Instrument Rating Stage Checks

Coast flight training

Instrument Rating Stage Checks

Revised 9/14

Required Certificates & Documents

(Refer to 14 C.F.R. § 61.3)

Student

Valid pilot certificate

Current and appropriate medical certificate

Government issued photo identification

Required Equipment

Student

Operations Manual

Appropriate aircraft checklists (may substitute 8.5”x11” paper copy or FSM Chapter 3)

Current aeronautical charts

Current Airport/Facility Directory

GATS Jar (for fuel sampling)

View limiting device (if necessary for training)

Headset

Flashlight

Completed Take Off Data Card & Weight and Balance

Completed navigation log (as required)

Items to be completed prior to Stage Check

Stage 1

CATS (Cirrus only)

POH Workbook (Cirrus only)

Stage 2

FAA Written Complete (80% or better)

Stage 3

PUI will have all necessary training and flight time as required by FAR’s

PUI______Date:______Check Airmen:______

Instrument Stage Check 1: Oral Exam

Lesson Objective: During this stage check, the Pilot Under Instruction (PUI) will be

evaluated on his/her proficiency in basic attitude instrument flying and navigation

knowledge.

Completion Standards: At the completion of this stage check oral, the PUI must

demonstrate adequate knowledge of the elements to each of the topics listed.

*All syllabus sheets up to need to be completed, signed, dated and turned into The Chief or Assistant Chief pilot. Prior to stage check the PUI MUST have completed the Instrument Written Test, POH workbook and CATS program (if applicable).

**Stage checks possible outcomes Satisfactory, Unsatisfactory or Incomplete due to weather or unforeseen circumstances. If PUI receives an unsat. the PUI will be required to retake stage check in deficient areas.

Training Records

- Identity Verification

- Review of Training Folder

- Verify/Update Manuals

- Verify/Update Publications

Preflight Procedures

- Pilot Qualifications

What documents do you need to have with you to fly? (61.3)
When is an instrument rating required? (61.3e, 91.157)
What are the recency-of-experience requirements to be PIC of a flight under IFR? (61.57)
If a pilot allows his/her instrument currency to expire, what can be done to become current again? (61.57)
Define “appropriately rated safety pilot.” (61.3, 91.109)
What information must a PIC be familiar with before a flight? (91.103) NWKRAFT
What are the fuel requirements for flight in IFR conditions? Night? (91.167)
What aircraft/instruments/equipment are required for IFR operations? (91.205) GRABCARD
What are the required tests and inspections of aircraft and equipment to be legal for IFR flight? (91.171, 91.409, 91.411, 91.413)
What documents need to be on board an aircraft to make it legal for IFR flight? (91.9, 91.203)
What is ADM? SRM?
What are your personal minimums?

Aircraft Systems Related to IFR Operations

What type of propeller do we have?
What does the mixture control do?
What is the fuel capacity of the aircraft? Useable? Unusable?
What color is 100LL? How about other types of fuel? What happens when they are mixed together?
Why do you drain a sample of fuel before each flight?
What are the fuel reserve requirements for IFR flight?
What are two systems of adding fuel to the engine? Which do we have?
What is carburetor icing and are we subject to it?
How can we prevent carburetor icing?
What does “normally aspirated” mean?
Describe the electrical system.
Ask autopilot limitations?

Aircraft Flight Instruments and Navigation Equipment

Pitot/Static Instruments

What instruments operate from the pitot/static system?
How does an altimeter work?
What is the maximum allowable error for an altimeter when used for IFR flight?
Define the following types of altitude:
indicated
pressure
true
density
absolute
How does the airspeed indicator operate?
Define the following types of airspeed:
indicated
calibrated
equivalent
true
groundspeed
How does the vertical-speed indicator work?
What are the limitations of the vertical-speed indicator?
What would you do if the pitot tube freezes? Static port?
What indications should you expect while using alternate air?
What instruments operate off of the pitot-static system?
What indications would you expect when turning on the alternate static source?

