Instrument Rating ACS · Area III

IR.III Air Traffic Control (ATC) Clearances and Procedures

2 tasks and 28 knowledge, risk management and skill elements. Each code below is a link target: a code from your test report, such as IR.III.A.K1, lands on its own line.

Written by the FlightWay team. Regulations checked against the eCFR and faa.gov on 11 November 2026. Not a substitute for the regulation itself or your instructor.

Instrument Rating Airman Certification Standards, FAA-S-ACS-8C (November 2023 edition), effective May 31, 2024 and incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 61.14. Text from the FAA’s ACS page, checked on 11 November 2026. If the FAA has published a newer edition since, the codes and wording may differ: the FAA document is the authority.

IR.III.A Compliance with Air Traffic Control Clearances

To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with ATC clearances and procedures while operating solely by reference to instruments.

IR.III.A.K1Knowledge: Elements and procedures related to ATC clearances and pilot/controller responsibilities for departure, en route, and arrival phases of flight, including clearance void times.
IR.III.A.K2Knowledge: Pilot-in-Command (PIC) emergency authority.
IR.III.A.K3Knowledge: Lost communication procedures and procedures for flights outside of radar environments.
IR.III.A.R1Risk management: Less than full understanding of an ATC clearance.
IR.III.A.R2Risk management: Inappropriate, incomplete, or incorrect ATC clearances.
IR.III.A.R3Risk management: ATC clearance inconsistent with aircraft performance or navigation capability.
IR.III.A.R4Risk management: ATC clearance intended for other aircraft with similar call signs.
IR.III.A.S1Skill: Correctly copy, read back, interpret, and comply with simulated or actual ATC clearances in a timely manner using standard phraseology as provided in the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM).
IR.III.A.S2Skill: Correctly set communication frequencies, navigation systems (identifying when appropriate), and transponder codes in compliance with the ATC clearance.
IR.III.A.S3Skill: Use the current and appropriate paper or electronic navigation publications.
IR.III.A.S4Skill: Intercept all courses, radials, and bearings appropriate to the procedure, route, or clearance in a timely manner.
IR.III.A.S5Skill: Maintain the applicable airspeed ±10 knots, headings ±10°, altitude ±100 feet; track a course, radial, or bearing within ¾-scale deflection of the course deviation indicator (CDI).
IR.III.A.S6Skill: Use single-pilot resource management (SRM) or crew resource management (CRM), as appropriate.
IR.III.A.S7Skill: Perform the appropriate checklist items relative to the phase of flight.

IR.III.B Holding Procedures

To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with holding procedures solely by reference to instruments.

IR.III.B.K1Knowledge: Elements related to holding procedures, including reporting criteria, appropriate speeds, and recommended entry procedures for standard, nonstandard, published, and non-published holding patterns.
IR.III.B.R1Risk management: Recalculating fuel reserves if assigned an unanticipated expect further clearance (EFC) time.
IR.III.B.R2Risk management: Scenarios and circumstances that could result in minimum fuel or the need to declare an emergency.
IR.III.B.R3Risk management: Scenarios that could lead to holding, including deteriorating weather at the planned destination.
IR.III.B.R4Risk management: Holding entry and wind correction while holding.
IR.III.B.S1Skill: Use an entry procedure appropriate for a standard, nonstandard, published, or non-published holding pattern.
IR.III.B.S2Skill: Change to the holding airspeed appropriate for the altitude when 3 minutes or less from, but prior to arriving at, the holding fix and set appropriate power as needed for fuel conservation.
IR.III.B.S3Skill: Recognize arrival at the holding fix and promptly initiate entry into the holding pattern.
IR.III.B.S3aSkill: Comply with the holding pattern leg length and other restrictions, if applicable, associated with the holding pattern
IR.III.B.S4Skill: Maintain airspeed ±10 knots, altitude ±100 feet, selected headings within ±10°, and track a selected course, radial, or bearing within ¾-scale deflection of the course deviation indicator (CDI).
IR.III.B.S5Skill: Use proper wind correction procedures to maintain the desired pattern and to arrive over the fix as close as possible to a specified time.
IR.III.B.S6Skill: Use a multi-function display (MFD) and other graphical navigation displays, if installed, to monitor position in relation to the desired flightpath during holding.
IR.III.B.S7Skill: Comply with ATC reporting requirements and restrictions associated with the holding pattern.
IR.III.B.S8Skill: Use single-pilot resource management (SRM) or crew resource management (CRM), as appropriate.

Other areas in this standard

IR.I Preflight Preparation3 tasks IR.II Preflight Procedures3 tasks IR.IV Flight by Reference to Instruments2 tasks IR.V Navigation Systems2 tasks IR.VI Instrument Approach Procedures5 tasks IR.VII Emergency Operations4 tasks IR.VIII Postflight Procedures1 task

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Last updated 11 November 2026.