WWII AIR FORCE 10 IFR COMMANDMENTS

Seat thyself well upon thy fifth vertebra, leaving not thy fingerprints on the controls and chewing not on thy fingernails.
Know thy instruments, for they are the true and appointed prophets.
Follow the indications of thy instruments and verily thee airplane will follow along, even as the tail follows the sheep.
Do not stick out thy neck a foot; stay within the confines of thy ability and thou shalt live to a happy old age.
Know the appointed words and approved methods, so that if thy neck dropeth out, thou shalt be able even unto thyself to place same in it's proper place, upon thy shoulders.
Follow thy radio beam, for these ways are happy ways and will lead to the promised landing.
Listen carefully, yea verily, to the signal impinging on thy eardrum, for sometimes they seem to have the tongues of snakes and will cross up thy orientation to the sad state to where thou must ask Heaven Herself for guidance. (If you have never flown the radio range that existed in the 30s and 40s you won't appreciate this advice.)
Assume not, neither shalt thou guess, that thy position is such, but prove to thine own satisfaction that such is the case.
Boast not, neither brag, for surely Old Devil Overcast shalt write such words in his book and thou shalt some day be called for an accounting.
Trust not thy seat (of thy pants), but follow thine instruments. Read and truly interpret the word as given from thine instrument board and know that the responsibility lies not with the hand that rocks the control column, but in and with the mind that directs the hand, and thou shalt be blessed with a long and happy life.

How to Prepare for the Instrument

Materials --
Richard Taylor, Rod Machado, the FAA AC's, and Jeppesen.
Use time studying approach plates and en route maps. Jeppesen is probably better than NOS

Buy CH Products yoke and rudder pedal units for home computer.
Use FlitePro software by Jeppesen.

Training -- Minimum amount of training time
Do a great deal of training at night on the computer.
Find a good flight instructor
Explanations that are understood are very important.

Test --
Take the knowledge test near the end of training.
Experience will reinforce the book answers.
When you have flight knowledge that coincides with your ground training you will remember.

Practical --
Have a copy of the PTS, Practical Test Standards.
The practical will consist of everything in the PTS. Some items may be combined

You are required to do 1 precision and 2 non precision approaches.

IFR Requirements (Changed August 1997)

FAA decides what training is required as a MINIMUM

IFR Training Time
If rated in aircraft...
Log as PIC when you are the sole manipulator of the controls (61-51(e)(l)
15 hours with CFII
20 hours of approved simulator time under an authorized instructor.
250 miles flight along airways or ATC routing. Three different approaches in which your final airport must have an instrument approach.
50 hours must be cross country (over 50 nautical with landing) PIC
15 hours of CFII instruction
The instrument competency check is now an instrument proficiency check and must include holding procedures.
NDB not required on long X-country, which must include three different approaches.
Human factors and decision-making training required

Instruction to include:

Spatial disorientation
--Severe weather, turbulence
Malfunctions
Partial panel

FAR 91.205(a)
No person may operate ...unless that aircraft contains the instruments and equipment specified for that type of operation and...operable condition.

AIM 5-4-4 says pilot is responsible to get ASOS or AWOS weather at uncontrolled airports where available and then advise ATC of intentions.

AIM 5-3-7 revokes the 175 knot prop limit and now has 200, 230, and 250 or as specified on chart limits.

FAR 61.57(c) requires six instrument approaches (all the same or different), holding procedures, and interception and tracking of navaid courses.

Instrument Evaluation Time

The safe outcome of an IFR flight should never be in doubt.
Required procedures are interception and tracking of radials and bearings
Recovery from unusual attitudes
Holding procedures and flight by instruments.
Currency Minimums:
Six approaches in past six months
Intercepted and tracked a navaid
Holding procedures
PTS sets requirements of instrument competency check. (ICC)
Reality Minimums:
Begin six approaches in actual IMC
Do a hold in actual or simulated situation.
Meeting letter of requirements may bypass FAR intent.
Logbook entries must give date, place and approach type
Use of flight simulator or FTD for aircraft category is o.k. if supervised by instructor.
Safety and efficiency depends on competency and proficiency.
Competency determined by accuracy, precise control and anticipation.
When overload occurs, attend to the flying first.
Glide slope flying requires power setting according to wind effect on ground speed.
Demons of IFR just after getting rating:
Ice
Darkness
Low ceilings
Turbulence
vertigo
Fear

Instrument Training Time

--FAR 61.65 requires 40 hours of actual or simulated instrument flight time.
At least 15 hours must be flight training time from a CFII in an aircraft.
Flying with a safety pilot of CFI is logged as instrument flight time.
Instrument flight time does not count as instrument flight training time.
However, instrument flight training time with a CFII also is instrument flight time.

