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FAA Instrument Rating Airplane (IRA) practice questions

239 free questions with answers and explanations.

Practice test
  1. 151.An en route low-altitude chart depicts a Victor airway between VOR Alpha and VOR Bravo, which are 40 NM apart. Instead of the changeover point (COP) being at the midpoint, the chart shows a COP marked '30/10' along the airway. What is the most likely reason for this nonstandard COP placement?IFR Procedures and Charts
  2. 152.A pilot is planning an approach that requires DME per the chart notes, but the aircraft has no DME installed. The aircraft does have an IFR-approved GPS with a current database. According to AC 90-108 guidance, may the pilot substitute GPS for the required DME on this approach?Regulations and Currency
  3. 153.Which flight instrument uses both pitot (ram air) pressure and static pressure together to produce its indication?Flight Instruments and Systems
  4. 154.A pilot receives a PIREP reporting freezing drizzle at 4,000 feet with tops at 4,500 feet, while another PIREP from a different aircraft at 3,000 feet reports freezing rain. Which explanation best accounts for the difference between these two icing reports?Weather and Weather Services
  5. 155.A pilot is planning a departure from an airport situated at the base of a mountain range. Moist, stable air is forecast to flow from the valley up the mountain slopes overnight. Which type of fog is most likely to form under these conditions?Weather and Weather Services
  6. 156.During cruise flight with the autopilot engaged, a pilot notices the manual pitch trim wheel rotating nose-down continuously, and the aircraft begins a gradual descent despite ALT HOLD being selected. What is the most appropriate immediate action?Flight Instruments and Systems
  7. 157.While holding in actual IMC, a pilot tilts his head down to retrieve a chart that has fallen to the cockpit floor during a turn in the holding pattern. Immediately he experiences a strong, disorienting sensation of rotation about a different axis than the airplane is actually turning on. Which illusion is the pilot experiencing?Aeromedical and ADM
  8. 158.A pilot's last six-month instrument currency window (61.57(c)) lapsed without completing the required six instrument approaches, holding, and course tracking tasks. It has now been 9 months since the pilot's last IFR flight. According to 14 CFR 61.57(c)(2), what may the pilot do to regain currency?Regulations and Currency
  9. 159.A pilot receives the following PIREP during a preflight briefing: 'UA /OV OKC/TM1830/FL090/TP C172/IC MOD RIME/RM CONT'. How should the pilot interpret the icing portion of this report?Weather and Weather Services
  10. 160.A pilot receives a PIREP reporting freezing rain at 6,000 feet. What is the most significant hazard associated with this report compared to typical rime or mixed icing?Weather and Weather Services
  11. 161.On a glass cockpit aircraft, the primary Air Data Computer (ADC) fails, causing loss of airspeed, altitude, and vertical speed data on the pilot's Primary Flight Display (PFD). According to typical glass cockpit system design, what is the appropriate pilot action?Flight Instruments and Systems
  12. 162.An en route low-altitude chart depicts an MEA of 4,000 feet along a segment of a Victor airway. What does this published MEA guarantee to a pilot flying that segment?IFR Procedures and Charts
  13. 163.A pilot is planning a flight along a coastal route where warm, moist air is moving over a cold ocean current. Which type of fog is most likely to form under these conditions?Weather and Weather Services
  14. 164.A pilot is filing an IFR flight plan for a route with a magnetic course of 250° at an altitude above 3,000 feet AGL, below 18,000 feet MSL. Under the IFR hemispheric cruising altitude rule, which altitude is appropriate?IFR Procedures and Charts
  15. 165.A pilot performs a VOR ground checkpoint test at an airport where the published check radial is 174°. With the CDI centered and a FROM flag displayed, the OBS reads 179°. Per 14 CFR 91.171, is the VOR system airworthy for IFR flight?Navigation Systems
  16. 166.A pilot in IMC enters a gentle, coordinated turn that goes undetected by the vestibular system. Losing altitude, the pilot senses only a descent and pulls back on the yoke without correcting the bank, tightening the turn and accelerating the descent. This dangerous chain of events is best described as a:Aeromedical and ADM
