What Is An Instrument Proficiency Check?

by Brian J White An IPC is not a practical test and you cannot fail for it. However, like a flight review, you may need more than one ses...

by Brian J White

An IPC is not a practical test and you cannot fail for it. However, like a flight review, you may need more than one session to get the endorsement from the authorized administrator.

How does an instrument proficiency test look like?

You’ll likely be asked to plan a flight to some destination and get a standard weather briefing, file a flight plan and assess whether status and the airplane’s equipment —like its fuel load—will be sufficient. You also should plan for at least two alternate airports regardless of whether one is needed on that day’s weather.

You’ll need two airports: Oftentimes the alternative airport filed on your flight plan isn’t the alternate they’ll use during the assessment. The actual alternate airport could be some other location, such as the one downwind from your planned alternate (which at first sight might be too far if not for the wind direction) or even your departure point.And unless you’re confronting some extremely scuzzy and quick-moving weather not complying with your briefing, there’s normally plenty of warning states are low enough you ’re not going in order to land at your destination. But only a sadistic double-I with a death wish would launch in that sort of weather on an IPC , right?

Another thing you might expect to be asked is to describe the delay between a Nexrad image being captured, processed, transmitted and appearing on your own in-cockpit display. It’s called and might be as much as 20 minutes. Several miles can move in that time, and we’ve watched them blossom from yellowish to colors we’ve never seen before in less.

He FAA regulations say the following about an IPC check:

(1) The instrument proficiency check must –

(i) For a pilot in command of an airplane under § 135.243(a), include the procedures and maneuvers for an airline transport pilot certificate in the particular type of airplane, if appropriate; and

(ii) For a pilot in command of an airplane or helicopter under § 135.243(c), include the procedures and maneuvers for a commercial pilot certificate with an instrument rating and, if required, for the appropriate type rating.

(2) The instrument proficiency check must be given by an authorized check airman or by theAdministrator.

The essential thing on which you’re going to be appraised: Flying exclusively by reference to instruments. If it’s been a few years since you were IFR present, you probably need some practice before showing up for your IPC. That way, at least you can polish up on the items he or she considers important. Among the least-expensive and most-rewarding might be to get some time in an approved simulator or flight training device. In our expertise, they’re substantially more challenging to fly nicely than the actual airplane, and you’re likely to learn a couple of things along the way and refresh your processes.

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