Instrument Oral Checklist
Prepared by Bob Miller, CFII
Alternate: When Required 1-2-3 Rule:  [One hour before/after planned arrival; Two thousand foot ceiling;  Three miles visibility.
Alternate: To Qualify As 600' ceiling and two miles visibility with Precision Approach;  800' ceiling and two miles visibility with nonprecision approach;  VFR from the MEA if no approaches.  (NA on approach chart means airport may not be used as a filed alternate.)
Descent below DH or MDA 1. Position continuously allows normal landing descent and maneuvers;   2. Flight visibility at least the minimum for that approach;  3. At least one of the following visual references distinctly visible and identifiable:  Approach lighting system; threshold lights; runway identifier lights; touchdown zone;  runway markings or lights.
Communication Loss Route 1. Last assigned route;  2. If vectored, to clearance point;  3. Expected;  4. As filed.
Communications Loss Altitude Highest of: 1. MEA;  2. Expected;  3. Last Assigned.
Communications Loss at Clearance Limit Depart at EFC time;  if none, depart  IAF per flight planned ETA.
Communications Loss in VMC Continue under VFR and land as soon as practicable.
Required IFR Reports 1. Vacating assigned altitude;  2. Changing VFR-On-Top altitude;  3 Unable to maintain 500 fpm in climb/descent;  4. Missed Approach;  5. TAS change of 10kias or 5%;  6. Anything affecting safety of flight;  7. Hazardous/not forecast weather;  8. Entering and leaving a  hold;

Non Radar Environment: 1. FAF/Procedure turn inbound; 2. Revised estimate >3 minutes;  3. Where charted (solid triangle)

Position Report Contents "IPTAEN"  Identification; Position; Time; Altitude; Estimated time to next reporting point; Next Fix
IFR Minimum Altitudes MEA: Minimum Enroute Altitude (Nav signal reception between fixes and obstacle clearance.

MOCA: Minimum Obstruction Clearance Altitude (Nav signal reception with 22 miles and obstacle clearance.

MCA: Minimum Crossing Altitude: Obstacle clearance enroute to higher Mea.

MSA: Minimum Safe Altitude: 1,000' obstacle clearance for emergency operations.

MVA: Minimum Vectoring Altitude: Lowest ATC can vector with 1000' obstacle clearance.

OROCA: Off-Route Obstruction Clearance Altitude with 1000' obstacle clearance with no nav signal guaranteed.

MHA: Minimum Holding Altitude

MAA: Maximum Authorized Altitude

VOR Checks Every 30 days (Paper entry: date, place bearing error and signature).
VOR Check Types VOR Operational Test (VOT): +/- 4 degrees;

VOR Ground Check: +/-4 degrees

Dual VOR Check: +/-4 degrees

Designated Airborne Check: +/-6 degrees

Required Aircraft Inspections "TAPE"   Transponder (24 months);   Annual;   Pitot-static (24 months), and ELT
Minimum VFR Equipment "GOOSE-A-CAT" (gas gauge; oil pressure/ oil temp; seatbelts; altimeter; compass; airspeed indicator; tachometer)
Minimum IFR Instruments "HAC A RAT" (Heading Indicator; Attitude Indicator; Clock; Altimeter (adjustable); Radio; Alternator/generator; Turn Coordinator)
Pilot Currency "6-6 Rule"   Six approaches within six months with holding and course intercepts.  If out of currency, pilot has 6   months to get current;  If not current by then, pilot must receive an IPC (Instrument Proficiency Check by any CFII)
Squawk Codes 1200 - VFR;  7500  - Hijack;  7600 - Com Failure;  7700 Emergency;  7777 Military;  4000 Military operating in Restricted/Warning Areas.
Mode C Required Above 10,000'; Class A,B,C airspace;  Within 30 miles of Class B airport; Overflying B or C airspace.
DME Required Above 24,000' if being used for navigation.
Minimum IFR Fuel To destination, shoot the approach, then to Alternate, then 45 minutes (day and night).
Cruise Clearance ATC assigned block of airspace from assigned altitude down to MEA.   Climb back up required ATC clearance.
Contact Approach 1. Requested by pilot; 2. visibility 1 mile min; 3. Airport as instrument approach; 4. must remain clear of clouds.
Visual Approach Airport must have 1000' ceiling and 3 miles visibility and airport must be in sight.
Marker Beacons Outer (Blue) - - - -- ;  Middle (Amber) .-.-;  Inner (White) .. ..
Instrument Approach Segments 1. Feeder Route  [from enroute to IAF]:   2. Initial Approach Segment [Begins at IAF and ends at the Intermediate Fix or Final Approach Course];  3. Intermediate Approach Segment  [Begins at Final Approach Course and ends at FAF];  4. Final Approach Segment  [Begins at FAF and ends at Missed Approach Point.];   5.  Missed Approach Segment [Begins at MAP and ends at missed approach holding fix.]
Missed Approach Point Defined Precision Approach:  DH on the Glideslope

Nonprecision Approach: MDA at a fix defined by a navaid or specified elapsed-time after crossing FAF.