Cockpit Check

In the PTS the cockpit check comes under preflight procedures Task C of FAA-S-8081-4B dated Oct., 1994.

1) You must know how instruments work, why the check is needed, the FARs that apply, and how defects and failure can be noted. Options that exist with failed equipment.

2) You must have a functional checklist that includes the POH list.

3) Many preflight specifics are required:
1. Setting and use of audio panel.
2. Use of all navigation aids VORs, GPS, ADF, ILS, and Markers (See 1 above)
3. Compass...Fluid level can be checked as part of cockpit check.
4. Gyro instruments (Instrument Handbook 35 to 54)
5. Know 'your' airplane.
Clock, pitot heat, turn and slip, static
4) Will any noted discrepancy make the aircraft unsafe for instrument flight.

Required Knowledge Areas

...to be Ready for the Practical Test
Written test, aircraft papers, pilot papers, application
Cross country flight planning
Preflight - IFR specific
When pre-flighting you should check pitot heat, hot prop and pre-set radios
as additionals. When taxiing we should check AI, HI, and TC during turns.
Mnemonic
IFR add to VFR requirements

Mnemonic is CHART GAD (following 8-items)
clock, heading indicator, attitude indicator, two way radio, turn coordinator, generator, altimeter, DME above 24K.

Knowledge/Performance Requirements

Checklists
Instrument cockpit check
Systems operation
Systems failure
--Antennas
Collision avoidance techniques
Compliance with ATC Clearances
Flight reference to the instruments
Constant airspeed climb
Straight and level
Change of airspeed
Constant airspeed descents
Constant airspeed climbs
--Steep turns
--Constant rate climbs
Timed turns to compass headings
Holding patterns
Recovery from unusual attitudes
Intercepting and tracking VOR radials
Intercepting and Tracking NDB bearings
VOR approaches
NDB approaches
--LOC approaches
ILS approaches
Partial panel
No-gyro approaches
Circling approach procedures
Unusual attitudes
Debrief

PRACTICAL TEST STANDARDS

Acceptable Standards
An Instrument Rating applicant is not permitted more than three-quarter-scale CDI or glide slope deflection during a VOR or ILS approach and no more than one-quarter scale CDI or glide slope deflection during an ILS approach. Less that half-scale CDI deflection for VOR approaches, and plus or minus 5 degrees for NDB approaches.. You must be "established" on course when operating on an IFR route segment within those standards. Instrument pilots are just like athletes; with conditioning, practice, repetition and concentration you will get it right.

Reasons for Failure

Lack of preparation,
--Not having all plates,
Holding altitudes,
Knowing frequencies
Situational awareness
Reliance on radar
Instrument interpretation
Wrong direction during procedure turn
Late descent for non-precision approach
Turning in wrong direction to heading.

Sayings of Note

When pre-flighting you should check pitot heat, hot prop and pre-set radios as additionally....
When taxiing we should check AI, HI, and TC during turns.
On takeoff we would prefer to have the aircraft cleaned for climb before entering actual.
While the step by step process of configuring the aircraft is best for teaching.
The most likely cause of an approach screw-up is just plain getting behind the plane.

Resource Management/Judgment Test.

Use ILS if available it actual emergency but examiner may use other approach to check partial panel ability on non-precision approaches.

The instrument PTS regarding an ILS approach states that the standards are no more than 3/4 scale deflection of the localizer or glide slope indications and within 10 kts airspeed.

Simulation During IFR Practical Test

--Gyroscopic failure
During the in-flight simulation of partial panel instrument approach, because of the physical position of the magnetic compass in some aircraft, the applicant is likely to receive visual clues not normally available. Once this occurs, a meaningful evaluation is compromised. Examiners may request applicant no longer refer to magnetic compass. If actual ATC assistance is unavailable the examiner may simulate ATC assistance procedures.

Instrument rating PTS requires non-precision approach under partial panel. Emphasis will be on loss of gyros and loss of radios. Test will include timed turns and compass turns to headings, climbs, descents and unusual attitudes. In actual situation ILS would be more desirable.