  17. 167.A pilot briefing an ILS approach notes the straight-in minimums line reads: 'S-ILS 27, DA 200 (200-1/2)' with a remark stating RVR 1800 is authorized in lieu of 1/2 SM based on installed touchdown zone and centerline lighting. Why does this lighting configuration allow a lower visibility minimum than a standard ILS without TDZ/CL lights?IFR Procedures and Charts
  18. 168.A pilot on final approach receives a PIREP from a preceding aircraft: 'Airspeed increased 20 knots then decreased 25 knots within a 500-foot altitude change on short final.' Based on FAA criteria, this report should be classified as which hazard, and what action should the pilot take?Weather and Weather Services
  19. 169.A pilot is briefed that a fast-moving cold front will pass through the departure airport shortly before takeoff. Which weather sequence is the pilot most likely to observe during and immediately after frontal passage?Weather and Weather Services
  20. 170.A pilot files an IFR flight plan with an ETA of 2000Z. The forecast for the destination from 1900Z to 2100Z calls for a ceiling of 2,000 feet broken and visibility 3 statute miles, with the airport having a standard instrument approach procedure. Is an alternate airport required to be filed?Regulations and Currency
  21. 171.While flying beneath a large cumulonimbus cloud on a hot summer afternoon, a pilot observes streaks of precipitation extending from the cloud base that appear to evaporate before reaching the ground. What phenomenon is being observed, and what hazard may accompany it?Weather and Weather Services
  22. 172.A pilot's aircraft has an actual approach speed placing it in Category B, but the pilot is flying an ILS approach to a runway where the chart lists circle-to-land minimums for Category C. According to the Instrument Procedures Handbook and 14 CFR guidance, which minimums and protected circling area should the pilot use?IFR Procedures and Charts
  23. 173.An aircraft's autopilot is coupled to the flight management system (FMS) in LNAV mode during an RNAV (GPS) approach. Compared to HDG or VOR NAV mode, what does LNAV coupling primarily provide?Flight Instruments and Systems
  24. 174.ATC issues the clearance: 'Cessna 4AB, climb via the SID.' The departure procedure has multiple published altitude restrictions at intermediate fixes. What is the pilot authorized and required to do?IFR Procedures and Charts
  25. 175.An autopilot in ALT HOLD mode is coupled to the static pressure system. If the static port becomes partially blocked during cruise flight, which malfunction is most likely?Flight Instruments and Systems
  26. 176.A pilot is planning a cross-country flight over a large portion of the western United States and wants to know if widespread moderate icing is forecast, without needing severe icing conditions. Which weather product should the pilot check?Weather and Weather Services
  27. 177.During a lost communications event in IMC, a pilot must determine the route to fly per 14 CFR 91.185(c)(1). Which sequence correctly reflects the order of priority for determining that route (commonly remembered as 'AVEF')?Regulations and Currency
  28. 178.An RNAV (GPS) approach chart includes the note: 'Baro-VNAV NA below -15°C (5°F).' The current reported temperature at the airport is -20°C. How does this affect the approach the pilot may fly?IFR Procedures and Charts
  29. 179.A pilot becomes anxious during unexpected turbulence in IMC and begins breathing rapidly and deeply. Shortly after, the pilot notices tingling in the fingers and lightheadedness. What is the most appropriate immediate corrective action?Aeromedical and ADM
  30. 180.Which of the following is a component of an Instrument Landing System (ILS) that provides lateral guidance to the runway centerline?Navigation Systems
  31. 181.A pilot is flying an ILS approach and notices that the glideslope indicator is continuously fluctuating, making it difficult to maintain a stable vertical path. The localizer is steady and within limits. What is the most likely cause of this glideslope fluctuation?Navigation Systems
  32. 182.A pilot is flying an aircraft equipped with a Flight Management System (FMS) that integrates GPS and other navigation sensors. This system displays 'RNP 0.3' as the current navigation performance. What does this indicate?Navigation Systems
  33. 183.A pilot is cleared for a 'descend via' clearance on a Standard Terminal Arrival Route (STAR). The STAR indicates a crossing restriction of 'FL190A' at a fix. What is the pilot expected to do?IFR Procedures and Charts
  34. 184.A pilot is planning an IFR flight over mountainous terrain where no MEA or MOCA is prescribed for the intended route. According to 14 CFR Part 91.177, what is the minimum altitude the pilot must maintain?IFR Procedures and Charts
