IAP available at dest. airport, WX at dest. must meet

minimums. If alternate is req. in an airplane, alternate has IAP, precision approach must

have 600 ft ceilings and 2 SM of visibility at ETA, non-precision approaches must have

800 ft ceilings and 2 SM visibility. If alt. doesn’t have IAP, you must be able to descend

from MEA to airport in VMC.

 91.171 – VOR Equipment Check for IFR Operations – required every 30 days to fly IFR

 91.173 ATC Clearance and Flight Plan Required – no PIC may operate an aircraft under

IFR in controlled airspace unless an IFR flight plan has been filed and clearance obtained

 91.175 – Takeoff and Landing under IFR – Part 91 takeoff minimums 0/0. Landing under

IFR, cannot descend below the highest of the MDA, DA/DH unless aircraft is in a normal

position to land and runway environment is in sight. Can descend up to 100 ft above

TDZE if red terminating bars are in sight.

 91.177 Minimum Altitudes for IFR Operation – Except for takeoff or landing, no PIC

may operate an aircraft below the applicable MEAs or MOCAs prescribed. If no

minimum altitude is prescribed, the aircraft must be operated at least 2,000 ft above

highest obstacle in 4NM radius in mountainous terrain, and 1,000 ft above highest

obstacle in 4 NM radius of non-mountainous terrain.

 91.179 – IFR Cruising Altitude or Flight Level – In controlled airspace, the PIC will fly

the altitude assigned by ATC. In uncontrolled airspace, on a magnetic course of 360-179

degrees, odd thousands are to be flown (3000, 5000, etc). On a magnetic course of 180-

359 even thousands are to be flown (2000, 4000, etc).

 91.181 – Course to be Flown – Unless otherwise authorized by ATC or during an

emergency, no PIC will operate an aircraft within controlled airspace under IFR except

along the centerline of an airway, or on any other route along the direct course between

the nav aids or fixes defining that route. You can however maneuver in VMC to pass well

clear of an aircraft.

 91.183 – IFR Communications – The PIC of an aircraft operated under IFR in controlled

airspace must be vigilent in maintaining communications on the proper assigned

frequency. The PIC must also report the time and altitude after passing a compulsory

reporting point when not in RADAR contact, any unforecast weather, and any other

information regarding safety of flight.

 91.185 – IFR Operations: Two-way radio communications failure – Each PIC will fly the

last route assigned by ATC, or if being radar vectored then fly the direct route to the fix,
 airway/route from the point of radio failure. Fly the highest of the last assigned altitude

assigned by ATC, the altitude assigned on chart along route of flight, the minimum

altitude, or the altitude expected at expect further clearance time.

 91.187 – Operation under IFR in Controlled Airspace: Malfunction Reports – The PIC of

each aircraft operating under IFR in controlled airspace will report as soon as practicable

any malfunctions in aircraft navigational, approach, or communication equipment during

flight.

IFR Altitudes

 MEA – the minimum enroute altitude is lowest published altitude between radio fixes
which assures acceptable navigational signal coverage and meets obstacle clearance
requirements between those fixes

 MOCA – the minimum obstruction clearance altitude is the lowest published altitude
between radio fixes on VOR airways, off-airway routes, or route segments which meet
obstacle clearance requirements for the entire route and assuring navigational coverage
up to 22 NM

 MAA – the maximum authorized altitude is the published altitude representing the
maximum usable altitude or flight level for an airspace structure or route segment

 MCA – the minimum crossing altitude is the lowest altitude at certain fixes at which an
aircraft must cross when proceeding in the direction of a higher minimum en route IFR
altitude (MEA).

 MDA – the minimum desecent altitude is the lowest altitude to which descent is
authorized on final approach or during circle-to-land maneuvering in execution of a
standard IAP when no GS is available.

 DA/DH – the decision altitude/decision height is the height at which on an IAP, a

decision is made to either continue the approach if runway is in sight or to execute a
missed approach if not in sight
 MRA – the minimum reception altitude is the lowest altitude at which an intersection can
be determined using ground-based nav aids

 MTA – the minimum turning altitude is a charted altitude providing vertical and lateral
obstruction clearance based on turn criteria over certain fixes, nav aids, waypoints, and
on charted route segments.

 OROCA – the off-route obstruction clearance altitude is the off-route altitude that
provides obstruction clearance of 2,000 ft in mountainous terrain and 1,000 ft in non
mountainous terrain within the respective quadrant, similar to an MEF on sectional charts