The expectation during simulated emergencies is that a successful conclusion is the primary objective. Applicants must demonstrate knowledge of resources available. (Advise ATC, request radar vectors, call fixes, no gyro assistance, nearest VFR, nearest airport, etc.)

IFR Checkride Failure

Examiner comments related to failures:
Unable to handle ATC communications. Failure to repeat back clearances and instructions.
Problems with frequencies on missed approach.
--Did not know preferred routes, symbols or abbreviations
Did not have airport/facility Directory
Use of radials on VOR. Confusing VOR ident with localizer. Flew with reverse sensing of VOR.
Premature descent especially during procedure turns
Failure to set altimeter prior to approach
Unable to fly plane while using magnetic compass for headings.
Failed to recognize that glide slope failure required localizer minimums and timing.
Failed to adhere to departure procedures.
Excessive and even incorrect course corrections using CDI.
NDB approach used homing instead of tracking.
Failed to fly to missed approach point before turning.

Seasoning the Instrument Program

The instrument rating is one that can be acquired relatively quickly by following a program designed to give the skills needed to pass the checkride. However, this may not be the best program unless it is supplemented immediately by frequent reinforcing practice. Otherwise there is likely to be a rapid decline in basic skills and knowledge. There is more to instrument flight than just getting the rating. There are levels of proficiency and training variables that drastically affect the safety margins. There are negatives for more or less frequent flights. Some adjustment can be made to take advantage of inclement weather.

Application Form
During certification check the PTS and FARs to make sure that you meet the requirements. A most common error is not following directions and completing all required spaces in the application.

Areas of Difficulty
Distraction
A distraction is instantaneous when only one word is misunderstood in an IFR clearance. It takes great mental concentration to continue on getting the clearance and still be able to ask ATC to repeat or clarify the missed word. More commonly the pilot misses everything past the problem word. The most dangerous point of an IFR flight is the missed approach. The pilot, who in the performance of the missed approach does not know 'what comes next' is into the distraction mode of thinking which usually results in an accident. The missed approach that is in the distraction mode is extremely overloaded. What must be done and the sequence of doing what must be done become a mental blur. Familiarity with the aircraft is a must to reduce the probability of a distraction.

IFR Arrival Briefing

…Study the chart
…Frequencies in order
…Radials in order
…Marker and ADF set
…Altitudes in order and minimums
…Over-preparation will be negated by ATC
…Use one colour to planning and another colour for changes
…Expect preferred routing
…Be efficient on the radio
…Ask for help or vector to unknown fix

IFR Final

…Follow clearance
…Make required call-ups
…Read back as required
…Maintain altitudes, headings and airspeeds
…Know your configuration changes and effects
…Specific position reports into uncontrolled airports.
…Descending too far too soon is a fundamental mistake.

Weather Reports and Forecasts

Examiner will use FAA aviation weather services publication AC 00-45C Applicant must know how to obtain, read and analyze weather reports and forecasts from AC 00-45C

PIREP and radar reports, surface analysis charts. Radar summary charts, prog charts, winds and temperature aloft, freezing lever charts, stability charts, severe weather, outlook, constant pressure charts, high level prognosis charts. SIGMETS, AIRMETS, ATIS reports, (Automatic Weather Observation Station) (Automatic Meteorological Observation station)
What they do...What they give...How different

Why Examiners Test Weather

Raise knowledge level of weather theory
DUATS requires knowing how to read reports and forecasts.
Self briefings are a growing requirement

Weather Minimums:
When is an alternate required Night IFR at uncontrolled airport Below minimums is O.K. if in pattern within 1/2 mile. SVFR procedures

Navigation:

15% of applicants do not know how to get magnetic course. Know how to enter ARSA below Class B or C  (3000' critical)
How WAC charts are different from sectionals
IFR departure from uncontrolled airport
Partial panel approach

Aircraft Systems:

Carburettor ice
Induction ice and alternate air source
Static air intake and alternate static source
Antennas - glide slope, marker beacon

