IRA Oral Exam Chapter1 Questions and
Answers
Minimum aeronautical experience required for an airplane instrument rating (Part 61) [14 CFR 61.65] -
Answer-- 50 Hours of Cross Country as PIC (of which 10 must be in airplane)
- 40 Hours of Actual or simulated instrument time (Of which 15 must be with CFII)
- Including one CC flight that must include:
* 250 NM
* Along airways or by directed ATC routing
* An inst. approach at each airport
* 3 different kinds of approaches using nav. systems
* With a filed a IFR Flight Plan
- 3 Hours in the last 2 cal. months prior to the practical test.
Minimum aeronautical experience required for an airplane instrument rating (Part 141) - Answer-- Must
have 35 hours of instrument training
- Including one CC flight that must include:
* 250 NM
* Along airways or by directed ATC routing
,* An inst. approach at each airport
* 3 different kinds of approaches using nav. systems
* With a filed a IFR Flight Plan
- 3 Hours in the last 2 cal. months prior to the practical test.
When is an instrument rating required? [14 CFR 61.3, 61.133, 91.135, 91.157] - Answer-- Under
Instrument Flight Rules (IFR Flight Plan)
- In weather conditions less than the minimum for VFR flight.
- In Class A Airspace
- Under Special VFR within controlled airspace at night (1 hour before sunrise & 1 hour after sunset)
- When carrying passengers for hire on cross-country flights excess of 50 nautical miles or at night.
What are the recency of experience requirements to be PIC of a flight under IFR? [14 CFR 61.57] -
Answer-- Must complete a flight review if applicable
- To carry passengers, 3 takeoffs and landings in last 90 days in the same category, class and type (if type
rating required).
At periods between 1 hour after sunset to 1 hour
before sunrise: 3 takeoffs and landings to a full stop.
-Within the 6 calendar months preceding the month of the flight, performed and logged in actual
weather conditions or simulated conditions using a view-limiting device, at least the following tasks in an
airplane: *6 HITS*
With regards to recency of experience requirements to be PIC of a flight under IFR, what can one do if 6
months have elapsed after the last check ride, practical test, or IPC was carried out? Are you still
current? [14 CFR 61.57] - Answer-At this point, you are not Instrument current. In order to regain
instrument currency, you must perform the same necessary tasks prescribed under 14 CFR 61.57 with a
safety pilot (under simulated conditions), instructor or pilot examiner.
,If you are to use a safety pilot in order to regain currency to be PIC of a flight under IFR, what minimum
requirements must that safety pilot hold? [14 CFR 61.3, 61.23, and 91.109] - Answer-- The safety pilot
must be at least a private pilot with the appropriate category and class.
- Possess an appropriate medical certificate.
- If the flight is to be conducted on an IFR flight plan, the person acting as PIC of the flight must hold an
instrument rating and be instrument current.
- When using a safety pilot, the aircraft must have dual-control system.
Give the legal reason why a safety pilot must hold an appropriate medical certificate. - Answer-Because
the safety pilot is acting as a required crew member.
With regards to recency of experience requirements to be PIC of a flight under IFR, what can one do if
12 months have elapsed after the last check ride, practical test, or IPC was carried out? Are you still
current? [14 CFR 61.57] - Answer-You are not current. You need an Instrument Proficiency Check (IPC)
by a CFII, examiner or approved person.
Explain the difference between being "current" and being "proficient." [FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8740-36] -
Answer-Being "current" means that a pilot has accomplished the minimum FAA regulatory requirements
within a specific time period so he or she can exercise the privileges of the certificate. It means that
you're "legal" to make a flight, but does not necessarily mean that you're proficient or competent to
make that flight.
Being "proficient" means that you're not only current but also capable of conducting a flight with a high
degree of competence. It means you're smart and safe in terms of pilot experience and competence.
As an instrument pilot, can you fly IFR under BasicMed? (AC 68-1) - Answer-Pilots can fly as BasicMed
(in covered aircraft) under VFR or IFR. There is no prohibition against flying in IMC, but BasicMed doesn't
change the requirement to hold an instrument rating and be instrument current to act as PIC under IFR.
Further, BasicMed does not relieve an aircraft from the requirement to be approved for IFR operations
for flight under IFR.
, What can conditions are necessary for a pilot to log instrument time? [14 CFR 61.51] - Answer-A person
may log instrument time only for that flight time when that person operates the aircraft solely by
reference to instruments under actual or simulated instrument flight conditions.
When logging instrument time, what should be included in each entry? [14 CFR 61.51] - Answer-Each
entry must include the location and type of each instrument approach accomplished and the name of
the safety pilot, if required.
What conditions must exist in order to log "actual" instrument flight time? - Answer-The FAA has never
defined the term "actual" instrument time. 14 CFR Part 61 defines "instrument time" as that flight time
when a person operates an aircraft solely by reference to instruments under actual or simulated
instrument flight conditions. A reasonable guideline for determining when to log "actual instrument
time" would be any flight time that is accumulated in IMC conditions with flight being conducted solely
by reference to instruments.
What is the definition of IMC? [14 CFR 91.155] - Answer-The definition of IMC is weather conditions
below the VFR minimums specified for visual meteorological conditions.
What is the definition of the term "flight time"? [14 CFR Part 1] - Answer-Flight time means pilot time
that commences when an aircraft moves under its own power for the purposes of flight and ends when
the aircraft comes to rest after landing.
What requirements must be met before a pilot can lo an IAP for currency or training? [FAA InFO 15012] -
Answer-1. When conducted in an aircraft, flight simulator, flight training device, or ATD, the pilot must
operate that aircraft or authorized training device solely by reference to instruments. (14 CFR 61.51(g)
(1)).
2. When conducted in an aircraft, flight simulator, flight training device, or aviation training device, the
pilot must be established on each required segment of the IAP to the minimum descent altitude (MDA)
or decision altitude/ decision height (DA/DH)
3. When conducted in an aircraft simulating instrument flight conditions, a flight simulator, a flight
training device, or an aviation training device, the simulated IMC must continue to MDA or DA/DH.
Answers
Minimum aeronautical experience required for an airplane instrument rating (Part 61) [14 CFR 61.65] -
Answer-- 50 Hours of Cross Country as PIC (of which 10 must be in airplane)
- 40 Hours of Actual or simulated instrument time (Of which 15 must be with CFII)
- Including one CC flight that must include:
* 250 NM
* Along airways or by directed ATC routing
* An inst. approach at each airport
* 3 different kinds of approaches using nav. systems
* With a filed a IFR Flight Plan
- 3 Hours in the last 2 cal. months prior to the practical test.
Minimum aeronautical experience required for an airplane instrument rating (Part 141) - Answer-- Must
have 35 hours of instrument training
- Including one CC flight that must include:
* 250 NM
* Along airways or by directed ATC routing
,* An inst. approach at each airport
* 3 different kinds of approaches using nav. systems
* With a filed a IFR Flight Plan
- 3 Hours in the last 2 cal. months prior to the practical test.
When is an instrument rating required? [14 CFR 61.3, 61.133, 91.135, 91.157] - Answer-- Under
Instrument Flight Rules (IFR Flight Plan)
- In weather conditions less than the minimum for VFR flight.
- In Class A Airspace
- Under Special VFR within controlled airspace at night (1 hour before sunrise & 1 hour after sunset)
- When carrying passengers for hire on cross-country flights excess of 50 nautical miles or at night.
What are the recency of experience requirements to be PIC of a flight under IFR? [14 CFR 61.57] -
Answer-- Must complete a flight review if applicable
- To carry passengers, 3 takeoffs and landings in last 90 days in the same category, class and type (if type
rating required).
At periods between 1 hour after sunset to 1 hour
before sunrise: 3 takeoffs and landings to a full stop.
