Ready for your IFR Checkride?

Are you ready for your IFR Checkride? Check out our latest IFR Oral Exam video below and test your instrument knowledge against our IFR Checkride Quiz!

To view all of our full length IFR Oral Exam videos, click here to be taken to our Instrument Course.

Are you ready? Read through the questions below and click the bubble you believe to be the correct answer! We’ll give you feedback as you go and give you an explanation of the correct answer.

When can you legally log instrument approaches for currency?

The correct answer is "When IMC conditions prevail until passing the FAF, or upon reaching DH/MDA when under the hood". The other answers are incorrect as they do not require the pilot to fly all segments of the approach (except for the missed approach), which is required in order to log the approach for currency.

When an IFR flight plan is filed and simulated or actual IMC conditions prevail on the approach

When simulated or actual IMC conditions prevail at or below 1,000' AGL

When IMC conditions prevail until passing the FAF, or upon reaching DH/MDA when under the hood

Once the approach has been initiated

You are instructed to enter a hold at 8,000′ MSL. What is your maximum holding speed?

The correct answer is "230 KIAS". Maximum holding speeds are as follows: At or below 14,000' MSL: 230 KIAS Above 14,000' MSL to 20,000' MSL: 240 KIAS 20,000' MSL to 34,000' MSL: 265 KIAS

200 KIAS

230 KIAS

240 KIAS

250 KIAS

On a standard six pack, which instrument(s) are gyroscopically driven?

The correct answer is "Attitude Indicator, Heading Indicator, and Turn Coordinator". All three instruments are gyroscopically driven. The gyro for the turn coordinator is powered electrically, as compared to the Attitude and Heading Indicator which are powered by the aircraft's vacuum pump to promote redundancy.

Attitude Indicator

Attitude Indicator and Heading Indicator

Attitude Indicator and Turn Coordinator

Attitude Indicator, Heading Indicator, and Turn Coordinator

As you begin your descent, you notice your altimeter and vertical speed indicators are not changing. From this you may conclude that:

The correct answer is "Your static port has frozen over, and your actual airspeed will be lower than indicated". As you begin your descent with a frozen static port, your airspeed indicator cannot correct for the trapped static pressure. Therefore, as you descend and more ram air is pushed through the pitot tube, your actual airspeed will be lower than that indicated.

You are crossing a front with a large pressure differential.

Your static port has frozen over, and your actual airspeed will be higher than indicated.

Your static port has frozen over, and your actual airspeed will be lower than indicated.

Your pitot tube has become blocked, rendering all pitot-static instruments inoperative.

For an instrument airplane, the following inspections are required every 24 calendar months:

The correct answer is "ELT, Transponder, Mode C Altitude Encoder, and Static System". Per 91.413, an inspection of a Transponder is required every 24 calendar months. In addition to this, airplanes operated under Instrument flight must have both the Mode C Altitude Encoder and Static system checked as per FAR 91.411.

ELT & Transponder

Transponder & Mode C Altitude Encoder

ELT, Transponder, and Mode C Altitude Encoder

Transponder, Mode C Altitude Encoder, and Static System

A Mode C Altitude Encoder reports the aircraft’s:

The correct answer is "Pressure Altitude". A mode C capable Transponder with an Altitude Encoder does not rely on, nor is it connected to, your altimeter. Software built into ATC's radar system converts the pressure altitude reported by the aircraft by applying the local altimeter setting. This reduces the possibility of a midair due to a faulty or incorrectly calibrated altimeter, or an incorrect barometric pressure setting.

Pressure Altitude

Indicated Altitude

True Altitude

Absolute Altitude

You scored %

How’d you do? Whether you are looking to start Instrument Ground School and receive the written endorsement, or If you are looking to sharpen your knowledge prior to the checkride, check out our 2020 IFR Instrument Pilot Course! Accessible with our First Officer or Captain membership.

Our course includes comprehensive preparation covering everything you need to know for your written exam, flight training, and checkride. Our Learning Management System allows you to track your training step-by-step as you progress through 15 lessons broken down into easy to digest sub-topics. Our course is real-world focused, and incorporates 20 case study examples allowing you to build a solid and safe foundation on instrument flying. Click here to get started!