INSTRUMENT ORAL EXAMS SCRIPT QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS SET A+
✔✔Class E airspace - ✔✔Controller airspace not A, B, C, or D. Upwards from either
surface or designated altitude (700 ft AGL or 1200 ft AGL depending) to controlled
airspace above. Used for federal airways, transition areas, etc. Begins at most at
14,500 ft MSL over US. Floor is 700 ft AGL if designated in conjunction with airport with
approved IAP; 1,200 ft AGL in conjunction with federal airway.
✔✔Class G airspace - ✔✔Uncontrolled, extends from surface up to controlled airspace
above (at most 14,500 ft MSL where class E airspace begins)
✔✔Prohibited area - ✔✔Aircraft flight not allowed
✔✔Restricted area - ✔✔Need permission from controlling agency if VFR; if IFR expect
vectors around or through it. Contains unusual hazards (often invisible)
✔✔Military Operations area (MOA) - ✔✔IFR cleared through or around. VFR permission
not needed, though caution urged. Separates certain military training activities from
traffic.
✔✔Warning area - ✔✔Permission not required, flight plan advised. Extends from coast
3 NM outwards into domestic or international waters, contains activity that may be
hazardous.
✔✔Alert area - ✔✔No permission required; IFR cleared through or around; VFR use
caution. High volume of pilot training/aerial activity
✔✔Controller firing areas (CFAs) - ✔✔Not charted; activities suspended when spotter
aircraft, radar, or ground lookout positions see approaching aircraft.
,✔✔National Security Area - ✔✔NSAs may be temporarily prohibited when necessary
(for security/safety), and pilots urged to voluntarily avoid flying through depicted NSA.
Defined vertical and lateral dimensions.
✔✔Temporary Flight Restrictions - ✔✔TFRs protect persons and property in the air or
surface from existing or imminent hazard when low-flying aircraft are present that could
magnify, alter, spread or compound the hazard. NOTAM will be issued. (e.g. Space
flight, sports game, etc)
✔✔STAR - ✔✔Standard Terminal Arrival Route - ATC coded IFR arrival route meant to
simplify clearance delivery procedures and facilitate transition between IFR en route
and approach. Availability found in Terminal Procedures Publication.
✔✔If ATC issues you a STAR, must you accept it? - ✔✔No, because you need the
approved chart. Can specify "No STAR" in remarks section of flight plan, or verbally
request ATC.
✔✔RNAV STAR - ✔✔Same as STAR, though only available to aircraft equipped with
flight management system (FMS) or GPS. Typically includes fly-by waypoints with some
fly-over waypoints.
✔✔When being radar-vectored for an approach, at what point may you start a descent
from your last assigned altitude to a lower altitude if "cleared for the approach"? - ✔✔At
airport where no IAP, whenever you are cleared to land by ATC. With IAP, whenever
the published chart specifies you to descend, usually after passing a fix.
✔✔Initial approach segment - ✔✔Approach segment between the Initial Approach Fix
(IAF) and intermediate fix
✔✔Intermediate approach segment - ✔✔Approach segment between intermediate fix
and Final Approach Fix (FAF)
✔✔Final approach segment - ✔✔Approach segment between FAF and runway, airport,
or missed approach point
✔✔Missed approach segment - ✔✔Approach segment between missed approach point
or point of arrival at Decision Height (DH) and the missed approach fix at the prescribed
altitude
✔✔Standard IFR separation minimums - ✔✔Within 40 miles of radar antennae, aircraft
are separated by 3 miles; beyond they are separated by 5 miles.
✔✔Minimum Vectoring Altitude (MVA) - ✔✔Lowest MSL altitude at which aircraft will be
vectored by a radar controller, except at otherwise authorized for radar approaches,
, departures, and missed approaches. May be lower than MEA or J-route segment.
Charts depicting MVA typically only available to controllers, not pilots
✔✔Feeder routes - ✔✔Routes on IAP charts that designate courses, distance, and
minimum altitude to proceed from enroute structure to IAF. Meets obstacle clearance
requirements (1000 ft in nonmountainous terrain; 2000 ft in mountainous area)
✔✔What procedure is to be used when the clearance "cleared for the visual" is issued?