Gyroscopic System

What are two important characteristics of gyroscopes?
What instruments contain gyroscopes?
How does the turn coordinator operate?
What information does the turn coordinator provide?
What is the source of power for the turn coordinator?
What is the difference between a turn coordinator and a turn-and-slip indicator?
How does the heading indicator work?
What types of error are some heading indicators subject to?
How does the attitude indicator work?
What are the limitations of an attitude indicator? (100-110 B, 60-70 P)
Is the attitude indicator subject to errors?
What are pendulous vanes?
How does the magnetic compass work?
What are the various compass errors?
Oscillation, deviation, variation, dip (acceleration/northerly)

VOR (Ref. AIM 1-1-3, 1-1-7, 1-1-8)

What are the different classes of VOR stations?
What are their service volumes?
How do you determine your position relative to a VOR station?
What angular deviation from a VOR course is represented by half-scale deflection of the CDI? FAA-H-8083-15
How many degrees of deviation does each dot represent?
What distance off-course would an aircraft be with 1 dot deflection 30 miles out from the VOR station?
How do you determine time and distance from a VOR station?
How do you determine the VOR station is operating properly?
What would happen if the VOR station were undergoing maintenance?
What does it mean if there is only a single coded identification every 30 seconds on a VORTAC station?
What is DME? When is DME equipment required?
What is slant-range distance? To minimize slant-range error, how far from the facility should you be and at what altitude?
Do all VOR stations have the capability of providing distance information?
What is “reverse sensing”? FAA-H-8083-15
Why doesn’t the HSI suffer from reverse sensing?
Explain how to intercept and track a designated radial inbound to the station and outbound from the station.

VOR ACCURACY CHECKS (Ref. AIM 1-1-4, 91.171)

What are the different methods for checking the accuracy of VOR equipment? VGAADB
How often must a VOR Accuracy Test be completed?
Can a VOT be done in the air?
What records must be kept concerning VOR checks?
Where can you find the location of airborne, ground and VOT testing stations?

GPS (Ref. AIM 1-1-19)

How many satellites do we have in orbit?
How many do we need for GPS RAIM capabilities?
What is RAIM?
Is your GPS (SR20) approved for IFR flight? How can you tell?
During a GPS approach how many miles before FAF should we have an APR indication?
What do you do if that doesn’t happen?
What if it happens inside the FAF?
Which ground navigational facilities can the GPS take place of?
Can you use the GPS as a sole source for IFR navigation?

DME Arcs

How do you execute a 10 mile DME arc from JLI?
Inbound or outbound?

Partial-Panel

If we have a vacuum failure, what instruments will be affected?
What instrument will be primary for turns?
What is a compass turn? Timed turn?

Scanning Techniques

Explain the principles of the Primary/Supporting technique.
What is primary/supporting for:
straight and level
constant speed climb
constant speed descent
constant rate descent
standard-rate turn

Instrument Cockpit Check (Including IFR Preflight Inspection)

Have student discuss IFR Preflight Inspection, stack check and taxi check.
What are the required IFR inspections and tests?

Aeromedical Factors

Discuss runway & landing illusions.
Discuss in-flight illusions. ICEFLAGGS
What is hypoxia?
What are the different types of hypoxia?
What are the symptoms of hypoxia?
How would you treat a hypoxic passenger?
What is hyperventilation? What are the symptoms?
How would you treat a hyperventilating passenger?
Scuba diving and flying
Head or sinus cold.
What is spatial disorientation and what causes it?
What is carbon monoxide poisoning?
How does carbon monoxide poisoning occur, and what symptoms should a pilot be alert for?

Airspace

What are the different types of airspaces?
What are the equipment requirements for the different airspaces?
What are the speed restrictions?

Runway Markings/Approach Lighting Systems

Show student picture of runway. Where are the threshold markings, touchdown zone markings, displaced threshold, LAHSO, etc.

Special Emphasis Areas

All Areas

Student: ______

Date: ______

Check Airmen: ______

Grade: ______

Comments:

PUI______Date:______Check Airmen:______

Instrument Stage check 2: Oral Exam

Lesson Objective: This lesson is an intermediate stage check conducted by the Chief

Flight Instructor, designated Assistant Chief Flight Instructor or Check Instructor.

