INSTRUMENT ORAL TEST 2026 ALL QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS SET A+
✔✔What conditions are necessary for a pilot to log instrument time? - ✔✔Must have
been flying with reference solely to the instruments, under actual or simulated flight
conditions
✔✔When two or more straight-in approaches with the same type of guidance exist for a
runway, how will they be designated in the approach title? - ✔✔Letter suffix is added to
title of approach; starting with Z and in reverse alphabetical order; generally approach Z
will have lower minimums than approach Y. Example: RNAV (GPS) Z RWY 13C and
RNAV (RNP) Y RWY 13C at MDW (Chicago Midway)
✔✔When logging instrument time, what should be included in each entry? - ✔✔Include
place, type of each instrument approach completed and name of safety pilot
✔✔What conditions needed to log "actual" instrument flight time? - ✔✔FAA has never
defined the term "actual" instrument time. 14 CFR Part 61 defined "instrument flight
time", and reasonable to think "actual" refers to controlling aircraft solely with reference
to instrument in actual IMC (below VFR minimums of 1000 ft ceilings, 3 SM visibility)
✔✔If a particular approach name has a letter "A" attached as a suffix (such as VOR
DME A), what does this indicate? - ✔✔Letter after the approach name indicates that
approach does not meet straight-in criteria and only circling minimums are available
✔✔Do all SIAPs have FAFs? - ✔✔No, some NPAs may not have FAF and usually have
NAVAID upon which approach based located at airport
✔✔With no FAF available, when would final descent to the published MDA be started? -
✔✔When flying full procedure: after completing procedure turn and established on final
approach inbound course
, When being radar-vectored: descent within specified distance from NAVAID on inbound
course
✔✔What significance does a black triangle with a white "A" appearing in the Notes
section of an approach chart, have to a pilot? - ✔✔Indicates nonstandard IFR alternate
minimums for the airport. If an "NA" appears after the "A", alternate minimums are not
authorized. Info found at beginning of TPP.
✔✔What is the significance of the term "radar required" found on some approach
charts? - ✔✔On charts/plates and in FDC NOTAMs - alert pilots that segments of
instrument approach procedure or route are not navigable because of absence or
unusability of a NAVAID. Pilot can expect radar navigational guidance.
✔✔What are frequencies for locator outer marker and middle marker beacons? -
✔✔Locator frequency: 365 kHz (specific case)
All marker beacons transmit on frequency of 75 MHz
✔✔Where does the final approach segment begin for the ILS 16L approach? - ✔✔On
all precision approaches (PAs), the final approach segment begins when glide slope is
intercepted at glide slope altitude. For nonprecision approaches (NPAs), such as
straight-in LOC 16L, final approach segment begins at Maltese cross (*) which is
MUFIN LOM.
✔✔TCH - ✔✔Threshold Crossing Altitude - height at which glide slope indicator crosses
landing threshold (in planview under GS indicator)
✔✔If glide slope becomes inoperative, could you continue your ILS approach if
established on localizer at time of malfunction? Why? - ✔✔Yes, as long as notify ATC
that it is now a LOC-only approach and your DH/DA becomes MDA and the approach is
now a nonprecision procedure with MAP being a time or DME point
✔✔Substitutes for outer marker (OM) - ✔✔Compass locator (365 kHz), 5.3 DME I-FTW,
Maverick Vortac (TTT) radial 269
✔✔RNP - ✔✔Required Navigation Performance. Similar to RNAV (Area Navigation),
though differs in that RNP requires on-board monitoring and alerting system.
