PREFLIGHT ACTION FOR IFR FLIGHT NOT IN VICINITY OF HOME AIRPORT (14 CFR 91.103)

1. Weather

2. Delays (reported by FSS as a NOTAM)

3. Fuel requirements

4. Alternate airports

5. Runway lengths

6. Takeoff and landing distance

IFR FUEL REQUIREMENTS

Aircraft should carry enough fuel to reach:

1. The destination airport

2. Then the alternate airport (if required)

3. Then fly for 45 minutes at normal cruise speed

PREFLIGHT FOR IFR USING VOR

Prior to IFR flight, the VOR equipment in the aircraft must be inspected under an approved procedure or checked within the preceding 30 days. The person making the check must record the date, place, bearing error, and sign the aircraft log or other record. VOR systems may be checked using any of the following means:

1. VOT (VOR Test Facility)—Tune the VOT frequency found in the FAA Chart Supplements or the A/G Communications Panel of the Enroute Low Altitude Chart. The VOT transmits the 360-degree radial in all directions. Pilots should turn the OBS (Omni-bearing Selector) until the CDI (Course Direction Indicator) needle is centered. The OBI (Omni-bearing Indicator) should read either 360-FROM or 180-TO within +/- 4 degrees (356-FROM to 004-FROM or 176-TO to 184-TO would be the maximum acceptable error margins).

2. FAA Certified Ground Checkpoint (specified in the FAA Chart Supplements)—Position the aircraft on the designated ground checkpoint, then tune the VOR and use the OBS to select the designated radial. The CDI must read within +/- 4 degrees of the radial and show a FROM indication.

3. FAA Certified Airborne Checkpoint (specified in the FAA Chart Supplements)—Tune the VOR and select the designated radial with the OBS. When positioned over the designated landmark near the airport, center the CDI with the OBS. The OBI must read within +/- 6 degrees of the designated radial and show a FROM indication.

4. Dual System VOR Check—Aircraft with dual VOR systems installed (two units independent of each other except for the antenna) can check one system against the other by tuning them both to the same VOR ground facility. After centering each CDI needle, the maximum allowable variation between the two indicated bearings is 4 degrees whether the test is performed on the ground or in the air.

PREFLIGHT FOR IFR USING GPS

1. The equipment must be properly installed and certified

2. The database must be current (updated every 28 days)

3. Review GPS NOTAM / RAIM info

REQUIRED DOCS ON BOARD

1. Airworthiness Certificate

2. Registration Certificate

3. Radio Station License (International Operations Only)

4. Owner’s Manual 

5. Weight and Balance

PLANNING AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT

1. Check the Departure Procedure for the starting airport in the front of the U.S. Terminal Procedures Publication—IFR Takeoff Minimums and (Obstacle) Departure Procedures (Page L1). Convert feet per nautical mile into feet per minute using the conversion table in the back. Write the procedure on the Clearance and Route section of CRAFT.

2. Use IFR charts to create a route along the airways that ends with a feeder route to the Initial Approach Point (IAP) on the approach plate.

3. Check the available approaches to see where they begin, then assemble all the approach plates for the destination airport and the alternate airport.

4. Go through each approach plate with a highlighter and mark all critical information, moving from the top of the plate to the bottom.

5. File a flight plan.
a. An IFR flight plan must be filed prior to departure from within or prior to      entering controlled airspace if the weather is below VFR minimums (the pilot  should file 30 minutes before departure). The IFR flight plan can be cancelled any time after entering VFR conditions.
b. Enter only the initial requested altitude on the FAA flight plan Block 7
c. Alternate airport: Use the1-2-3 Rule: If from 1 hour before to 1 hour after the ETA at the destination airport ceilings are forecast to be at least 2000 feet and the visibility at least 3 miles, no alternate is required. Otherwise, if an IAP is published for the alternate airport, those minimums must be followed. If no minimums are specified for the alternate, then minimums are: 600 ft ceiling and 2 statute mile visibility for a precision approach and an 800 ft ceiling and 2 statute mile visibility for a non-precision approach. If there is no published IAP for the alternate, then VFR minimums must exist for descent from the MEA, approach, and landing. Ceiling defined as lowest layer of clouds not overcast or broken. Even when an alternate airport is not required in an IFR flight plan, pilots will be wise to consider alternates for all stages of the flight, including the departure airport (in case problems are encountered shortly after takeoff and the weather is below minimums).

6. Obtain a clearance from the tower or (at non-towered airports) call the nearest FSS. FSS frequencies are shown above VOR Identification Boxes. They can also be found in the Chart Supplements under the airport name. To obtain a clearance delivery by telephone, call AFSS National Clearance Delivery at 888-766-8267. A clearance may also be obtained from the nearest approach control or ARTCC facility while airborne in VFR conditions. These frequencies are found on VFR Sectional charts and IFR charts. The clearance will follow the following format:

Clearance Limit (usually the destination airport)

Route

Altitude

Frequency (the ATC departure frequency)

Transponder

AVIATION IPAD PREFLIGHT

1. Fully charged

2. Backup battery fully charged

3. App and databases current

4. Set flight plan

5. Set favorite airports

6. Settings (Wifi, 3G, Bluetooth)—OFF