Completion Standards: During the oral, the student must demonstrate Instrument pilot

proficiency in accordance with the current FAA Instrument Rating-Airplane Practical

Test Standards for all tasks listed.

*Stage checks possible outcomes Satisfactory, Unsatisfactory or Incomplete due to weather or unforeseen circumstances. If PUI receives an unsat. the PUI will be required to retake stage check in deficient areas.

Preflight Preparation

What documents do you need to have with you to fly? (61.3)
When is an instrument rating required? (61.3e, 91.157)
What are the recency-of-experience requirements to be PIC of a flight under IFR? (61.57)
If a pilot allows his/her instrument currency to expire, what can be done to become current again? (61.57)
Define “appropriately rated safety pilot.” (61.3, 91.109)
What information must a PIC be familiar with before a flight? (91.103) NWKRAFT
What are the fuel requirements for flight in IFR conditions? Night? (91.167)
What aircraft/instruments/equipment are required for IFR operations? (91.205) GRABCARD
What are the required tests and inspections of aircraft and equipment to be legal for IFR flight? (91.171, 91.409, 91.411, 91.413)
What documents need to be on board an aircraft to make it legal for IFR flight? (91.9, 91.203)

Approach Charts & Instrument Approach Plates

Prove to me that your charts are current (dates and NOTAMs).
What does the first number represent?
What does the second number represent?
What does the third number represent?
What is the first / second / third / fourth section of the plate called?
What is an MSA?
What does the MSA guarantee?
What does MALSR stand for?
What does MIRL or HIRL stand for?
What is ARP?
What is TDZE?
What is RVR?
What is TCH?
What is the difference between DA and DH?
What is the difference between MDA and MDH?
What does the Maltese cross represent?
What does IAF stand for?
When is a procedure turn not required?
FODRR One Arrival TO KCRQ. Explain to me how you would execute the arrival from the Shafter VOR.
LYNDI THREE Arrival. Execute the arrival from IPL VOR.
What are the segments of an instrument approach?
Where does the initial segment begin?
Where does the intermediate segment begin?
Where does the final segment begin?
Where does the missed segment begin?
What are the limitations for procedure turns?
What is the difference between a precision and non-precision approach?
What is an LDA?
What is the service volume for an LDA? SDF?
When can you descend from the enroute altitude to the altitudes published on the approach plate?
When can you descend below MDA or DA?
When can you land?
What constitutes the runway environment?
While inbound on an approach, how could you determine the flight visibility?
What are the differences between visual and contact approaches?
What are the components of an ILS?
How far from the threshold is the MM?
When directly over the MM how high above the touchdown zone will the aircraft be?
What is the service volume of the localizer?
Leaving KMYF at 1000 FT, can we pick up the OCN VOR?
What is the final approach fix on an ILS?
What is the final approach fix on a non-precision approach with no Maltese cross?

Aircraft Systems Related to IFR Operations

What type of propeller do we have?
How does a constant speed propeller regulate RPMs?
What does the mixture control do?
Why do we have the collector tanks?
What is the fuel capacity of the aircraft? Useable? Unusable?
What is the lowest point in the fuel system?
What color is 100LL? How about other types of fuel? What happens when they are mixed together?
Why do you drain a sample of fuel before each flight?
What are the fuel reserve requirements for IFR flight?
What are two systems of adding fuel to the engine? Which do we have?
How does a fuel injected system protect us from icing?
What does “normally aspirated” mean?
What action is required when ice forms on the air filter?
Describe the electrical system.
What is the isolation diode? Its purpose?
Ask autopilot limitations?
What instruments operate off of the pitot-static system?
What indications would you expect when turning on the alternate static source?

Aircraft Flight Instruments and Navigation Equipment

Pitot/Static System

What instruments operate from the pitot/static system?
How does an altimeter work?
What is the maximum allowable error for an altimeter when used for IFR flight?
Define the following types of altitude:
indicated
pressure
true
density
absolute
How does the airspeed indicator operate?
Define the following types of airspeed:
indicated
calibrated
equivalent
true
groundspeed
How does the vertical-speed indicator work?
What are the limitations of the vertical-speed indicator?
What would you do if the pitot tube freezes? Static port?
What indications should you expect while using alternate air?

