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Regulations for Instrument Flashcards

11 cards from real IFR practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 11 Regulations for Instrument flashcards as text
  1. Can you answer all these regulations questions and stay legal in the IFR system? To meet the minimum instrument experience requirements, within the last 6 calendar months you need to have flown

    Answer: six instrument approaches, holding procedures, and intercepting and tracking courses in the appropriate category of aircraft

    To act as pilot in command in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), the pilot needs at least 6 instrument approaches, actual or simulated, within the preceding 6 months in the appropriate category of aircraft or an aircraft category representative flight simulator or flight training device.

  2. An instrument rated pilot, who has not logged any instrument time in 1 year or more, cannot serve as pilot in command under IFR, unless the pilot

    Answer: passes an instrument proficiency check given by an instrument instructor

    If a pilot does not meet instrument experience requirements within the prescribed time, he may not fly under IFR or in IMC conditions until he passes an IPC in the category of aircraft involved, given by an approved DE, CFI, or FAA inspector. Completing 6 hours and 6 approaches prior to the IPC is not required.

  3. The en route weather is IMC. However, during the descent on an ILS approach, you encounter VMC prior to reaching the initial approach fix. To log the approach toward instrument currency

    Answer: the ILS approach can be credited only if you use a view-limiting device.

    Instrument Currency requirements must be accomplished under actual or simulated instrument conditions. You can do this by wearing a view-limiting device, flying an approved flight-training device or flying in actual IMC. The FAA does not require the ceiling to be at MDA or DA/DH during a flight in IMC. The approach may still be logged if an aircraft maneuvering in IMC transitions from IMC to visual meteorological conditions (VMC) on the final approach segment of the IAP prior to or upon reaching MDA or DA/DH.

  4. Under which of the following conditions must a pilot have at least an instrument rating?

    Answer: For a flight in VFR conditions while on an IFR flight plan

    No person may act as PIC under IFR, or in weather conditions less than VFR, unless that person holds the appropriate pilot certificate with an instrument rating.

  5. When is an IFR clearance required during VFR weather conditions?

    Answer: When operating in a class A airspace

    Airspace above 14,500' is Class E until reaching Class A. In Class E airspace, a clearance is only needed when conditions are below VFR weather conditions. Each person operating an aircraft in Class A airspace must conduct that operation under instrument flight rules (IFR). No person may act as pilot in command under IFR unless that person holds the appropriate pilot certificate with an instrument rating.

  6. What minimum conditions must exist at the destination airport to avoid listing an alternate airport on an IFR flight plan when a standard IAP is available?

    Answer: From 1 hour before 1 hour after ETA, forecasting ceiling 2,000, visibility 3 miles.

    For aircraft other than helicopters, at least 1 hr. before and 1 hr. after ETA, the ceiling must be at least 2,000' above the airport elevation and the visibility must be at least 3 statute miles.

  7. Which procedure should you follow if, during an IFR flight in VFR conditions, you have two way radio communications failure?

    Answer: Continue the flight under VFR and land as soon as practicable

    If two-way radio communications failure occurs in VFR conditions, or if VFR conditions are encountered after the failure, continue the flight under VFR and land as soon as practicable. The new destination may or may not be the nearest airport that has VFR conditions, and depends on the specific requirements or conditions of the flight.

  8. An airport without an authorized instrument approach procedure may be included as the alternate on an IFR flight plan if the forecast indicates that the ceiling and visibility at the ETA will

    Answer: allow for a descent from the MEA, approach and a landing under basic VFR conditions

    If no instrument approach procedure is available for the alternate airport, the ceiling and visibility must allow descent from the MEA, approach, and landing under basic VFR

  9. The fuel requirements for flight in IFR conditions states that you must have enough fuel to fly to destination, your alternate, and have a reserve of:

    Answer: 30 minutes

    No person may operate a civil aircraft in IFR conditions unless it carries enough fuel to complete the flight to the first airport of intended landing, and from that airport to the alternate airport, and fly after that for 45 minutes at normal cruising speed. 30 minutes is the reserve fuel required for VFR day flight operations.

  10. If a pilot chooses to fly to the selected alternate, the landing minimums used at that airport should be the

    Answer: minimums specified for the approach procedure selected

    If an instrument approach procedure has been published for the alternate airport, the pilot must use the approach minimums specified in that procedure. Alternate minimums are not shown on an approach chart. IFR alternate minimums only apply for flight planning purposes. They do not apply when proceeding to the alternate.

  11. In the event of an electrical failure when flying an aircraft using an Electronic Flight Display, the primary pitch instrument is the:

    Answer: Standby altimeter

    The altimeter would be the primary pitch instrument. The altimeter gives the most precise reading as to what the pitch is. If the altimeter is showing a rapid climb, the aircraft is in a very high nose up attitude. If the altimeter is showing a very slow rate of descent, the aircraft is slightly nose low. The attitude indicator shows what attitude the aircraft is in, but is imprecise on the amount of pitch. The airspeed indicator will change with pitch, such as showing an increase when nose down or decreasing when nose up, however it can be affected by other actions such as increasing or decreasing the throttle.

How this page was made: written with AI tools and published by Nathan Beja, founder of Practice Test Geeks, who is responsible for its content. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy

Sources & references

Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy

  1. faa.gov — Score release, exam format, passing score, exam information · verified Nov 2026
  2. ecfr.gov — Score validity, retake policy, renewal, eligibility · verified Oct 2026
  3. psiexams.com — Fees · verified Oct 2026