-Within the 6 calendar months preceding the month of the flight, performed and logged in actual
weather conditions or simulated conditions using a view-limiting device, at least the following tasks in an
airplane: *6 HITS*
With regards to recency of experience requirements to be PIC of a flight under IFR, what can one do if 6
months have elapsed after the last check ride, practical test, or IPC was carried out? Are you still
current? [14 CFR 61.57] - Answer-At this point, you are not Instrument current. In order to regain
instrument currency, you must perform the same necessary tasks prescribed under 14 CFR 61.57 with a
safety pilot (under simulated conditions), instructor or pilot examiner.
,If you are to use a safety pilot in order to regain currency to be PIC of a flight under IFR, what minimum
requirements must that safety pilot hold? [14 CFR 61.3, 61.23, and 91.109] - Answer-- The safety pilot
must be at least a private pilot with the appropriate category and class.
- Possess an appropriate medical certificate.
- If the flight is to be conducted on an IFR flight plan, the person acting as PIC of the flight must hold an
instrument rating and be instrument current.
- When using a safety pilot, the aircraft must have dual-control system.
Give the legal reason why a safety pilot must hold an appropriate medical certificate. - Answer-Because
the safety pilot is acting as a required crew member.
With regards to recency of experience requirements to be PIC of a flight under IFR, what can one do if
12 months have elapsed after the last check ride, practical test, or IPC was carried out? Are you still
current? [14 CFR 61.57] - Answer-You are not current. You need an Instrument Proficiency Check (IPC)
by a CFII, examiner or approved person.
Explain the difference between being "current" and being "proficient." [FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8740-36] -
Answer-Being "current" means that a pilot has accomplished the minimum FAA regulatory requirements
within a specific time period so he or she can exercise the privileges of the certificate. It means that
you're "legal" to make a flight, but does not necessarily mean that you're proficient or competent to
make that flight.
Being "proficient" means that you're not only current but also capable of conducting a flight with a high
degree of competence. It means you're smart and safe in terms of pilot experience and competence.
As an instrument pilot, can you fly IFR under BasicMed? (AC 68-1) - Answer-Pilots can fly as BasicMed
(in covered aircraft) under VFR or IFR. There is no prohibition against flying in IMC, but BasicMed doesn't
change the requirement to hold an instrument rating and be instrument current to act as PIC under IFR.
Further, BasicMed does not relieve an aircraft from the requirement to be approved for IFR operations
for flight under IFR.
, What can conditions are necessary for a pilot to log instrument time? [14 CFR 61.51] - Answer-A person
may log instrument time only for that flight time when that person operates the aircraft solely by
reference to instruments under actual or simulated instrument flight conditions.
When logging instrument time, what should be included in each entry? [14 CFR 61.51] - Answer-Each
entry must include the location and type of each instrument approach accomplished and the name of
the safety pilot, if required.
What conditions must exist in order to log "actual" instrument flight time? - Answer-The FAA has never
defined the term "actual" instrument time. 14 CFR Part 61 defines "instrument time" as that flight time
when a person operates an aircraft solely by reference to instruments under actual or simulated
instrument flight conditions. A reasonable guideline for determining when to log "actual instrument
time" would be any flight time that is accumulated in IMC conditions with flight being conducted solely
by reference to instruments.
What is the definition of IMC? [14 CFR 91.155] - Answer-The definition of IMC is weather conditions
below the VFR minimums specified for visual meteorological conditions.
What is the definition of the term "flight time"? [14 CFR Part 1] - Answer-Flight time means pilot time
that commences when an aircraft moves under its own power for the purposes of flight and ends when
the aircraft comes to rest after landing.
What requirements must be met before a pilot can lo an IAP for currency or training? [FAA InFO 15012] -
Answer-1. When conducted in an aircraft, flight simulator, flight training device, or ATD, the pilot must
operate that aircraft or authorized training device solely by reference to instruments. (14 CFR 61.51(g)
(1)).
2. When conducted in an aircraft, flight simulator, flight training device, or aviation training device, the
pilot must be established on each required segment of the IAP to the minimum descent altitude (MDA)
or decision altitude/ decision height (DA/DH)
3. When conducted in an aircraft simulating instrument flight conditions, a flight simulator, a flight
training device, or an aviation training device, the simulated IMC must continue to MDA or DA/DH.
