Instrument Oral Exam guide questions/answers

A. RATINGS, CERTIFICATES, AN C!RRENC" RE#!IRE$ENTS

%. An a&&li'ant (or an instrument rating )*eli'o&ter+ must *a,e al east *ow mu'* and w*at time o( (lig*t time as a &ilot )%-CFR .%../E+

50 hours cross country time as PIC, at least 10 hours must be in helicopters 40 hours of actual or SIM instrument time on the areas of operations specified 15 hours of instrument flight training from an authori ed instructor in a !elicopter " hours of instrument training #ith an authori ed instructor in a helicopter #ithin $0 days preceding the test% 100&M 'C conducted under I(), including " different *inds of approaches

0. 1*en is an instrument rating required )%-CFR .%.2E, 3%.%/4+

+hen operations are conducted under , I() flight plan , Class - airspace , +' less than .() minimums , under special .() #ithin class /,C,0,1 bet#een sunset and sunrise
2. 1*at are t*e re'en'5 o( ex&erien'e requirements to 6e 7IC o( a (lig*t under IFR )%-CFR .%./4+

biennial flight re2ie# to carry passengers3 " ta*eoffs and landings 4full stop at night5 #ithin the preceding 60 days S.8.I.T. , SI' instrument approaches , 8olding procedures7 and , Intercepting and , Trac*ing courses through the use of na2igational systems
-. I( a &ilot allows *is instrument 'urren'5 to ex&ire, w*at 'an 6e done to 6e'ome 'urrent again )%- CFR .%./4, 3%%93+

current for si8 months after si8 months, grace period, must do si8 approaches #9!%I%:% #ith an appropriately rated safety pilot% -fter $ month grace period, pilot must conduct an instrument proficiency chec* #ith a (-- e8aminer,
authori ed instructor, or an (-- appro2ed person to conduct instrument practical tests% /. 1*at are t*e required quali(i'ations (or a &erson to a't as a :sa(et5 &ilot; )%-CFR .%.2, .%.//, 3%.%93+

Possess a current medical certificate 4safety pilot is acting as a re;uired cre# member5 possess at least a pri2ate pilot certificate Instrument rating I( the flight is conducted on and I() flight plan 4second in command re;uirements
$1%5564a54<5% <. 7REF=IG8T ACTION FOR F=IG8T )IFR or Flig*t Not in t*e ,i'init5 o( Air&ort+ %. 1*at in(ormation must a 7IC 6e (amiliar5 wit* 6e(ore a (lig*t )%-CFR 3%.%92+

-ll a2ailable information including , #eather reports and forecasts , fuel re;uirements , alternati2es if the flight cannot be completed as planned

, *no#n -:C delays , run#ay lengths of intended use , ta*eoff and landing distances
0. 1*at are t*e (uel requirements (or (lig*t in IFR 'onditions %-CFR 3%.%.4+

(ly to airport of intended landing, plus alternate airport, plus "0 min reser2e
2. <e(ore 'ondu'ting an IFR (lig*t using G7S equi&ment (or na,igation, w*at 6asi' &re(lig*t '*e'>s s*ould 6e made )FAA?8?@0.%?%+

2erify that the =PS e;uipment is properly installed and certified for the planned I() operation .erify that the database is current and has not e8pired )e2ie# the =PS &>:-M9)-IM information for the planned route of flight
C. 7REF=IG8T ACTION FOR AIRCRAFT %. 1*o is res&onsi6le (or determining i( an air'ra(t is in an airwort*5 'ondition )%-CFR 3%.4+

PIC
0. 1*at air'ra(t instruments/equi&ment are required (or IFR o&erations )%-CFR 3%.09/+

:hose re;uired for .() day and night flight plus3 GRA<CAR , Generator or alternator of ade;uate capacity , Radios 4na2 e;uipment suitable for facilities used5 , Altimeter 4sensiti2e5 , <all 4slip9s*id indicator of turn coordinator5 , Cloc* 4digital or second hand s#eep5 , Attitude indicator , Rate of turn 4turn coordinator5 , irectional =yro , M1 or )&-. if flight at and abo2e (?<40
2. 1*at are t*e required tests and ins&e'tions o( air'ra(t and equi&ment to 6e legal (or IFR (lig*t )%-CFR 3%.%4%, 3%.-93, 3%.-%%,3%.-%2+

-nnual (or hire instruction, must ha2e 100 hour, )ecord must be *ept in aircraft9engine logboo*s -ltimeter, Pitot9static, transponder, systems chec*ed #ithin preceding <4 calendar months, record *ept in
aircraft logboo*

.>) chec* #ithin last "0 days 1?: batter and inspection 1< calendar months
-. $a5 &orta6le ele'troni' de,i'es 6e o&erator on 6oard an air'ra(t

