IFR Flight Requirements

IFR Flight Requirements

• To be legal for IFR flight, certain experience, documentation, maintenance, and equipment standards must be met.

Pilot Legalities (61.65, 61.3, 61.57(c), 61.56)

• Experience: Requires 50 hours PIC cross-country time (10 in airplanes), 40 hours actual or simulated instrument time, and 15 hours with a CFII including a 250 NM cross country flight.
  • The cross country flight must involve routing along airways or by ATC, instrument approaches at each airport, using three different kinds of approaches, and be on a filed IFR flight plan.
  • Requires 3 hours of instrument flight training in the last 2 calendar months.
• Documents: Requires a pilot's certificate, a medical certificate (or BasicMed if applicable), and a government-issued photo ID.
• Currency: Requires completing 6 instrument approaches, holding procedures, intercepting, and tracking navigation systems in the last 6 calendar months, in actual or simulated instrument conditions. These tasks must be done in a simulator or with an instructor or safety pilot.
  • If more than 12 calendar months have passed, an Instrument Proficiency Check (IPC) with a CFII is needed.
• VFR/IFR Currency: A flight review within the last 24 calendar months is needed for acting as PIC in either VFR or IFR flight, which includes one hour of flight instruction and one hour of ground instruction from an authorized instructor.
• Passengers: To carry passengers, 3 takeoffs and landings are needed within the preceding 90 days in the same aircraft category, class, and type and for tailwheel aircraft, landings must be full-stop. If at night, these must be done between 1 hour after sunset and 1 hour before sunrise to a full stop.

Aircraft Legalities (91.203, 23.2620, part 39, 91.171, 91.409, 91.411, 91.413, 91.207, 91.205)

• Documents: Requires an airworthiness certificate, registration certificate, radio station license (international flights only), operating limitations and AFM, and weight & balance sheet.
• Inspections: Requires an annual inspection every 12 calendar months, airworthiness directives compliance, VOR check every 30 days for IFR flights (91.171), 100-hour inspection if for hire, altimeter and static system check every 24 calendar months, transponder check every 24 calendar months, and ELT inspection every 12 months (battery replacement after 1 hour of use or 50% of battery life expired).
• Equipment: Requires an airspeed indicator, tachometer (each engine air-cooled), oil pressure gauge (each air-cooled engine), manifold pressure gauge (for each altitude engine), altimeter, temperature gauge (liquid-cooled engine only), oil temperature gauge (air-cooled engine), fuel gauge (each tank), landing gear position indicator, anti-collision lights, magnetic compass, ELT, and safety belts.
  • At night, it also needs fuses, a landing light, position lights, and a source of electricity.
  • For IFR flight, it requires a generator or alternator, suitable radios and navigation equipment, an attitude indicator, ball inclinometer, clock, adjustable altimeter, and rate of turn indicator.
• VOR Checks: VOR checks can be done through a VOT, repair station, ground checkpoint, airborne checkpoint, or prominent landmark.
  • All have different degree tolerances, such as a VOT must be within ± 4°.
  • The date, place, bearing error, and signature must be logged.
• Inoperative Equipment: Flying without equipment required by 91.205 or required by AD or operation is not allowed.
  • Other inoperative equipment must be removed or placarded, and a pilot/mechanic must deem the flight safe.

IFR Conditions Legalities (61.3, 91.133, 91.135, 91.157, 91.155, 91.167, 91.169, 91.175f, 91.173, 91.167)

• Requires an IFR rating for pilots acting as PIC in IFR conditions, carrying passengers for compensation or hire on cross-country flights of more than 50 NM or at night, flight in Class A airspace, and SVFR between sunset and sunrise.
• IFR Weather Minimums:
  • Class A airspace does not allow VFR flight.
  • Other airspace classes require specific visibility and distance from clouds: 3SM and clear of clouds in Class B, 3SM and 500 feet below, 1000 feet above, and 2000 feet horizontally from clouds in Class C and D.
  • Class E and G airspace have different requirements based on altitude and time of day.
• Alternate Airport: An alternate airport is required unless the destination has an instrument approach procedure and the weather is forecast to be at least 2,000 feet above the airport elevation and visibility of at least 3 statute miles at the estimated time of arrival.
  • The mnemonic used is 1-2-3 (1 hour before to 1 hour after ETA, forecast is 2000' and 3SM).
  • If the weather requires an alternate, the alternate airport must have a precision approach if it has an approved instrument approach procedure and the forecast weather must meet 600' ceiling and 2 SM visibility, or 800' ceiling and 2 SM visibility if a standard approach is available.
• Takeoff Minimums:
  • No minimums are required under Part 91, unless mandated by departure procedure
  • For others, the published minimums for the runway, which are 1 SM visibility for 1-2 engines or 1/2 SM visibility for more than 2 engines.
  • Non-standard takeoff minimums are denoted by a "T" in the TPP.
• IFR Flight Plan: The Pilot must be on a filed IFR flight plan and receive appropriate ATC clearance to operate IFR in controlled airspace (Class A - E).
• Fuel Requirements: Requires enough fuel to fly from the departure point to the destination airport, fly to the alternate airport (if required), and fly an additional 45 minutes at normal cruise speed.
• Preflight Information: Requires reviewing NOTAMs, weather reports and forecasts, known traffic delays, runway length of intended use, alternates available, fuel requirements, and takeoff and landing performance data.