Required References:
PRACTICAL TEST STANDARDS
FAR PART 61 CERTIFICATION OF PILOTS AND FLIGHT INSTRUCTORS
FAR PART 91 GENERAL OPERATING AND FLIGHT RULES
AC 00-6 AVIATION WEATHER
AC 00-45 AVIATION WEATHER SERVICES
AC 61-21 FLIGHT TRAINING HANDBOOK
AC 61-23 PILOT'S HANDBOOK OF AERONAUTICAL KNOWLEDGE
AC 61-27 INSTRUMENT FLYING HANDBOOK
AC 61-84 ROLE OF PREFLIGHT PREPARATION
AC 90-48 PILOT'S ROLE IN COLLISION AVOIDANCE
AIM AIRMAN'S INFORMATION MANUAL
SID STANDARD INSTRUMENT DEPARTURES
STAR STANDARD TERMINAL ARRIVALS
AF/D AIRPORT FACILITY DIRECTORY
FDC NOTAM NATIONAL FLIGHT DATA CENTRE/NOTICE TO AIRMEN
IAP INSTRUMENT APPROACH PROCEDURES
--Government instrument approach procedures (IAP) are published every 56 days, updated
every 28 days and NOTAMS as required.
--Pertinent pilot operating handbooks
--FAA approved flight manuals
--En route low altitude chart

IFR Student Requirements

Aeronautical eligibility 61.65 (e and I)
Total 50 hours cross country other than student solo 61.65(c)(4)
250 nautical mile cross country which must include an ILS, a VOR and NDB approaches. (check)61.65 (II) (III)
To qualify for the long cross-country IFR flight must include at least two airports 250 NM in a straight line distance apart and
1 VOR, 1 ILS and 1 NDB approach.
Total hours is 15 by a CFII instructor in an airplane.
Maximum of 20 hours in a simulator

GET ON GOVERNMENT MAILING LIST: (See VFR material) USE AC 00-2 AND AC 00-2.7 Oct. 1994
Address: DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION M 494.1 DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS SECTION
WASHINGTON D. C. 20590

Electronic Bulletin Board Access Information
Safety and Standards
Modem(202)267-5205 Operator Rick Marinelli, (202)267-7669
Policy, Plans and Management
Modem(202) 267-5697 Operator Mike Lee (202) 267-3332

Now that you have your rating comes the hard part. The on-going need to maintain the minimum of 6-6-6 will continue as long as you fly IFR. The initial issue certificate is just a license to continue your learning and training. Now you must be more than just legally current to be safe.

Know thy Self
Inexperienced pilots tend to over-control when beginning on simulated instruments and then again when they are exposed to actual conditions. The difficulty is related to fully understanding the relationship between the actual horizon and that displayed on the AI. Some pilots make constant adjustments to controls even when they are not needed under the presumption that they should be doing something all the time.

Every pilot has fears and weaknesses. Ideally, the pilot should make a list and work toward elimination of fears and weaknesses one at a time. We must beware of perpetuating that weakness in someone else and in ourselves.

The single-pilot IFR flight should have a condensed set of lists that covers route, clearances, frequencies, minimums and missed.  He should have made a dry run through radio frequencies and settings. He should have rehearsed what he expects to hear during the flight and his anticipated (word for word) responses. The pilot's efficiency in organization of what the procedures require is the best way to lighten the workload when in flight. In additional, he should have a pop-up IFR checklist for the end of those VFR flights that require an instrument approach. If you are on a VFR flight plan you MUST close it even if you are opening an IFR flight plan.

There are advantages to flying the full procedure using your own navigation. You will always know where you are. While on vectors, it is easy to lose orientation due to vector changes. If the unplanned workload increases it is very easy to overlook critical items. Reading back a clearance does not mean you have adequately prepared for that routing. A well-organized pilot who is at least even with the aircraft is best able to deal with the unanticipated.

Many pilots agree more with the 'follow your gut' crowd than the 'personal minima' crowd only because my gut seems to be far better at calculating the quantum variables intuitively much faster than you can reason it all out while bouncing through the clouds. Confidence in your decisions is a requirement to executing a good approach. If that confidence isn't there it's time to consider the alternatives.

Develop physiological reaction to those situations that are over your head, and when after 250 hrs you may have learned to heed it. When the altimeter reads too close to DH and it's still dark and gloomy outside, or there's one of those "runway in the storm window" crosswinds, a sour taste at the back of my throat rises. This means "Go around, you idiot", or "take the missed approach and land somewhere else". It's much more reliable than a hard-and-fast rule like "I won't land in less than 500 ft. ceilings". Experience shows that very few IFR missed approaches actually occur due to weather. The fact that so few occur is the cause of the ‘expectancy’ problem. The pilot may view the situation as how he would have it be rather than as they are.

