This Instrument Flying section is intended for instrument flight instructors and pilots preparing for instrument rating knowledge and practical tests. It serves as a comprehensive training reference, providing foundational material used in instrument ground training and flight instruction. For more in-depth coverage of specific systems or procedures, pilots and instructors should consult additional FAA publications and approved training resources.
The material in this section aligns with FAA training and certification standards. Because there are multiple accepted methods for teaching flight procedures and explaining aerodynamic principles, this text presents widely recognized techniques and concepts used in instrument training. The explanations and procedures reflect standard practices that support safe and effective instrument flight operations.
This section covers the aeronautical knowledge and practical skills required for operating safely in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). Topics include human and aerodynamic factors affecting instrument flight, aircraft flight instruments, attitude instrument flying techniques for both airplanes and helicopters, fundamental maneuvers performed solely by reference to instruments, navigation systems, the National Airspace System (NAS), air traffic control (ATC) services, instrument flight rules (IFR) procedures, and emergency operations under IFR.
The National Airspace System
- The National Airspace System
- IFR En Route Charts
- New Technologies
- Terminal Procedures Publications
- Instrument Approach Procedure Charts
- Terminal Arrival Area (TAA)
The Air Traffic Control System
- The Air Traffic Control System
- Communication Equipment and Procedures
- Communication Facilities
- ATC Inflight Weather Avoidance Assistance
- Approach Control Facility and Approach Control Advances
- Control Sequence
Human Factors
Aerodynamic Factors
- Aerodynamic Factors
- Review of Basic Aerodynamics
- Atmosphere
- Lift
- Drag Curves
- Trim
- Slow-Speed Flight
- Climbs and Turns
- Load Factor
- Icing and Types of Icing
Flight Instruments
- Flight Instruments
- Pitot/Static Systems
- Pitot/Static Instruments
- Dynamic Pressure Type Instruments
- Magnetic Compass
- Gyroscopic Systems
- Gyroscopic Instruments
- Flight Support Systems
- Analog Pictorial Displays
- Flight Management Systems (FMS)
- Primary Flight Display (PFD) and Advanced Technology Systems
- Safety Systems Required Navigation Instrument System Inspection
Airplane Attitude Instrument Flying
- Airplane Attitude Instrument Flying
- Learning Methods (Using Analog Instrumentation)
- Fundamental Skills (Using Analog Instrumentation)
- Learning Methods (Using an Electronic Flight Display)
- Fundamental Skills and Scanning Techniques (Using an Electronic Flight Display)
- Common Errors (Using an Electronic Flight Display)
Airplane Basic Flight Maneuvers
- Airplane Basic Flight Maneuvers
- Straight and Level Flight (Using Analog Instrumentation)
- Straight Climbs and Descents (Using Analog Instrumentation)
- Turns (Using Analog Instrumentation)
- Approach to Stall (Using Analog Instrumentation)
- Unusual Attitudes and Recoveries (Using Analog Instrumentation)
- Instrument Takeoff (Using Analog Instrumentation)
- Basic Instrument Flight Patterns (Using Analog Instrumentation)
- Straight and Level Flight (Using an Electronic Flight Display)
- Straight Climbs and Descents (Using an Electronic Flight Display)
- Turns (Using an Electronic Flight Display)
- Instrument Takeoff (Using an Electronic Flight Display)
Helicopter Attitude Instrument Flying
- Helicopter Attitude Instrument Flying
- Instrument Flight
- Straight-and-Level Flight
- Straight Climbs (Constant Airspeed and Constant Rate)
- Straight Descents (Constant Airspeed and Constant Rate)
- Turns
- Unusual Attitudes
- Emergencies
- Instrument Takeoff
- Changing Technology
Navigation Systems
- Navigation Systems
- Basic Radio Principles
- Traditional Navigation Systems (Part 1)
- Traditional Navigation Systems (Part 2)
- Advanced Technologies
- Instrument Approach Systems
- Required Navigation Performance
- Flight Management Systems (FMS)
- Head-Up Display (HUD)
- Radar Navigation (Ground-Based)
IFR Flight
- IFR Flight
- Sources of Flight Planning Information
- IFR Flight Plan
- Clearances
- Departure Procedures (DPs)
- En Route Procedures
- Holding Procedures
- Approaches
- Instrument Weather Flying
- Conducting an IFR Flight