✔✔Standard temperature and pressure at sea level - ✔✔15 deg C, 29.92"Hg
✔✔Rate atmospheric pressure decreases with altitude - ✔✔1"Hg per 1000 ft
✔✔General characteristics of air flow around high and low pressure systems in
Northern hemisphere - ✔✔Low pressure - inward, upward, counterclockwise
High pressure - outward, downward, clockwise
ANSWERS SET A+
✔✔What conditions are necessary for a pilot to log instrument time? - ✔✔Must have
been flying with reference solely to the instruments, under actual or simulated flight
conditions
✔✔When two or more straight-in approaches with the same type of guidance exist for a
runway, how will they be designated in the approach title? - ✔✔Letter suffix is added to
title of approach; starting with Z and in reverse alphabetical order; generally approach Z
will have lower minimums than approach Y. Example: RNAV (GPS) Z RWY 13C and
RNAV (RNP) Y RWY 13C at MDW (Chicago Midway)
✔✔When logging instrument time, what should be included in each entry? - ✔✔Include
place, type of each instrument approach completed and name of safety pilot
✔✔What conditions needed to log "actual" instrument flight time? - ✔✔FAA has never
defined the term "actual" instrument time. 14 CFR Part 61 defined "instrument flight
time", and reasonable to think "actual" refers to controlling aircraft solely with reference
to instrument in actual IMC (below VFR minimums of 1000 ft ceilings, 3 SM visibility)
✔✔If a particular approach name has a letter "A" attached as a suffix (such as VOR
DME A), what does this indicate? - ✔✔Letter after the approach name indicates that
approach does not meet straight-in criteria and only circling minimums are available
✔✔Do all SIAPs have FAFs? - ✔✔No, some NPAs may not have FAF and usually have
NAVAID upon which approach based located at airport
✔✔With no FAF available, when would final descent to the published MDA be started? -
✔✔When flying full procedure: after completing procedure turn and established on final
approach inbound course
, When being radar-vectored: descent within specified distance from NAVAID on inbound
course
✔✔What significance does a black triangle with a white "A" appearing in the Notes
section of an approach chart, have to a pilot? - ✔✔Indicates nonstandard IFR alternate
minimums for the airport. If an "NA" appears after the "A", alternate minimums are not
authorized. Info found at beginning of TPP.
✔✔What is the significance of the term "radar required" found on some approach
charts? - ✔✔On charts/plates and in FDC NOTAMs - alert pilots that segments of
instrument approach procedure or route are not navigable because of absence or
unusability of a NAVAID. Pilot can expect radar navigational guidance.
✔✔What are frequencies for locator outer marker and middle marker beacons? -
✔✔Locator frequency: 365 kHz (specific case)
All marker beacons transmit on frequency of 75 MHz
✔✔Where does the final approach segment begin for the ILS 16L approach? - ✔✔On
all precision approaches (PAs), the final approach segment begins when glide slope is
intercepted at glide slope altitude. For nonprecision approaches (NPAs), such as
straight-in LOC 16L, final approach segment begins at Maltese cross (*) which is
MUFIN LOM.
✔✔TCH - ✔✔Threshold Crossing Altitude - height at which glide slope indicator crosses
landing threshold (in planview under GS indicator)
✔✔If glide slope becomes inoperative, could you continue your ILS approach if
established on localizer at time of malfunction? Why? - ✔✔Yes, as long as notify ATC
that it is now a LOC-only approach and your DH/DA becomes MDA and the approach is
now a nonprecision procedure with MAP being a time or DME point
✔✔Substitutes for outer marker (OM) - ✔✔Compass locator (365 kHz), 5.3 DME I-FTW,
Maverick Vortac (TTT) radial 269
✔✔RNP - ✔✔Required Navigation Performance. Similar to RNAV (Area Navigation),
though differs in that RNP requires on-board monitoring and alerting system.
✔✔Standard temperature and pressure at sea level - ✔✔15 deg C, 29.92"Hg
✔✔Rate atmospheric pressure decreases with altitude - ✔✔1"Hg per 1000 ft
✔✔General characteristics of air flow around high and low pressure systems in
Northern hemisphere - ✔✔Low pressure - inward, upward, counterclockwise
High pressure - outward, downward, clockwise