Number one is flying the aircraft. Do not let a distraction such as changing frequencies change this priority. Mastery of the aircraft should never by in doubt regardless of the workload. Use the speed you can be comfortable with. If ATC requests a higher speed, advise that you will accept vectors to allow faster traffic to pass. In no event maintain an uncomfortably speed on the final portion of the approach.

All approaches should be flown at the selected airspeed with the gear down, using power to control rate of descent and flaps as required at the bottom of the approach. The primary consideration is airplane handling and performance during the final phase of the procedure. This means you must get the aircraft set up at a definite point ahead of time. Stick with the same configuration for all approaches. If you have good basic attitude instrument skills, with control over airspeed, descent and heading you can fly a good instrument approach. Descent rate approximates G.S x 10.2.

Whether or not to use flaps on an approach depends very much on how they affect the performance of the aircraft when initiating the missed approach. By themselves flaps do not affect the approach but on Cessnas the addition of full power in higher powered singles can create overpowering trim forces on flap removal. Be careful and prepared by locking the elbow on power application.

Vertigo
The most required skills of an instrument pilot are aircraft control, positional awareness and focused reality on the instruments. Vertigo can and does occur to all pilots. Certain very normal flight situations can cause vertigo. The turning of a head, looking down and sideways, or up all when combined with a constant rate turn will create vertigo. The inner ear is a most fallible device. Large quick movements are easily detected while slow smooth movements can escape notice. The ear adapts to easy motion rather quickly and will react to any quick changes or stops as being movement in the opposite direction.

The pilot’s rule when exposed to vertigo should be to first do nothing, study the instruments and respond without reacting. We cannot deny the perception of inner ear messages. We can deny any response to them. The ability to intellectually deny the inner ear sensations marks the instrument pilot. The correctness of what is done under instrument conditions far exceeds the importance of any speed required.

Reaction
Reaction time is based upon how your senses work together. Hearing and smell may provide advance warning but most often we are not as sensitive to these as to the tactile sense. Vision evokes the quickest reactions but this quickness may be instinctive and counter productive. Where you look is in a manoeuvre will enable you to counter visual illusion and associated instinctive reactions. How the manoeuvre feels and sounds will augment vision once the proper parameters are practiced and imprinted.

We need to practice reactions in flying situation so that they can be anticipated, decisive, selective, and accurate. Landings, takeoffs, steep turns, stalls, airspeeds, minimum controllable, and unusual attitudes are areas where we can organize our senses to get our performance and the required reaction under control. Along with correct performance of the manoeuvres we should expose ourselves to incorrect (read instinctive) reaction situations. The inadvertent event is the one most likely to be met with instinctive reaction. IFR could well mean I Feel Reaction.

Recognition of the need and correctness in reaction is, to me, more important than the speed. Maybe this is because, with age, I have replaced most of my reaction time with anticipation.

Knowing what to expect from yourself, the plane, ATC, and the weather greatly reduces the need for reaction and increases the presence of anticipation.

1) Awareness of how deceptive our senses can be,
2) How anticipation can affect selection, speed, and accuracy of any reaction, and
3) Situations where reaction is all you have available.

Why IFR?
Getting your rating made you a better pilot. You became more selective as to what made weather safe for flying. You were capable of absorbing multiple instructions while manoeuvring the aircraft. You set new personal minimums for VFR flying because of your capability to go IFR. Even the FSS talked to you differently after you said, "IFR capable". When entering VFR conditions on an IFR flight plan you must see and avoid other traffic.

We will make a practice of setting up the missed approach as much as possible during the approach to be followed by a holding pattern at some point prior to the next approach.

Weather That Does Not Like IFR Flying
1. High barometric pressure, high humidity, low night temperature and calm winds
2. Winds that flow on-shore
3. Stationary fronts that don't move
4. A multiple front low or occluded front
5. The northeast point of a surface low
6. A Low in the Gulf of Mexico
7. A warm front in winter
8. Inversions
9. An overcast above cold, wet ground.

