ATPL Instrument Flight Rules and Approaches 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An instrument approach chart's 'Alternate Minimums' section is required when:
- The destination weather is below CAT I minimums
- Standard alternate minimums cannot be met or special procedures apply at the alternate airport (Correct answer)
- The flight departs IFR at night
- Fuel reserves exceed 60 minutes
Correct answer: Standard alternate minimums cannot be met or special procedures apply at the alternate airport
Alternate minimums are published when standard alternate minimums (600-2 for precision, 800-2 for non-precision) do not apply or when special procedures are required for the alternate airport.
Question 2: A missed approach must be initiated no later than:
- When the aircraft reaches the MAP with the runway not in sight (Correct answer)
- 100 ft above MDA if visual contact is not established
- When the glideslope indicates below glide path
- When the localizer deflects more than half scale
Correct answer: When the aircraft reaches the MAP with the runway not in sight
A missed approach must be executed no later than reaching the Missed Approach Point (MAP) if the required visual references to continue the approach are not established.
Question 3: In IFR cruise, the minimum altitude for OROCA (Off-Route Obstacle Clearance Altitude) provides terrain clearance of:
- 500 ft in non-mountainous, 1,000 ft in mountainous areas
- 1,000 ft in non-mountainous, 2,000 ft in mountainous areas (Correct answer)
- 2,000 ft everywhere
- 300 ft in non-mountainous, 1,000 ft in mountainous areas
Correct answer: 1,000 ft in non-mountainous, 2,000 ft in mountainous areas
OROCA provides 1,000 ft of obstacle clearance in non-mountainous areas and 2,000 ft in designated mountainous areas within the grid quadrangle depicted on en route charts.
Question 4: An IFR flight plan in the US must include an alternate airport when the destination forecast is below:
- 200 ft ceiling and ¼ SM visibility
- 300 ft ceiling and ½ SM visibility
- 1,000 ft ceiling and 3 SM visibility for 1 hour before/after ETA (Correct answer)
- 500 ft ceiling and 1 SM for 2 hours before/after ETA
Correct answer: 1,000 ft ceiling and 3 SM visibility for 1 hour before/after ETA
The FAA '1-2-3 Rule' requires an alternate when the destination forecast for ±1 hour of ETA is below 2,000 ft ceiling or 3 SM visibility.
Question 5: SIGMET H2 reported on ATC charts covers which hazard?
- Thunderstorms
- Severe icing not associated with thunderstorms (Correct answer)
- Severe turbulence not associated with thunderstorms
- Tropical cyclones
Correct answer: Severe icing not associated with thunderstorms
SIGMET series beginning with 'H' covers severe or extreme icing not associated with thunderstorms, a significant hazard for IFR operations.
Question 6: Circling minimums on an instrument approach are used when:
- The ILS is out of service
- The aircraft must maneuver visually to align with a runway other than the one served by the approach (Correct answer)
- The runway is wet or contaminated
- Autopilot coupling is unavailable
Correct answer: The aircraft must maneuver visually to align with a runway other than the one served by the approach
Circling minimums apply when the landing runway is not the runway served by the instrument approach, requiring the pilot to maneuver visually within the protected circling area after the approach.
ATPL Instrument Flight Rules and Approaches 2
An instrument approach chart's 'Alternate Minimums' section is required when: