Read below to learn more about the IR rating and some of the top questions that can help you prepare for the mandatory Instrument Rating exam.
Aviation is made possible due to a combination of technology, procedures, and qualifications. Together, these factors work to train pilots to become incredibly capable of operating aircraft in various conditions.
CPL and PPL pilots often go for a Night Rating, a qualification that allows them to learn how to fly after sunset or outside of VFR conditions. However, if the weather conditions are bad enough that the pilot can’t see, then they will remain grounded until conditions become better.
However, if you have an Instrument Rating, then you can be allowed to fly, even in low-visibility conditions. In essence, an Instrument Rating is another type of qualification that enables pilots to use the onboard instruments on their aircraft to operate it in various low-visibility conditions.
This means that instead of using sight, pilots can exclusively use onboard instruments to gain important information regarding altitude, attitude, fuel, communication, flight systems, and more. This information can then be used by the pilot to navigate effectively and safely, even if they can’t see through the windshield.
If you are training for a CPL or are an aspiring PPL holder who wants to expand their capabilities by taking on an IR rating, then you are at the right place.
Read below to learn more about the IR rating and some of the top questions that can help you prepare for the mandatory Instrument Rating exam.
Instrument Rating (IR) Exam Practice - Top Questions
Here are some of the most important questions that you need to focus on for your IR rating exam. These questions are divided into various sections. You will need to attempt 25 MCQ questions and the exam will have a passing mark of 72%.
The examination is valid for 21 months for the issue of the IMC Rating and 12 months for the conduct of the flight test.
Make sure that you try to complete this test within 2 hours. This means that you will need to spend at least 4-5 minutes on each question – DO NOT spend more than 5 minutes on one question. Use the process of elimination to get the right answer for tough questions and if you can’t answer a question, mark it and move on.
If you time everything properly, you will have extra time in the end to revisit the marked questions.
Get a pen and paper ready, reset your stopwatch, and good luck!
Section 1: Meteorology-based Questions
- What is the most dangerous type of wind shear for an aircraft on approach?
a) Frontal wind shear
b) Clear air turbulence
c) Microburst
d) Jet stream turbulence - What does an altimeter indicate when flying through an area of low pressure without resetting it?
a) It reads higher than actual altitude
b) It reads lower than actual altitude
c) It remains unchanged
d) It displays ground speed - What is the primary hazard of operating in freezing rain?
a) Reduced aircraft weight
b) Carburettor icing
c) Rapid structural ice accumulation
d) Increased engine efficiency - What does a METAR report mean when it includes "TEMPO"?
a) A brief but frequent change in weather conditions
b) A gradual improvement in conditions
c) A permanent change in weather
d) A warning of severe turbulence - What does an occluded front indicate?
a) A front dissipating into a weak pressure system
b) A cold front overtaking a warm front
c) A warm front overtaking a cold front
d) A stationary boundary between two air masses
Section 2: Air Law & Procedures Questions
- What is the vertical separation for IFR flights above FL290 in RVSM airspace?
a) 500 feet
b) 1000 feet
c) 2000 feet
d) 3000 feet - In UK airspace, when must an IFR flight file an alternate airport?
a) Always
b) When destination weather is below alternate minima
c) Only for flights longer than 100 NM
d) Only in Class A airspace - What squawk code is used for lost communications?
a) 7500
b) 7600
c) 7700
d) 7800 - When is a pilot required to execute a missed approach?
a) If below Decision Altitude (DA) or Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA) without visual reference
b) Whenever ATC requests
c) When more than one dot off-course on the localiser
d) At any time during an instrument approach - What is the maximum holding speed for IFR aircraft at or below 6000 feet?
a) 170 knots
b) 200 knots
c) 230 knots
d) 250 knots
Section 3: Flight Planning & Navigation Questions
- What is the minimum equipment requirement for an IFR flight in controlled UK airspace?
a) VOR receiver and compass
b) Two-way radio, transponder, and navigation equipment for the route
c) DME and ADF only
d) GPS and autopilot - What does RNP 1.0 mean in RNAV terminology?
a) A required accuracy of 1 nautical mile
b) A precision approach capability
c) A minimum lateral separation of 1 mile
d) A GPS approach procedure - What is the difference between a precision approach and a non-precision approach?
a) Precision approaches provide vertical guidance, non-precision do not
b) Non-precision approaches use ILS
c) Precision approaches do not use a Decision Altitude (DA)
d) Non-precision approaches allow for lower minimums - Which instrument provides the most accurate heading information in IFR flight?
a) Magnetic compass
b) Attitude Indicator
c) Directional Gyro with a slaved flux valve
d) Turn Coordinator - What is the function of the glide slope in an ILS approach?
a) Provides lateral guidance
b) Provides vertical guidance
c) Measures distance to the runway
d) Indicates wind direction
Section 4: Radio Navigation Questions
- What is the standard frequency range for a VOR?
a) 108.0 - 117.95 MHz
b) 118.0 - 136.0 MHz
c) 960 - 1215 MHz
d) 329.15 - 335.0 MHz - What is the primary limitation of an NDB?
a) Susceptible to interference from weather and terrain
b) Only works above FL250
c) Requires GPS backup
d) Cannot be used in IMC - How does a DME measure distance?
a) By measuring slant range to a ground station
b) By measuring horizontal range only
c) By triangulating GPS signals
d) By providing true altitude - When using a VOR, what does a full-scale deflection of the CDI indicate?
a) More than 10° off course
b) More than 2° off course
c) A loss of signal
d) A perfect course alignment - How can an aircraft determine its distance from a VOR station?
a) By using a radial intercept
b) By using DME
c) By triangulating multiple VOR signals
d) By measuring localiser deviation
Section 5: Human Factors & Emergency Procedures Questions
- What is the primary risk of flying in IMC without proper IFR training?
a) Hypoxia
b) Spatial disorientation
c) Increased fuel consumption
d) Overheating of instruments - What is the primary symptom of hyperventilation in flight?
a) Blurred vision
b) Dizziness and tingling sensations
c) Slow heart rate
d) Excessive sweating - What is the best way to recover from a graveyard spiral?
a) Pull back sharply to regain altitude
b) Reduce power and level the wings
c) Bank in the opposite direction immediately
d) Increase throttle and continue turning - What should a pilot do if experiencing an alternator failure in IMC?
a) Reduce electrical load and land as soon as possible
b) Reset the circuit breaker continuously
c) Squawk 7500
d) Turn off all instruments - If a pilot loses all attitude instruments in IMC, what is the best backup for maintaining control?
a) Magnetic compass and GPS
b) Airspeed, altimeter, and turn coordinator
c) Localiser and glide slope
d) VOR and DME
Answer Key
- c) Microburst
- a) It reads higher than actual altitude
- c) Rapid structural ice accumulation
- a) A brief but frequent change in weather conditions
- b) A cold front overtaking a warm front
- b) 1000 feet
- b) When destination weather is below alternate minima
- b) 7600
- a) If below DA or MDA without visual reference
- b) 200 knots
- b) Two-way radio, transponder, and navigation equipment for the route
- a) A required accuracy of 1 nautical mile
- a) Precision approaches provide vertical guidance
- c) Directional Gyro with a slaved flux valve
- b) Provides vertical guidance
- a) 108.0 - 117.95 MHz
- a) Susceptible to interference from weather and terrain
- a) By measuring slant range to a ground station
- a) More than 10° off course
- b) By using DME
- b) Spatial disorientation
- b) Dizziness and tingling sensations
- b) Reduce power and level the wings
- a) Reduce electrical load and land as soon as possible
- b) Airspeed, altimeter, and turn coordinator
We hope that you found this sample exam to be useful. We recommend that you focus on the topics that you got wrong during this exam and use this exam as a gauge for your preparation. If you can’t achieve 72% then don’t worry, keep practising and learning. With a smart learning strategy, like focusing on your weak points, you can easily improve your preparedness.