  35. 185.A pilot is flying a Localizer Back Course (LOC BC) approach using a standard VOR/LOC indicator. How should the pilot interpret the course deviation indicator (CDI) relative to the aircraft's position and the localizer course?IFR Procedures and Charts
  36. 186.A pilot is conducting an instrument approach using a VOR receiver. The aircraft is 30 NM from the VOR station. What is the maximum acceptable bearing error for an airborne VOR check?Navigation Systems
  37. 187.A pilot is flying an approach and receives the clearance, 'Cleared ILS runway three six approach.' What actions is the pilot authorized to perform without further clearance from ATC?IFR Procedures and Charts
  38. 188.A pilot is flying an ILS approach and notes that the localizer needle is deflected full left. What action should the pilot take to correct this situation?Navigation Systems
  39. 189.A pilot is flying an ILS approach to Runway 27. The approach chart indicates the Final Approach Fix (FAF) is at 1,800 feet MSL. The Decision Altitude (DA) for the ILS is 280 feet MSL. The distance from the FAF to the runway threshold is 4.5 nautical miles. What is the approximate glideslope angle for this approach?IFR Procedures and Charts
  40. 190.A pilot is flying an RNAV (GPS) approach. What is the minimum required service level for WAAS to support LPV minima?Navigation Systems
  41. 191.A pilot is flying an aircraft equipped with a single VOR receiver. To ensure the VOR receiver is operating correctly before an IFR flight, which of the following is an acceptable method for an operational check?Navigation Systems
  42. 192.A commercial pilot is conducting an RNAV (GPS) approach in an aircraft equipped with a GPS receiver that has WAAS. During the final approach segment, the pilot observes a 'GPS Integrity' alert, and the annunciator indicates a degradation from LPV to LNAV minima. What action is required?Navigation Systems
  43. 193.A pilot is flying an IFR flight at 7,000 feet MSL. The en route low-altitude chart for the current segment shows an MEA of 6,000 feet and a MOCA of 5,000 feet. The aircraft's navigation receiver indicates full signal strength. What is the lowest safe altitude the pilot can descend to while maintaining IFR requirements for this segment?IFR Procedures and Charts
  44. 194.A pilot is flying an IFR flight at 7,000 feet MSL. The en route low-altitude chart for the segment being flown shows an MEA of 6,000 feet MSL and a MOCA of 5,000 feet MSL. Which altitude range ensures both obstacle clearance and navigation signal reception for the entire segment?IFR Procedures and Charts
  45. 195.A pilot is filing an IFR flight plan from Airport A to Airport B. The direct route between the two airports crosses an area where an OROCA of 12,500 feet is depicted. The pilot wishes to cruise at 11,000 feet. What is the significance of the OROCA in this scenario?IFR Procedures and Charts
  46. 196.A pilot is planning an IFR flight from an airport in Class G airspace to an airport in Class C airspace. The departure airport has no published Instrument Departure Procedure (DP). What are the takeoff minimums for this pilot operating under 14 CFR Part 91?IFR Procedures and Charts
  47. 197.A pilot is flying an ILS approach to Runway 36. The approach chart indicates an ILS critical area protection is required when the ceiling is less than 800 feet and/or visibility is less than 2 miles. The current ATIS reports an 800-foot overcast ceiling and 1 1/2 miles visibility. Which of the following is true regarding ILS critical area protection?IFR Procedures and Charts
  48. 198.A pilot is conducting a VOR operational check using an airborne checkpoint. The aircraft is 20 NM from the VOR station, and the published airborne checkpoint radial is 270°. The VOR receiver indicates a radial of 273°. What action, if any, should the pilot take?Navigation Systems
  49. 199.A pilot is planning an IFR flight and checks the NOTAMs for potential navigation aid outages. The NOTAM indicates that a VOR station along the route is '_UNRELIABLE BEYOND 25NM_'. What does this NOTAM imply for flight planning and execution?Navigation Systems
  50. 200.A pilot is flying an IFR flight and is cleared to 'Hold east of the VOR on the 090 radial, left turns, 1-minute legs.' The aircraft's true airspeed is 150 knots, and the holding altitude is 8,000 feet MSL. What is the approximate magnetic heading the pilot should fly on the outbound leg, assuming zero wind?IFR Procedures and Charts