PIC may not allo# if commercial or air carrier or any aircraft under I()
/. o'uments must 6e on6oard an air'ra(t to ma>e legal (or IFR (lig*t )%-CFR 3%.3, 3%.092+

ARO1 -ir#orthiness certificate Registration certificate O#ners Manual or operating limitations 1eight and /alance data

.. 8ow o(ten is t*e G7S wa5&oint in(ormation data6ase u&dated )AC 39?3-A FAA?8@9@2?%/+

12ery <@ days, as pro2ided and maintained by the &(0C

. IFR F=IG8T 7=AN %. 1*en must a &ilot (ile and IFR (lig*t &lan )AI$ /?%?@+

Prior to departure from #ithin or prior to entering controlled airspace, a pilot must submit a complete flight
plan and recei2e clearance from -:C if #eather conditions are belo# .() mins% Should file "0min prior to estimated time of departure to a2oid possible delays to clearance from -:C% 0. 1*en 'an 5ou 'an'el 5our IFR (lig*t &lan )AI$ /?%?%-+

Cancel anytime in .() outside of class - airspace other procedures may be applicable #hen operating in class C, /, or :)S2. 1*at is a 'om&osite (lig*t &lan

- flight plan that specifies .() operations for one portion of a flight and I() for another%
-. 1*at t5&e o( air'ra(t equi&ment determines 5our :s&e'ial equi&ment; su((ix w*en (iling an IFR (lig*t &lan )AI$ /?%?@+

)adar beacon transponder 0M1 e;uipment :-C-& only e;uipment -rea na2igation e;uipment 4)&-., ?>)-&, I&S5 =PS or =&SS ).SM authori ation 4reduced 2ertical separation minimum5

/. T*e requrested altitude (o an FAA (lig*t &lan (orm )6lo'> 4+ re&resents w*i'* altitude (or t*e route o( (lig*t )AI$?/?%?@+

the I&I:I-? re;uested altitude

.. 1*at are t*e alternate air&ort requirements

%?0?2 R!=E 1 hour before to 1 hour after your planned 1:- at the destination airport, the #8 is forecast to be at least
<000ft ceilings and " mile 2is, no alternate is re;uired%

If less than mins, an alternate must be filed using the follo#ing criteria , If an I-P is published for that airport, the alternate airport minimums specified in that procedure or,
if none are specified, the follo#ing minimums

A Precision approach procedure3 ceiling $00 feet and 2is <SM A &onPrecision approaches3 ceiling @00 feet and 2is <SM , If no I-P has been published for that airport, the ceiling and 2isibility mins are those allo#ing
descent from the M1-, approach, and landing under basic .() 4. 1*at is t*e de(inition o( t*e term :'eiling;

the height abo2e the earths surface of the lo#est layer of clouds reported as bro*en, o2ercast, or obscured%
@. 1*at minimums are to 6e used on arri,al at t*e alternate)%-CFR 3%.%.3'+

published minimums for the procedure to be used

E. RO!TE 7=ANNING %. 1*at are t*e &re(erred routes and w*ere 'an t*e5 6e (ound

)outes bet#een busier airports to increase system efficiency and capacity% )outes are found in the -(0
0. 1*at are Enroute =ow altitude and 8ig* altitude '*arts )AI$ 3?%?-+

?>+ pro2ide aeronautical information for na2igation belo# 1@,000 feet MS?% re2ised e2ery 5$ days !I=! pro2ide 1@000 and abo2e 4Class -5 four color chart series include the Bet route structure7 .!(
&-.-I0S #ith fre;uency, identification, channel, geographic coordinates 7selected airports7 reporting points% re2ised e2ery 5$ days

2. 1*at are AREA C8ARTS

sho# congested areas at a large scale% re2ised e2ery 5$ days

-. 1*ere 'an in(ormation on &ossi6le na, aid limitations 6e (ound )FAA?8?@9@2?%/+

&>:-MS, -(0s
/. 1*at ot*er use(ul in(ormation 'an 6e (ound in t*e AF w*i'* mig*t 6e *el&(ul in route &lanning )A/F +

enroute flight ad2isory ser2ices -):CC locations and sector fre;uencies -eronautical Chart /ulletins Preferred I() routes high and lo# altitude Special notices, (SS,=-0>, #eather ser2ice office phone numbers .>) recei2er chec*points, locations and fre;uencies

.. 1*at are NOTA$S )/?%?2+

&>:IC1S :> -I)M1& time critical aeronautical information, either temporary or too recent for publication
that could affect a pilotCs decision to ma*e a flight% It includes such information as airport or primary run#ay closures, changes in status of na2igational aids, I?SDs radar ser2ice a2ailability, and other information essential to planned en route terminal or landing operations% 4. 1*at are t*e - grou&s o( NOTA$s