REQUIREMENTS FOR IMC RATING
Here are the requirements for the IMC rating:
Experience Requirements
Pilots will need a total of 25 hours’ worth of experience flying aeroplanes following the PPL(A) which may include the training for the UK IMC rating.
Furthermore, pilots will need 10 hours as PIC (Pilot in Command) of aeroplanes including 5 hours as PIC of aeroplanes on cross-country flights. Finally, UK pilots will also need a UK-issued Flight Radiotelephony Operators Licence (FRTOL).
Flight Training
Candidates will be expected to complete a minimum of 15 hours in dual instrument training of which 5 hours may be fulfilled in a qualified BITD, FNPT I/II, and up to 2 hours of which may be in other FSTDs. In essence, a minimum of 10 of the 15 hours must be flown by sole reference to instruments.
The flight training will cover the following topics:
- Basic Stage
- Full and limited panel flight manoeuvres to include recoveries from unusual attitudes.
- Partial panel flight manoeuvres
- Applied Stage
- Pre-flight planning
- Departure and en-route
- Approach and let-down
- Bad weather circuits and landings
Ground Training
Pilots will also need to complete ground training with a minimum of 20 hours of theoretical knowledge training covering the following subjects:
- Physiological Factors
- Flight Instruments
- Aeronautical Information Service - NOTAMS, UK AIP, AICs
- Flight Planning - Meteorology, Altimetry, Terrain clearance, Radio aids, Radar approach procedures
Light Aircraft – Common Instrumentation
Light aircraft are available in two basic categories: fixed-wing and flex-wing light aircraft. Both sub-types of light aircraft have different instrumentation due to their design. A fixed-wing aircraft is modelled after a larger aircraft, which is why they have a wide range of instruments in the cockpit.
Most light aircraft feature at least six basic instruments. These planes usually feature both digital and analogue instruments which is why pilots regularly use them to learn how to fly.
Flex-wing aircraft, on the other hand, are simpler flying machines that are designed to be even lighter than fixed wings.
Flex wings usually seat only two people and are known to not have a cockpit. Their unique design limits how many instruments they can have on board. While the general design of flex-wings varies, the simplest version of this type of special aircraft can have not more than 2 or 3 instruments on board.
Most flex-wing aircraft have a compass, a radio, and an altimeter. Some designs may feature even more instruments, but in general, it is rare to find a diverse set of instruments in these planes compared to other larger light aircraft.
WHY CHOOSE SHERBURN AERO CLUB
Sherburn Aero Club, which has been operational since 1964, is the ideal place for most of your training and flying needs. It is one of the largest flying clubs in the North of England and also one of the largest in the country.
If you wish to begin your career in aviation or wish to take to the skies as a hobby, Sherburn’s flight training school offers private and commercial licences, along with pilot medicals to ensure a smooth journey going forward.
For those who wish to experience the thrill of a flight for fun or to help fuel their aviation dreams, Sherburn offers experience flights for the newbie, as well as the veteran in various types of light aircraft.
The flight experience option is also available for people who wish to take to the skies for special occasions, even if they aren’t into aviation in the long run.
With a large fleet of new aircraft and an airfield refurbishment with new runways, hangars, and an extended clubhouse, we cater to brand-new flyers who have just started their journey to the skies, as well as seasoned flyers who have been operating aircraft for decades.
Sherburn offers a dedicated day-long Flight Radiotelephony Operator’s Licence (FRTOL) course for those wishing to get the certification, running the first Sunday of every month.
In addition to that, if you are looking for a hangarage for your own aircraft, need servicing or repairs, want to buy a new aircraft or aviation equipment, or are just looking to enjoy and watch the aircraft, Sherburn Aero Club is the place to be.
Call us at 01977 682 674, email us at flightdesk@sherburnaeroclub.com, or message us via our online contact form for more information on light aircraft, training requirements, fee structure, licencing procedures, as well as experience flights and pilot training at Sherburn.
Photo by Scott Graham on Unsplash