Gyroscopic System

What are two important characteristics of gyroscopes?
What instruments contain gyroscopes?
How does the turn coordinator operate?
What information does the turn coordinator provide?
What is the source of power for the turn coordinator?
What is the difference between a turn coordinator and a turn-and-slip indicator?
How does the heading indicator work?
What types of error are some heading indicators subject to?
How does the attitude indicator work?
What are the limitations of an attitude indicator? (100-110 B, 60-70 P)
Is the attitude indicator subject to errors?
How does the magnetic compass work?
What are the various compass errors?
Oscillation, deviation, variation, dip (acceleration/northerly)
Describe the ADAHRS system on the SR-20.

VOR (Ref. AIM 1-1-3, 1-1-7, 1-1-8)

What are the different classes of VOR stations?
What are their service volumes?
How do you determine your position relative to a VOR station?
What angular deviation from a VOR course is represented by half-scale deflection of the CDI? FAA-H-8083-15
How many degrees of deviation does each dot represent?
What distance off-course would an aircraft be with 1 dot deflection 30 miles out from the VOR station?
How do you determine time and distance from a VOR station?
How do you determine the VOR station is operating properly?
What would happen if the VOR station were undergoing maintenance?
What does it mean if there is only a single coded identification every 30 seconds on a VORTAC station?
What is DME? When is DME equipment required?
What is slant-range distance? To minimize slant-range error, how far from the facility should you be and at what altitude?
Do all VOR stations have the capability of providing distance information?
What is “reverse sensing”? FAA-H-8083-15
Explain how to intercept and track a designated radial inbound to the station and outbound from the station.

VOR ACCURACY CHECKS (Ref. AIM 1-1-4, 91.171)

What are the different methods for checking the accuracy of VOR equipment? VGAADB
How often must a VOR Accuracy Test be completed?
Can a VOT be done in the air?
What records must be kept concerning VOR checks?
Where can you find the location of airborne, ground and VOT testing stations?

GPS (Ref. AIM 1-1-19)

How many satellites do we have in orbit?
How many do we need for GPS RAIM capabilities?
What is RAIM?
Is your GPS (SR20) approved for IFR flight? How can you tell?
During a GPS approach how many miles before FAF should we have an APR indication?
What do you do if that doesn’t happen?
What if it happens inside the FAF?
Which ground navigational facilities can the GPS take place of?
Can you use the GPS as a sole source for IFR navigation?
What is the difference between a fly-over and fly-by waypoint?

RNAV (GPS) Approach Minimums / Type of Minimum / Type of Equipment Required / Guidance / Integrity Limits
LNAV / MDA / GPS certified for IFR approach / Lateral only / Larger than a localizer
LNAV + V / MDA / WAAS or baro-VNAV (for advisory vertical guidance) / Lateral
Advisory vertical guidance / Larger than a localizer
LNAV/VNAV / DA / WAAS or baro-VNAV / Lateral
Vertical / Larger than an ILS approach
LPV / DA / WAAS / Lateral
Vertical / Close to an ILS approach
LP / MDA / WAAS / Lateral only / Close to a localizer

Explain the difference between LNAV, LNAV+V, LNAV/VNAV, LPV, LP RNAV approaches
What do you do if you have a RAIM failure during an approach? (Jepp 8-71)

ILS / LOCALIZER (Ref. AIM 1-1-9, 91.175)

What are the components of an ILS? AIM 1-1-9
What are the distances from the landing threshold of the outer, middle, and inner marker? AIM 1-1-9
When are the inner markers used? AIM 1-1-9
What are the substitutes for an ILS OM/MM? 91.175
Where is the localizer antenna located?
What are the service volumes for the ILS/LOC?
What is the angular width of the localizer? AIM 1-1-9
Where is the glide slope antenna located? AIM 1-1-9
What is the usable range of the glide slope? AIM 1-1-9
What are the sensitivity differences between the CDI tuned to a VOR and a CDI tuned to a LOC? AIM 1-1-9

Compliance with Departure, En Route, and Arrival Procedures