Instrument Oral Guide Questions and
Answers | Latest Update | 2024/2025 |
Already Passed
What are the requirements for maintaining instrument currency as a pilot?
✔✔ Complete six instrument approaches, holding procedures, and intercepting and tracking
courses within the last six months.
What does RAIM stand for, and why is it important in GPS navigation?
✔✔ Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring; it ensures GPS signal accuracy and reliability.
What is the purpose of the Final Approach Fix (FAF)?
✔✔ It marks the start of the final descent on an instrument approach.
Why is knowing your aircraft’s approach category important?
✔✔ It determines the approach minimums and maneuvering limits based on speed.
What altitude is used to fly in icing conditions, and how is it selected?
✔✔ Fly at an altitude above or below the icing layer based on forecast or PIREP information.
1
,What would you do if you experience an alternator failure in IMC?
✔✔ Follow emergency procedures, shed nonessential electrical loads, and prepare for
communication and navigation loss.
What is the required flight visibility for a Category I ILS approach?
✔✔ 1/2 statute mile visibility or as specified by the approach chart.
How do you determine the need for an alternate airport?
✔✔ Check if the destination weather is forecast to be below 2000 feet ceilings and 3 miles
visibility.
Explain the purpose of a “feeder route” in an instrument approach procedure.
✔✔ Feeder routes provide a transition from enroute structure to an initial approach fix (IAF).
What is the minimum altitude at which a pilot can legally descend during a non-precision
approach without visual reference?
✔✔ Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA).
2
,How is a step-down fix used in a non-precision approach?
✔✔ It allows descent to a lower altitude between the FAF and MAP when terrain clearance is
met.
What does the term "DH" mean in an instrument approach?
✔✔ Decision Height; it’s the altitude at which a pilot must decide to land or go around.
Describe a standard holding pattern.
✔✔ It involves right turns with one-minute inbound legs, maintaining altitude until ATC
clearance is received.
What are the standard alternate minimums for precision and non-precision approaches?
✔✔ Precision: 600 feet ceiling and 2 miles visibility; Non-precision: 800 feet ceiling and 2 miles
visibility.
What is a “transition route” on an approach chart?
✔✔ A route that connects enroute airways with the initial approach segment.
3
, What should a pilot do if the GPS system indicates a “RAIM warning” during a flight?
✔✔ Discontinue the GPS navigation and revert to an alternate navigation method.
Why is it important to brief the approach before beginning the descent?
✔✔ To ensure full awareness of the procedure, including altitudes, missed approach, and course
details.
Explain why the localizer provides more precise lateral guidance than a VOR.
✔✔ The localizer has a narrower signal, providing more accuracy within a 5° range.
What is one purpose of the magnetic compass check on an instrument checkride?
✔✔To verify that the compass accurately aligns with magnetic north and shows consistent
heading changes.
Explain the purpose of a “clearance void time” in IFR flight.
4
Answers | Latest Update | 2024/2025 |
Already Passed
What are the requirements for maintaining instrument currency as a pilot?
✔✔ Complete six instrument approaches, holding procedures, and intercepting and tracking
courses within the last six months.
What does RAIM stand for, and why is it important in GPS navigation?
✔✔ Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring; it ensures GPS signal accuracy and reliability.
What is the purpose of the Final Approach Fix (FAF)?
✔✔ It marks the start of the final descent on an instrument approach.
Why is knowing your aircraft’s approach category important?
✔✔ It determines the approach minimums and maneuvering limits based on speed.
What altitude is used to fly in icing conditions, and how is it selected?
✔✔ Fly at an altitude above or below the icing layer based on forecast or PIREP information.
1
,What would you do if you experience an alternator failure in IMC?
✔✔ Follow emergency procedures, shed nonessential electrical loads, and prepare for
communication and navigation loss.
What is the required flight visibility for a Category I ILS approach?
✔✔ 1/2 statute mile visibility or as specified by the approach chart.
How do you determine the need for an alternate airport?
✔✔ Check if the destination weather is forecast to be below 2000 feet ceilings and 3 miles
visibility.
Explain the purpose of a “feeder route” in an instrument approach procedure.
✔✔ Feeder routes provide a transition from enroute structure to an initial approach fix (IAF).
What is the minimum altitude at which a pilot can legally descend during a non-precision
approach without visual reference?
✔✔ Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA).
2
,How is a step-down fix used in a non-precision approach?
✔✔ It allows descent to a lower altitude between the FAF and MAP when terrain clearance is
met.
What does the term "DH" mean in an instrument approach?
✔✔ Decision Height; it’s the altitude at which a pilot must decide to land or go around.
Describe a standard holding pattern.
✔✔ It involves right turns with one-minute inbound legs, maintaining altitude until ATC
clearance is received.
What are the standard alternate minimums for precision and non-precision approaches?
✔✔ Precision: 600 feet ceiling and 2 miles visibility; Non-precision: 800 feet ceiling and 2 miles
visibility.
What is a “transition route” on an approach chart?
✔✔ A route that connects enroute airways with the initial approach segment.
3
, What should a pilot do if the GPS system indicates a “RAIM warning” during a flight?
✔✔ Discontinue the GPS navigation and revert to an alternate navigation method.
Why is it important to brief the approach before beginning the descent?
✔✔ To ensure full awareness of the procedure, including altitudes, missed approach, and course
details.
Explain why the localizer provides more precise lateral guidance than a VOR.
✔✔ The localizer has a narrower signal, providing more accuracy within a 5° range.
What is one purpose of the magnetic compass check on an instrument checkride?
✔✔To verify that the compass accurately aligns with magnetic north and shows consistent
heading changes.
Explain the purpose of a “clearance void time” in IFR flight.
4