- ✔✔Pilot must have airport in sight or preceding identified aircraft in sight. Must be
authorized and controlled by appropriate ATC facility (tower). Reported weather must be
VFR (ceilings greater than 1,000 ft and visibility greater than 3 SM)
✔✔"Contact approach" - ✔✔Pilot on IFR flight plan requests to deviate from instrument
approach procedure and proceed to destination airport by visual reference to surface.
Ground visibility at airport must be at least 1 SM. Pilot must request this specifically.
✔✔When is a procedure turn not required? - ✔✔a) IAP chart says "No PT"
b) "Radar Vectoring" is provided
c) Holding pattern is published in lieu of PT
d) Conducting a timed approach
e) Procedure turn is not authorized (absence of PT barb on plan view)
✔✔Standard procedure turn limitations? - ✔✔a) Turn on depicted side
b) Adhere to depicted minimum altitudes
c) Complete maneuver within distance specified in profile view
d) Maximum speed not greater than 200 knots (IAS)
✔✔What procedure is followed when a holding pattern is specified in lieu of a procedure
turn? - ✔✔Holding pattern will be established over IAF or FAF. Maximum holding
airspeeds apply; maneuver is completed when aircraft established on inbound course
after executing appropriate entry (teardrop, parallel, direct); additional circuits not
required though if pilot chooses to do so (to lose altitude, for example) then should
advise ATC
✔✔Precision approach (PA) - ✔✔Instrument approach with both localizer (horizontal
guidance) and glide slope (vertical guidance). Examples: PAR, ILS, and GLS
✔✔Guidance information for standard ILS (horizontal, vertical) - ✔✔Localizer, Glide
Slope
✔✔Range information for standard ILS - ✔✔Marker beacons, DME
✔✔Visual information for standard ILS - ✔✔Approach lights, touchdown and centerline
lights, runway lights
AND ANSWERS SET A+
✔✔Class E airspace - ✔✔Controller airspace not A, B, C, or D. Upwards from either
surface or designated altitude (700 ft AGL or 1200 ft AGL depending) to controlled
airspace above. Used for federal airways, transition areas, etc. Begins at most at
14,500 ft MSL over US. Floor is 700 ft AGL if designated in conjunction with airport with
approved IAP; 1,200 ft AGL in conjunction with federal airway.
✔✔Class G airspace - ✔✔Uncontrolled, extends from surface up to controlled airspace
above (at most 14,500 ft MSL where class E airspace begins)
✔✔Prohibited area - ✔✔Aircraft flight not allowed
✔✔Restricted area - ✔✔Need permission from controlling agency if VFR; if IFR expect
vectors around or through it. Contains unusual hazards (often invisible)
✔✔Military Operations area (MOA) - ✔✔IFR cleared through or around. VFR permission
not needed, though caution urged. Separates certain military training activities from
traffic.
✔✔Warning area - ✔✔Permission not required, flight plan advised. Extends from coast
3 NM outwards into domestic or international waters, contains activity that may be
hazardous.
✔✔Alert area - ✔✔No permission required; IFR cleared through or around; VFR use
caution. High volume of pilot training/aerial activity
✔✔Controller firing areas (CFAs) - ✔✔Not charted; activities suspended when spotter
aircraft, radar, or ground lookout positions see approaching aircraft.
,✔✔National Security Area - ✔✔NSAs may be temporarily prohibited when necessary
(for security/safety), and pilots urged to voluntarily avoid flying through depicted NSA.
Defined vertical and lateral dimensions.
✔✔Temporary Flight Restrictions - ✔✔TFRs protect persons and property in the air or
surface from existing or imminent hazard when low-flying aircraft are present that could
magnify, alter, spread or compound the hazard. NOTAM will be issued. (e.g. Space
flight, sports game, etc)
✔✔STAR - ✔✔Standard Terminal Arrival Route - ATC coded IFR arrival route meant to
simplify clearance delivery procedures and facilitate transition between IFR en route
and approach. Availability found in Terminal Procedures Publication.
