Instrument IPC Flight Plan

Reference: FAA Instrument Proficiency Test Guidance
Reference: FAA-S-8081-4D Instrument Practical Test Standards

Instrument Proficiency Check. 14 CFR part 61.57(d) sets forth the requirements for an instrument proficiency check. The person giving that check shall use the standards and procedures contained in this PTS when administering the check. A representative number of TASKs, as determined by the examiner/instructor, must be selected to assure the competence of the applicant to operate in the IFR environment. As a minimum, the applicant must demonstrate the ability to perform the TASKs as listed in this table. The person giving the check should develop scenarios to assess the pilot’s ADM and risk management skills during the IPC.

Flight Profile:
This flight will accomplish an Instrument Proficiency Check for an active pilot with an instrument rating. The Instrument Practical Test Standards is the reference document for this flight, and excerpts from the April 2004 version are included below.

Flying in instrument conditions requires recent successful experience in these procedures. Even when legally current, I recommend using a safety pilot and getting some very recent practice whenever you plan on flying instruments for real, and haven't used your skills in weeks. Grab a safety pilot, use this flight description, and go get some tune up practice whenever you plan to travel. If you aren't happy with your performance practicing on your own - email me and we'll take care of that.

The PTS Standards define what each pilot must know and exhibit during an IPC, and outline what the instructor must be looking for. Our mutual objective is not regulatory or testing in nature - but proficiency and safety. Based on this information, here is one possible IPC flight session that will encompass these requirements. The Table of Tasks tells you and your instructor/examiner which sections must be covered, and the Area Of Operations Table identifies the details.

The use of a flight simulator can be instrumental, but there are requirements that need to be met in an airplane.

PREFLIGHT DISCUSSION

LOST COMM PROCEDURES
INTERCEPT PROCEDURES
FLYING BY THE NUMBERS IN N50605
INSTRUMENT CHECKS ON TAXI
ADIZ/FRZ PROCEDURES
UNUSUAL ATTITUDE RECOVERY: BOTH HANDS FORWARD; BOTH HANDS BACK
DME PROCEDURES
FILE AT LEAST ONE IFR CLEARANCE
ROUTING AND ENROUTE CONSIDERATIONS
FUEL REQUIREMENTS
AUTOPILOT INTEGRATION / AMILIARIZATIN
GPS INTEGRATION / FAMILIARIZATION
POST-FLIGHT REQUIREMENTS

The flights shown below represent options around weather or other factors - only one need be flown

IPC Flight #1 GED-SBY-GED

DEPART VFR EAST OVER THE WATER FOR UNUSUAL ATTITIUDE RECOVERY AND STEEP TURNS UNDER THE HOOD
CONTACT DOVER FOR VFR FLIGHT FOLLOWING / PRACTICE APPROACH BACK INTO GED (VFR) ON THE VOR22
EXECUTE SEVERAL TURNS IN THE HOLD AND TRANSITION TO APPROACH LEVEL
VOR22 APPROACH ENDS IN A CIRCLE TO LAND FOR RW 4
EXECUTE THE MISSED APPROACH BACK TOWARD ATR
PICK UP YOUR FILED CLEARANCE TO SBY IN THE AIR WITH DOVER
REQUEST VECTORS FOR AN ILS INTO SBY; (INCLUDING A PROCEDURE TURN)
ON THE MISSED; GO PARTIAL PANEL / SIMULATE AI FAILURE (as opposed to a dual vacuum pump failure)
FLY THE GPS 4 BACK INTO GED AS A FULLY COUPLED APPROACH

IPC Flight #2 GED-ACY-GED

DEPART VFR EAST OVER THE WATER FOR UNUSUAL ATTITIUDE RECOVERY AND STEEP TURNS UNDER THE HOOD
CONTACT DOVER FOR CLEARANCE TO ATLANTIC CITY
UTILIZE VOR NAVIGATION AND REQUEST VOR/DME 31 FROM SIE (DME ARC)
REQUEST THE FULL MISSED APPROACH PROCEDURE WITH A SEVERAL TURNS IN THE HOLD AT SMITS INTERSECTION
REQUEST VECTORS FOR AN ILS 31 BACK INTO ACY
DEPART SOUTHBOUND BACK TOWARD WATERLOO
GO PARTIAL PANEL / SIMULATE AI FAILURE/ UTILIZE AUTOPILOT AND GPS
PROCEED TO WATERLOO FOR THE GPS 22 FROM BOYSE
EXECUTE FULLY COUPLED APPROACH
DISENGAGE AUTOPILOT AT MDA AND CIRCLE TO LAND RW4

fed 12/4/2008