) + #ide dissemination 2ia telecommunications regarding enroute na2igational aids, ci2il public use airports
listed in the -(0, facilities, ser2ices, and procedures

F C (light information that is regulatory in nature, changes to I() charts, procedures, airspace usage, etc% 7OINTER issued by a (SS to point out another &>:-M for cross reference etc% $I=ITAR" Pertains to ES military na2 aids9airports that are part of the &-S
@. All NOTA$S will *a,e >e5words 'ontained wit*in t*e (irst &art o( t*e text. 1*at are se,eral exam&les o( t*ese >e5words

)+F, :+F, )-MP, -P)>&, -0, >/S:, &-., C>M, S.C,-I)SP-C1, 4E5, 4>5%
3. 1*ere 'an NOTA$Bs 6e o6tained )AI$ /?%?2+

-(SS9(SS 0E-:S 2endors &:-P printed &>:-Ms7 not normally a briefing% Pilots must ma*e a specific re;uest for them during a
briefing% &:-P also a2ailable 2ia the (-- #ebsite %9. 1ill and FSS 6rie(er &ro,ide G7S NOTA$s as &art o( a standard 6rie(ing )AI$ 4?%?-+

NO Pilot must re;uest =PS &>:-Ms from an -(SS briefer

F. F=IG8T INSTR!$ENTS 7ITOT STATIC S"STE$ %. 1*at instruments o&erate (rom t*e 7itot/stati' s5stem

-ltimeter, .SI, -SI

0. 8ow does altimeter wor>

aneroid #afers e8pand and contract #ith atmospheric pressure changes and thru a shaft9gear lin*age
turning the dial on the instrument 2. 1*at are t*e limitations t*at a &ressure altimeter is su6Ce't to

&onstandard temperature and pressure :emperature 2ariations e8pand or contract the atmosphere and raise or lo#er pressure le2els that the
altimeter senses

, >n a #arm day3 pressure le2el is higher than standards, the altimeter #ill read ?>+1) than actual , >n a cold day, pressure is lo#er, altimeter #ill read !I=!1) than actual

 changes in surface pressure also affect pressure le2els at altitude , higher than standard pressure, altimeter reads lo#er than actual altitude , lo#er than standard pressure, altimeter reads !I=!1) than actual altitude
-. For IFR (lig*t, was is t*e max allowa6le error (or an altimeter

G5ft
/. e(ine and state *ow to determine t*e (ollowing altitudesD

Indi'ated altitude% )ead off the face of the altimeter ensit5 altitude. indicated altitude #ith 16%<6hg set in the *olllsman #indo# 7ressure altitude. pressure altitude adBusted for nonstandard temperature% 4use flight computer5 A6solute altitude. !eight abo2e ground% subtract the terrain ele2ation from true altitude True altitude. !eight abo2e sea le2el

.. 8ow does t*e airs&eed indi'ator o&erate

ram pressure against atmospheric pressure from the static source

4. 1*at are t*e limitations o( t*e airs&eed indi'ator

it must ha2e proper flo# of air in the pitot9static system

@. 1*at are t*e errors t*at t*e airs&eed indi'ator is su6Ce't to

Position error% improper position of pitot tube density error% instrument failure to compensate for temperature and altitude compressibility error% air pac*ing in pitot static system caused by high speeds 4typically abo2e 1@0*ts5%
3. 1*at are t*e di((erent >inds o( air'ra(t s&eeds

Indicated airspeed 4I-S5 speed of helo read off the -irspeed instrument Calibrated airspeed 4C-S5 airspeed indicator reading corrected for position or instalation% 1;ual to :-S at
sea le2el in standard atmosphere%

1;ui2alent airspeed 41-S5 the airspeed reading corrected for position or installation or instrument error, and
for adiabatic compressible flo# for the particular altitude7 e;ual to C-S at sea le2el in standard atmosphere

:rue airspeed 4:-S5 the speed of the !elo in relation to the air mass in #hich it is flying
%9. 1*at airs&eeds are indi'ated 65 t*e ,arious 'olor 'odes (ound on t*e dial o( an R-- airs&eed indi'ator

Red indicates operating limits% should not enter red during normal operation Red 'ross *at'*% po#er off .&1 "ellow precautionary or special operating procedure range Green &ormal operating range

%%. 8ow does t*e ESI wor>

it measures differential pressure in the pitot static system against a calibrated lea* in the gauge% it measures
the differential pressure %0. 1*at are t*e limitations o( t*e ,erti'al s&eed indi'ator

not accurate until the aircraft is stabili ed

%2. 1*at instruments are a((e'ted w*en t*e &itot tu6e ram air inlet and drain *ole (reeFe

>nly the airspeed indicator #ill be affected% It #ill act li*e an altimeter
%-. 1*at instruments are a((e'ted w*en t*e stati' &ort (reeFes

-irspeed indicator% -ccurate at the altitude fro en as long as static pressure in the indicator and the system
e;uals outside pressure

-ltimeter% indicates the altitude at #hich the system bloc*ed .SI% #ill indicate le2el flight
%/. I( t*e air tem& is G.C at an air&ort ele,ation o( %099(t. adn a standard tem& la&se rate exists,w*at will 6e

t*e a&&rox. (reeFing le,el.