IFR to VFR Accidents Compared
12% related to low-level manoeuvring.
12% Fuel exhaustion (Often caused by headwinds and multiple approaches)
50% Trying VFR in IFR conditions
3% Low level flight into terrain (Circling approaches)
3% Midair while VFR
14% Failure to select fuel or put on carburettor heat.
50% Improper approach procedure
20% Stall on approach
50% Into Terrain on approach/icing
33% Of IFR loss of control occurred in IFR conditions. Most of these happened during
departure into overcast or on approach.
50% IFR control loss on departure
50% IFR control loss in weather
16% IFR control loss in turbulence
0% Lost or disoriented
25% of IFR accidents were related to mechanical problems of aircraft systems. Knowing how to shut off autopilots for
example. Engine failure implicated in 11% of all IFR accidents.
50% IFR control loss due to vacuum pump failure
25% Into terrain at night
50% IFR control loss due to static system failure

Critical Weaknesses
Simulation is not an adequate substitute for actual conditions. The likely absence of turbulence, changing visibilities, illusions and a low visibility landing are not possible. Visual peeks are bound to occur when compass-heading checks are made. The absence of actual conditions inhibits low time certified IFR pilots from maintaining currency.

Second major area of incompetence lies in the transition from IFR to landing the aircraft in low visibility to a full stop. Training approaches all too often end with the published missed.

Talking to any ATC facility is not a guarantee of defence against your having a mid-air. Even IFR-VFR separation is guaranteed only in Class A, B, or C. Most mid-airs occur at low altitudes near uncontrolled airports because that's where the airplanes are. Aircraft shadows are your best indicator of low level proximity. Watch the ground. As with cars there are built in aircraft blind spots that can only be uncovered by S-turns, head nodding, and a bit of luck. Always check the airspace you are about to enter.

Night IFR in IMC

There is no greater likelihood of a mechanical failure caused accident at night than there is during daytime.
Likewise, day or night weather itself is not going to be a 'causal' factor.
Only a small percentage of all G.A. IFR takes place at night.
Over half of G.A. IFR circle-to-land occur at night.
Night IFR accidents are most likely to occur when:
Following multiple attempts at approaches,
Flying a non-standard approach, poor planning and lack of proficiency.
The difference between day and night IFR is very subtle.
Night can suck a pilot into a situation from which there is no back door.
Fuel availability at night is different than during the day.
An IFR pilot is apt to stretch aircraft endurance.
Night IFR needs more than a legal alternate.
You need an alternate that you know you can reach and get into.

Night IFR
Part of the preflight is to know the approach procedure and the lighting system activation that may be available. Statistics show that night flight and IFR night flight has proportionately higher accident rates. There is nothing more difficult flying at night on instruments providing you can see the instruments. Good lighting is essential. Preservation of night vision is of reduced importance. Usually the accident is caused by controlled flight into obstacles while transition from IFR to VFR. An accident at this time is called 'pilot error' or an attempt to use Braille.

Depth perception and obstacle determination is more difficult at night. The brightness of runway lights and others cause an illusion of distance that is deceptive. This is especially true if the area is unfamiliar. Transition to visual conditions may require exceptional area awareness. Fuel exhaustion at night seems to become a factor only if multiple approaches are involved.

If you are going to fly night IFR do considerable practice in those conditions. Fly only precision approaches into controlled airports that are straight in. No circling approaches. Use the VASI or PAPI. If you must go into an uncontrolled airport cancel IFR only after landing. Set higher minimums for night. A vacuum back-up is essential at night.

Don't fly if ice is a possibility and don't take off if it is a probability. Nights are colder and ice is more likely. On the bright side (pun) thunder storms are less likely. Night flight into broken cloud conditions are quite conducive to creation of vertigo. In night IFR avoid looking outside until you really need to. Prevention is easier than recovery from symptoms of illusion. At night you can’t obtain visual impressions of where the weather is or what it looks like.

As with all IFR flight, it is important that you fly the charted routes. Radar vectors requires you to totally trust someone else. Better yet, combine 'own nav' with radar advisories specifically asking for obstacle clearance. Use the second pilot to call the plate numbers to supplement your own checks. Plate calls would include; ATIS, pattern altitude, IAF altitude and track, inbound track and altitude, approach fix, minimums and time, missed approach track and climb to altitude before turning.

Flying a consistent profile is essential to safe night IFR. Be so situation aware that you do not descend below 1500' AGL until you are within 5 nm of the destination. (You can remain above the charted altitudes.) The worst night IFR situation is a non-precision approach to circle-to-land at a strange airport.