✔✔If ATC issues you a STAR, must you accept it? - ✔✔No, because you need the
approved chart. Can specify "No STAR" in remarks section of flight plan, or verbally
request ATC.
✔✔RNAV STAR - ✔✔Same as STAR, though only available to aircraft equipped with
flight management system (FMS) or GPS. Typically includes fly-by waypoints with some
fly-over waypoints.
✔✔When being radar-vectored for an approach, at what point may you start a descent
from your last assigned altitude to a lower altitude if "cleared for the approach"? - ✔✔At
airport where no IAP, whenever you are cleared to land by ATC. With IAP, whenever
the published chart specifies you to descend, usually after passing a fix.
✔✔Initial approach segment - ✔✔Approach segment between the Initial Approach Fix
(IAF) and intermediate fix
✔✔Intermediate approach segment - ✔✔Approach segment between intermediate fix
and Final Approach Fix (FAF)
✔✔Final approach segment - ✔✔Approach segment between FAF and runway, airport,
or missed approach point
✔✔Missed approach segment - ✔✔Approach segment between missed approach point
or point of arrival at Decision Height (DH) and the missed approach fix at the prescribed
altitude
✔✔Standard IFR separation minimums - ✔✔Within 40 miles of radar antennae, aircraft
are separated by 3 miles; beyond they are separated by 5 miles.
✔✔Minimum Vectoring Altitude (MVA) - ✔✔Lowest MSL altitude at which aircraft will be
vectored by a radar controller, except at otherwise authorized for radar approaches,
, departures, and missed approaches. May be lower than MEA or J-route segment.
Charts depicting MVA typically only available to controllers, not pilots
✔✔Feeder routes - ✔✔Routes on IAP charts that designate courses, distance, and
minimum altitude to proceed from enroute structure to IAF. Meets obstacle clearance
requirements (1000 ft in nonmountainous terrain; 2000 ft in mountainous area)
✔✔What procedure is to be used when the clearance "cleared for the visual" is issued?
- ✔✔Pilot must have airport in sight or preceding identified aircraft in sight. Must be
authorized and controlled by appropriate ATC facility (tower). Reported weather must be
VFR (ceilings greater than 1,000 ft and visibility greater than 3 SM)
✔✔"Contact approach" - ✔✔Pilot on IFR flight plan requests to deviate from instrument
approach procedure and proceed to destination airport by visual reference to surface.
Ground visibility at airport must be at least 1 SM. Pilot must request this specifically.
✔✔When is a procedure turn not required? - ✔✔a) IAP chart says "No PT"
b) "Radar Vectoring" is provided
c) Holding pattern is published in lieu of PT
d) Conducting a timed approach
e) Procedure turn is not authorized (absence of PT barb on plan view)
✔✔Standard procedure turn limitations? - ✔✔a) Turn on depicted side
b) Adhere to depicted minimum altitudes
c) Complete maneuver within distance specified in profile view
d) Maximum speed not greater than 200 knots (IAS)
✔✔What procedure is followed when a holding pattern is specified in lieu of a procedure
turn? - ✔✔Holding pattern will be established over IAF or FAF. Maximum holding
airspeeds apply; maneuver is completed when aircraft established on inbound course
after executing appropriate entry (teardrop, parallel, direct); additional circuits not
required though if pilot chooses to do so (to lose altitude, for example) then should
advise ATC
✔✔Precision approach (PA) - ✔✔Instrument approach with both localizer (horizontal
guidance) and glide slope (vertical guidance). Examples: PAR, ILS, and GLS
✔✔Guidance information for standard ILS (horizontal, vertical) - ✔✔Localizer, Glide
Slope
✔✔Range information for standard ILS - ✔✔Marker beacons, DME
✔✔Visual information for standard ILS - ✔✔Approach lights, touchdown and centerline
lights, runway lights