4<00 feet 4<c lapse rate per 100feet as standard5

%.. 1*at 'orre'ti,e a'tion is needed i( t*e &itot stati' s5stem (reeFes

turn on pitot heat%

%4. 1*at indi'ations s*ould 5ou ex&e't w*ile using alternate air

altimeter #ill read higher than actual 4lo#er pressure inside cabin5 airspeed #ill read greater .SI #ill register a climb #hile in le2el flight

G"ROSCO7IC S"STE$ %. 1*at instruments 'ontain g5ros'o&es

-ttitude indicator, heading indicator and turn coordinator9indicator

0. Name se,eral t5&es o( &ower sour'es 'ommonl5 used in &ower t*e g5ros'o&i' instruments in an air'ra(t

electrical, pneumatic, 2enturi tube, #et type 2acuum pump, and dry air pump systems
-. 1*at are two im&ortant '*ara'teristi's o( g5ros'o&es

)igidity and precession

/. 8ow does t*e turn 'oordinator o&erate

turn part uses precession to indicate direction and appro8 rate of turn :he ball measures the relati2e strength of gra2ity and the force of inertia caused by a turn
.. 1*at in(ormation does t*e turn 'oordinator &ro,ide

:he miniature aircraft in the turn coordinator displays the rate of turn, rate of roll and direction of turn% :he
ball in the tube indicates the ;uality of the turn 4slip or s*id5

Slip% ball on the outside of a turn% not enough rate of turn for the ban* s*id% ball to the outside of a turn% too much rate of turn for the ban*
4. 1*at is t*e sour'e o( &ower (or t*e turn 'oordinator

gyros are dri2en by air or electricity% some are dual po#ered, typically electrical
@. 8ow does t*e *eading indi'ator wor>

#or*s on the principle of rigidity in space as the gryro holds the face in place #hile the aircraft mo2es
around it% 3. =imitations and errors o( *eading indi'ator

can tumble if ban* and pitch limits are e8ceeded 455degrees of ea% as e8ample5 can drift up to 15degrees per e2ery hour of operation
%9. =imitations and errors o( an attitude indi'ator

limitations depend on ma*e and model limit usually 100 to 110 degrees ban* and $0HG0 degrees pitch% usually free from errors possibility of slight climb and turn in opposite direction error on rollout from 1@0 turn,
and correct #ithin a minute% $AGNETIC CO$7ASS %. *ow does t*e magneti' 'om&ass wor>

magnets in compass card align parallel to earthDs lines of magnetic force

0. limitations and errors o( magneti' 'om&ass

limitations. can rotate and tilt up to appro8 1@degrees angle of ban*, erratic and unpredictable beyond that errors% , >scillation errorH erratic mo2ement of the compass card caused by turbulence or rough control

, 0e2iation errorH due to electrical and magnetic disturbances in the aircraft , .ariation errorH -ngular difference bet#een true and magnetic north7 reference isogonic lines of
2ariation%

, 0IP 1))>)S A acceleration error AN S accelerate north decelerate south% A &>):!1)?F :E)&I&= 1))>) !NOS undershoot north o2ershoot south
G. F!N A$ENTA=S OF 1EAT8ER %. At w*at rate does atmos&*eri' &ressure de'rease wit* an in'rease in altitude

1I !g per 1000 feet

0. Standard &ressure and tem& ,alues at sea le,el

15c and <6%6<!g are standard at sea le2el

2. General '*ara'teristi's in regard to t*e (low o( air around *ig* and low &ressure s5stems in t*e nort*ern *emis&*ere

?o# pressureH -ir flo#s in#ard, up#ard and counter cloc*#ise !igh pressureH -ir flo#s out#ard, do#n#ard, and cloc*#ise
-. 1*at 'auses t*e winds alo(t to (low &arallel to t*e iso6ars

coriolis force
/. 1*5 do sur(a'e winds generall5 (low a'ross t*e iso6ars at an angle

surface friction
.. 1*en tem&erature and dew &oint are 'lose toget*er )wit*in /'+ w*at t5&e o( weat*er is li>el5 to (orm

2isible moisture
4. 1*at (a'tor &rimaril5 determines t*e t5&e and ,erti'al extent o( 'louds

:he stability of the atmosphere determines type and 2ertical e8tent of clouds