IPC

IN PREPARATION FOR YOUR IPC, Instrument Proficiency Check

WHAT'S REQUIRED?

§ 61.57 Recent flight experience: Pilot in command.

(c) Instrument experience. Except as provided in paragraph (e) of this section, a person may act as pilot in command under IFR or weather conditions less than the minimums prescribed for VFR only if:

(1) Use of an airplane, powered-lift, helicopter, or airship for maintaining instrument experience. Within the 6 calendar months preceding the month of the flight, that person performed and logged at least the following tasks and iterations in an airplane, powered-lift, helicopter, or airship, as appropriate, for the instrument rating privileges to be maintained in actual weather conditions, or under simulated conditions using a view-limiting device that involves having performed the following—

(i) Six instrument approaches.

(ii) Holding procedures and tasks.

(iii) Intercepting and tracking courses through the use of navigational electronic systems.

(d) Instrument proficiency check. Except as provided in paragraph (e) of this section, a person who does not meet the instrument experience requirements of paragraph (c) of this section within the 12 calendar months preceding the month of the flight may not serve as pilot in command under IFR or in weather conditions less than the minimums prescribed for VFR until having passed an instrument proficiency check that consists of the areas of operation and instrument tasks required in the instrument rating practical test standards.

HOW TO PREPARE?

If you've been flying IFR frequently and are current and proficient, you may want to just brush up on your procedures and proficiency.

If you haven't flown IFR much (or at all) and/or are not current, you may want to practice ahead of time.

This is a checkride. However, if you don't pass, you don't fail, we'll merely log it as a training flight and come back and do it again.

1)Take the "Instrument Proficiency Check Review Guide" Course on the FAA website (you'll need to register, free) Read about this and other courses and how to earn a WINGs Level

2)Do an IFR flight plan -- from your home airport to a Class D or Class C airport at least 300 miles away; assume your destination is "at minimums:

3)Do a W&B for this trip and assume you are flying with two passengers weighing 150 and 190 lbs and carrying a total of 50 lbs of luggage

(You are free to use any flight planning tools you'd like)

4)Take at least one of the following courses (on the AOPA ASF website)

IFR Insights: Regulations

IFR Insights: Charts

Single-Pilot IFR

Weather Wise: Air Masses and Fronts

IFR Chart Challenge: VOR Approach

IFR Chart Challenge: ILS Approach

IFR Chart Challenge: RNAV Approach

Weather Wise: Precipitation and Icing

WHAT TO EXPECT?

1)Schedule a 1/2 day for this review. We may be done sooner, but on average we'll go 3-4 hours.

2)We'll start our ground session by using your flight plan to discuss flight regulations--, fuel requirements, alternates & your currency. We'll also discuss weather planning, setting minimums and decision making. We'll discuss approach procedures and SOPS for your aircraft.

3)At a minimum we'll do at least 3 approaches (including 1 precision, 1 with autopilot if your aircraft has one, one with primary flight instrument failure), holds (published and unpublished), unusual attitudes, and intercepting courses. All the details of what we need to cover at in the instrument PTS.

INVENTORY OF SKILLS -- browse this list to identify specific items for practice

PILOT INFORMATION SHEET -- fill out and return prior to training