CPL CPL Instrument Flight Rules and Procedures 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under IFR, what is the minimum visibility required for a commercial pilot to commence an instrument approach to a runway with a standard 200-ft decision height (CAT I ILS)?
- 1/4 statute mile
- 1/2 statute mile (Correct answer)
- 3/4 statute mile
- 1 statute mile
Correct answer: 1/2 statute mile
CAT I ILS approaches require at least 1/2 statute mile (2,400 RVR) visibility for a 200-ft decision height under FAR 91.175.
Question 2: When flying IFR in controlled airspace, what is the minimum fuel reserve required beyond the destination airport under FAR Part 91?
- 30 minutes at normal cruise
- 45 minutes at normal cruise (Correct answer)
- 60 minutes at normal cruise
- 20 minutes at holding speed
Correct answer: 45 minutes at normal cruise
FAR 91.167 requires IFR flight to carry enough fuel to fly to the destination, then to the alternate, and then for 45 minutes at normal cruise speed.
Question 3: What does the term 'decision altitude (DA)' refer to during an instrument approach?
- The altitude at which the pilot must begin the missed approach if visual reference is not established (Correct answer)
- The lowest altitude to which an aircraft may descend on a non-precision approach
- The altitude where ATC transfers the aircraft to tower frequency
- The altitude at which descent from cruise is initiated
Correct answer: The altitude at which the pilot must begin the missed approach if visual reference is not established
Decision altitude (DA) is the point during a precision approach where the pilot must initiate a missed approach if the required visual references are not in sight.
Question 4: An aircraft is cleared for a standard instrument departure (SID). The SID procedure requires a minimum climb gradient of 300 ft/NM. At a groundspeed of 120 knots, what is the minimum required rate of climb in feet per minute?
- 400 fpm
- 500 fpm
- 600 fpm (Correct answer)
- 700 fpm
Correct answer: 600 fpm
Rate of climb (fpm) = gradient (ft/NM) × groundspeed (NM/min); 300 × (120/60) = 300 × 2 = 600 fpm.
Question 5: Under IFR, when is an alternate airport required to be filed in a flight plan?
- Any time the destination is above 5,000 ft MSL
- When the destination forecast is below VFR minimums at any time during the flight
- When the destination airport does not have a published instrument approach
- When the forecast at the destination, from 1 hour before to 1 hour after ETA, is less than 2,000-ft ceiling or 3 SM visibility (Correct answer)
Correct answer: When the forecast at the destination, from 1 hour before to 1 hour after ETA, is less than 2,000-ft ceiling or 3 SM visibility
FAR 91.169 requires an alternate when the destination forecast within ±1 hour of ETA does not meet the 2,000/3 rule (2,000-ft ceiling and 3 SM visibility).
Question 6: What is the purpose of the Minimum Enroute Altitude (MEA) on an IFR chart?
- It guarantees terrain/obstruction clearance and navigational signal reception along the entire route segment (Correct answer)
- It is the lowest altitude for VFR traffic on airways
- It provides 2,000-ft clearance over all terrain within 10 NM of the airway
- It is the altitude at which the transition from departure to enroute phase begins
Correct answer: It guarantees terrain/obstruction clearance and navigational signal reception along the entire route segment
The MEA ensures both obstacle clearance (1,000 ft in non-mountainous, 2,000 ft in mountainous) and acceptable navigation signal reception along the entire airway segment.
CPL CPL Instrument Flight Rules and Procedures 1
Under IFR, what is the minimum visibility required for a commercial pilot to commence an instrument approach to a runway with a standard 200-ft decision height (CAT I ILS)?