Circling Approach:  Anytime visual contact with the airport is lost.

Circling Approach: Instrument approach course alignment >30 deg with runway

Unfavorable surface winds or runway closure.

Circling Radius:  Based upon approach speed (1.3 x Vso).

Magnetic Compass Variation: Caused by difference between true north and magnetic north. (East is least/West is best by isogonic lines).

Deviation: Caused by magnetic fields within the airplane.

True Course +/- wind correction +/-variation = Magnetic Course +/-Deviation =Compass Course

Compass Errors Acceleration Error:  "ANDS"   On east/west heading, acceleration causes compass turn to north;  deceleration causes compass turn to south.

Turning Error:  Turns to/from north, compass lags the turn;  Turns to/from south, compass leads the turn.

Heading Indicator Gyroscopic instrument.

Tumbling:  occurs when pitch or bank exceeds 55 degrees.

Precession: result of bearing friction and/or unbalanced components.  Maximum allowable precession rate is 3 degrees in 15  minutes.

Sensitive Altimeter Aneroid capsules enclosed in a case vented to static air.  Thickness of capsules changes with air pressure.

Errors:  Temperature/Pressure.  High to low (hot to cold), watch out below (altimeter will read higher than actual altitude)

Blocked Static Port:  freezes pointer indication.

Airspeed Indicator Ram air from pitot tube presses against metalic aneroid disk enclosed in a sealed case vented to static port.

Errors:  Position error:  Aircraft attitude and configuration may alter slipstream flow around fuselage and disturb static air.

Air Density Error:  Changes in altitude and air temperature.

Blockage:  Pitot blocked/Static okay: ASI goes to zero;  Pitot blocked/Static okay/Drain blocked: ASI  acts like altimeter.

Use of alternate static air will result in small increases in indicated airspeed (~10 kts) and altitude (~50')

Attitude Indicator Gyro instrument.

Errors:  Tumbling when >60 deg pitch and >100 deg roll (older models)

Tolerance:  gyro should erect within 5 minutes of start up and should not indicate >5 deg bank in taxi turns.

Turn Coordinator Electric

Indicates both rate of roll and rate of turn (3 deg/sec)  and indirect indication of bank angle.

BASIC ATTITUDE INSTRUMENTS
Pitch Bank Power
Straight & Level
Primary Altimeter Heading Indicator Airspeed Indicator
Supporting Attitude Indicator / VSI Attitude indicator / Turn Coord. MP/Tach
Airspeed change in Straight & Level
Primary Altimeter Heading Indicator Airspeed Indicator
Supporting Attitude Indicator / VSI Attitude indicator / Turn Coord. MP/Tach
Constant Rate Climb
Primary VSI Heading Indicator Airspeed Indicator
Supporting Attitude Indicator Attitude indicator / Turn Coord. MP/Tach
Establishing a Level Standard Rate Turn
Primary Altimeter Attitude Indicator Airspeed Indicator
Supporting Attitude Indicator/VSI Turn Coord. MP/Tach
Transitioning from Straight & Level to Constant Airspeed
Primary Attitude Indicator Heading Indicator MP/Tach
Supporting Airspeed Indicator/VSI Attitude Indicator/Turn Coord Airspeed Indicator
Stabilized Standard Rate Turn
Primary Altimeter Turn Coord Airspeed Indicator
Supporting Airspeed Indicator/VSI Attitude Indicator MP/Tach
Straight Constant Airspeed Climb
Primary Airspeed Indicator Heading Indicator MP/Tach
Supporting Attitude Indicator/VSI Attitude Indicator/Turn Coord. Airspeed Indicator
Change in Airspeed in Level Turn
Primary Altimeter Turn Coord Airspeed Indicator
Supporting Airspeed Indicator/VSI Attitude Indicator Airspeed Indicator
As Power is Increased to Straight, Constant Rate Climb
Primary Airspeed Indicator Heading Indicator MP/Tach
Supporting Attitude Indicator/VSI Attitude Indicator/Turn Coord