The worst case scenario related to night IFR actual conditions flight is engine failure where without power, most instruments, and little opportunity to select a landing place everything is at risk. The risk management of flight in these conditions begins with the proficiency of the pilot. A smoke filled cockpit becomes IFR with your eyes closed. Without auto pilot you haven’t a chance. Standby vacuum doesn't help if the windmilling propeller provides no differential. Catastrophic failures can occur any time but are far more likely to occur where poor maintenance practices are allowed to exist.

Cautions at Night:

Personal minimums should be very high for night IFR.
Carry extra fuses, flashlights.
Have current Airport/Facilities Directory to determine hours of operation, lighting and facilities available.
Get L-type NOTAMs
Do not expect ATC to know about FDC NOTAMed changes to procedures. Get the FDCs as part of your planning.
Chose route as nearly airport vicinity as possible
Double check MDA and DH for any night restrictions
Night vision is affected by IFR MOCA altitudes due to lack of oxygen.
Ability to retain night vision very difficult.
Bright runway lights on a wide runway make you feel closer to the ground; dim lights in haze on a narrow runway may because you to descend below the glide slope.
Your worst landing will be when you follow the landing light into the ground.
Night approaches with only the approach lights visible creates illusions of altitude and direction from only the slightest bank.
Trust the instruments at night
Wing mounted taxi lights make taxiing difficult
There should be some night IFR instruction but it should be in the form of a review of previously flown day light
procedures.
Learning a new procedure at night is both difficult, inefficient, and dangerous.
After the IFR rating is acquired, additional night IFR instruction should be used in maintaining proficiency requirements..
The most difficult approach ever do will be the night circling approach followed closely by the step-down approach.
C-210s are having more night IFR accidents than any other type.
Half of night weather IFR accidents occur to G.A. twins.
1/3 of night IFR accidents occur with clouds and low visibility as a factor.
Night IFR has proportionately far more accidents than does day IFR. 3 to 1 ratio.
Twice as many night ILS accidents occurred than on non-precision approaches.
Most ILS runways have VASI still pilots descend below indicators.
Most night IFR approach accidents occur by pilots hitting the ground short of the runway.
Solution: Chose night approaches to runways with VASI.
Most night IFR accidents occur when days are shorter.
The length of time you have been awake has a marked effect on accident probability.
If you shear away from night single-engine IFR, you should fly in a twin either

IFR Accident Statistics

--More than 50% of accidents which result during approaches to below landing minima are fatal.
A single pilot delayed "go around' is most frequent single cause.
The FAA reviews all landings reported as being made below weather minimums.
Consider coming in SVFR as a viable option since altitude minimums do not apply.
The accident rate on night IFR approaches is 60% of all IFR approach accidents.
Only 4% of all general aviation flying is done at night.
Most ILS accidents (20-30 per year) seem to occur within a mile or less of the runway but 1/3 crash on the runway.
Over half of the ILS accidents occur at night when only 1/4 of the ILS approaches are made.
A pilot should make his personal IFR minimums for night flight very high.
Transitioning to the visual is the most demanding and dangerous part of an ILS but even more so at night.
There is no margin for error in an ILS carried to minimums.
Runway accidents seems to be related to contact on slick runways and higher than normal speed.
1/6 of ILS accidents occur while making second or third approaches.
An ATC warning of course or altitude deviation is sufficient notice to begin the missed.
--Flights on the ILS to an airport known to be below minimums should be flown to DH for practice only with a planned  missed.
Don't fly a no-approach light ILS at night.

Runway Incursions
Through greater emphasis on standardized radio communications pilot will be involved in fewer runway transgressions, en route course deviations, and other aviation safety incidents.

Altitude Deviation
Most altitude deviations are the result of a communications failure. The failure may be with ATC or the pilot. The major cause of the failure is not using standard phraseology usually by the pilot who fails to read back the ATC clearance completely with the aircraft call sign. If there is cockpit doubt as to the clearance make a confirmation call to ATC. An altitude deviation is far morel likely to bring on an FAA violation action than is a course deviation.

Climb/descent in VFR

Clearance or ATC instruction when:
IFR flight requests climb/descent in VFR conditions
Noise abatement not met by IFR route/altitudes
Practice approach not on IFR flight plan. Must comply with
VFR rules. ATC separation provided in Classes B and C.

VFR climbs help you to avoid circuitous charted IFR routes often caused by terrain. Such a visual climb clearance requires that
you fly above minimum safe altitudes requires in FAR 91.119 and provide your own terrain clearance.

Special VFR (SVFR)
SVFR will be available in B, C, D, surface-based E, or surface foot-print of the airspace. SVFR in primary airport of Class B
makes SVFR unavailable to fixed wing aircraft.

IFR Ground
Much of the IFR ground information should be self studied from FAA and other texts. Material herein should be
considered supplementary only.

Logging Approaches
What is the FAA's stand on logging approaches? What happens if you cross the IAP in IMC but break out before reaching the
FAF? Does this still count as an approach? Most pilots consider any instrument approach flown in IMC at the FAF to be logged.

IFR Items:

When flying IFR you must believe your instruments.
Accidents usually occur when a safety option is compromised.
Flying would be safer if we grew wise before aging, unfortunately this is not the case.
Gauge of wisdom is remembering mistakes and options.
Time in the air allows an accumulation of mistake reference library.
A cruise clearance is a block of altitudes between the cleared altitude and the minimum IFR altitude.
If a cruise clearance allows you to reach VFR you can cancel IFR.
Maximum safety is achieved through a well-trained pilot.

Making the Approach

Part 91 has no published IFR minimums.

Basic requirements

You must know where you are.
You must know where you are going and have a way of getting there.
--You must have guidance in executing the descent to landing.
You must have a missed approach option if you can't land

Being Prepared

Aircraft condition and proper avionics.
Approaches that are legal and pilot competent to perform. Precision approaches are always preferable.
Safe is a better choice over legal.
--Brief the approach
NATS
NOTAMs
Approach plate
Terrain
Special considerations
Briefing is especially important if you are solo IFR.
Have all plates for the airport available on your lap.
Real missed approaches are as frequent as holding patterns.

Performance

Make only small control movements. Be slow and deliberate and even more so near the end.
If you can't be smooth make the missed.
-Be on a stabilized approach by 1000' AGL. Be configured to land.
In actual IFR minimize use of the radio after getting your clearance.
Use your autopilot, coupled if possible. Use every aid you have available. A properly aligned ADF is best

Post Flight

Use a taxi diagrams once clear of the runway.
the approach ends when the wheels stop.
Give ATC appropriate PIREPS.

New IFR Rating
The IFR pilot who has just got rated is lacking the experience to safely use his rating in single pilot IFR. This problem exists as soon as a flight is planed in an unfamiliar aircraft. New IFR rated pilots should begin making all flights as IFR. The actual IFR flight should begin gradually with the actual conditions having a floor of several thousand feet AGL. There is a certain security in knowing VFR exists below. Your actual IFR departures and approaches are best made in MVFR where you can see if you have to.

IFR Cockpit Organization

The most difficulty on an IFR flight occurs when ATC makes changes you do not want to make.
Your level of assertiveness can make things better or worse depending on you and ATC.
Like all things governmental, what is done initially is done for their convenience not yours.
Any increase in workload will require that your flying the plane portion will be decreased.
--Distractions are the mice of IFR flight.
--Distractions can be trapped early by proper planning.
Make an Anti-Distraction checklist.

1. Preflight includes pitot heat check.
2. Papers you cannot get to are useless.
3. Papers out of order or upside down are confusing.
4. Charts must be color coded and in proper order
5. The right seat is a desk even if it is a lap.
6. Clutter is a dirty word.
7. Select the most experienced passenger to sit next to you.
8. Always begin an approach series with the one requiring the least effort.
9. Always depart with the return to field approaches most available.
10. Prepare for your emergency before you takeoff.
11. Plan for a night time arrival before takeoff.
12. The compass is your most reliable instrument.
13. Clearance prior to engine start is a choice.
14. Clearance prior to taxi is always a choice.
15. Clearance in the run-up area is a choice.
16. Altimeter setting is a given.

IFR Notes

Reporting the glide slope out means that ATC may do one or more of the following:, reset, check with another aircraft, NOTAM it out, or contact a repair facility.
The glide slope being out changes the approach from ILS into Localizer.
Localizer frequencies are all between .08.1 and 111.95
Localizer straight-in minimums are charted when within 30-degrees of the runway centreline.
--Minimum safe altitudes (MSA) do not necessarily provide radio reception.
MSAs are always above mean sea level (MSL), 2l5 or 30 nautical miles circles with sectors of 90+degrees.
The visibility required by an approach is determined by flight visibility
What you can see at the decision altitude (DA) determines whether you land or go missed.
An accident means you did not have required landing visibility.