Instrument Rating ACS · Area I

IR.I Preflight Preparation

3 tasks and 72 knowledge, risk management and skill elements. Each code below is a link target: a code from your test report, such as IR.I.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.

IR.I.A Pilot Qualifications

To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with requirements to act as pilot-in-command under instrument flight rules.

IR.I.A.K1Knowledge

Certification requirements, recency of experience, and recordkeeping.

IR.I.A.K2Knowledge

Privileges and limitations.

IR.I.A.K3Knowledge

Part 68 BasicMed privileges and limitations.

IR.I.A.R1Risk management

Proficiency versus currency.

IR.I.A.R2Risk management

Personal minimums.

IR.I.A.R3Risk management

Fitness for flight and physiological factors that might affect the pilot's ability to fly under instrument conditions.

IR.I.A.R4Risk management

Flying unfamiliar aircraft or operating with unfamiliar flight display systems and avionics.

IR.I.A.S1Skill

Apply requirements to act as pilot-in-command (PIC) under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) in a scenario given by the evaluator.

IR.I.B Weather Information

To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with obtaining, understanding, and applying weather information for a flight under IFR.

IR.I.B.K1Knowledge

Sources of weather data (e.g., National Weather Service, Flight Service) for flight planning purposes.

IR.I.B.K2Knowledge

Acceptable weather products and resources required for preflight planning, current and forecast weather for departure, en route, and arrival phases of flight such as:

IR.I.B.K2aKnowledge

Airport Observations (METAR and SPECI) and Pilot Observations (PIREP)

IR.I.B.K2bKnowledge

Surface Analysis Chart, Ceiling and Visibility Chart (CVA)

IR.I.B.K2cKnowledge

Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAF)

IR.I.B.K2dKnowledge

Graphical Forecasts for Aviation (GFA)

IR.I.B.K2eKnowledge

Wind and Temperature Aloft Forecast (FB)

IR.I.B.K2fKnowledge

Convective Outlook (AC)

IR.I.B.K2gKnowledge

Inflight Aviation Weather Advisories including Airmen's Meteorological Information (AIRMET), Significant Meteorological Information (SIGMET), and Convective SIGMET

IR.I.B.K3Knowledge

Meteorology applicable to the departure, en route, alternate, and destination for flights conducted under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) to include expected climate and hazardous conditions such as:

IR.I.B.K3aKnowledge

Atmospheric composition and stability

IR.I.B.K3bKnowledge

Wind (e.g., windshear, mountain wave, factors affecting wind, etc.)

IR.I.B.K3cKnowledge

Temperature and heat exchange

IR.I.B.K3dKnowledge

Moisture/precipitation

IR.I.B.K3eKnowledge

Weather system formation, including air masses and fronts

IR.I.B.K3fKnowledge

Clouds

IR.I.B.K3gKnowledge

Turbulence

IR.I.B.K3hKnowledge

Thunderstorms and microbursts

IR.I.B.K3iKnowledge

Icing and freezing level information

IR.I.B.K3jKnowledge

Fog/mist

IR.I.B.K3kKnowledge

Frost

IR.I.B.K3lKnowledge

Obstructions to visibility (e.g., smoke, haze, volcanic ash, etc.)

IR.I.B.K4Knowledge

Flight deck instrument displays of digital weather and aeronautical information.

IR.I.B.R1Risk management

Making the go/no-go and continue/divert decisions, including:

IR.I.B.R1aRisk management

Circumstances that would make diversion prudent

IR.I.B.R1bRisk management

Personal weather minimums

IR.I.B.R1cRisk management

Hazardous weather conditions, including known or forecast icing or turbulence aloft

IR.I.B.R2Risk management

Use and limitations of:

IR.I.B.R2aRisk management

Installed onboard weather equipment

IR.I.B.R2bRisk management

Aviation weather reports and forecasts

IR.I.B.R2cRisk management

Inflight weather resources

IR.I.B.S1Skill

Use available aviation weather resources to obtain an adequate weather briefing.

IR.I.B.S2Skill

Analyze the implications of at least three of the conditions listed in K3a through K3l, using actual weather or weather conditions provided by the evaluator.

IR.I.B.S3Skill

Correlate weather information to make a go/no-go decision.

IR.I.B.S4Skill

Determine whether an alternate airport is required, and, if required, whether the selected alternate airport meets regulatory requirements.

IR.I.C Cross-Country Flight Planning

To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with planning an IFR cross-country and filing an IFR flight plan.

IR.I.C.K1Knowledge

Route planning, including consideration of:

IR.I.C.K1aKnowledge

Available navigational facilities

IR.I.C.K1bKnowledge

Special use airspace

IR.I.C.K1cKnowledge

Preferred routes

IR.I.C.K1dKnowledge

Primary and alternate airports

IR.I.C.K1eKnowledge

Enroute charts

IR.I.C.K1fKnowledge

Chart Supplements

IR.I.C.K1gKnowledge

NOTAMS

IR.I.C.K1hKnowledge

Terminal Procedures Publications (TPP)

IR.I.C.K2Knowledge

Altitude selection accounting for terrain and obstacles, glide distance of airplane, IFR cruising altitudes, effect of wind, and oxygen requirements.

IR.I.C.K3Knowledge

Calculating:

IR.I.C.K3aKnowledge

Time, climb and descent rates, course, distance, heading, true airspeed, and groundspeed

IR.I.C.K3bKnowledge

Estimated time of arrival, including conversion to universal coordinated time (UTC)

IR.I.C.K3cKnowledge

Fuel requirements, including reserve

IR.I.C.K4Knowledge

Elements of an IFR flight plan.

IR.I.C.K5Knowledge

Procedures for activating and closing an IFR flight plan in controlled and uncontrolled airspace.

IR.I.C.R1Risk management

Pilot.

IR.I.C.R2Risk management

Aircraft.

IR.I.C.R3Risk management

Environment (e.g., weather, airports, airspace, terrain, obstacles).

IR.I.C.R4Risk management

External pressures.

IR.I.C.R5Risk management

Limitations of air traffic control (ATC) services.

IR.I.C.R6Risk management

Limitations of electronic planning applications and programs.

IR.I.C.R7Risk management

Fuel planning.

IR.I.C.S1Skill

Prepare, present, and explain a cross-country flight plan assigned by the evaluator including a risk analysis based on real time weather, which includes calculating time en route and fuel considering factors such as power settings, operating altitude, wind, fuel reserve requirements, and weight and balance requirements.

IR.I.C.S2Skill

Recalculate fuel reserves based on a scenario provided by the evaluator.

IR.I.C.S3Skill

Create a navigation plan and simulate filing an IFR flight plan.

IR.I.C.S4Skill

Interpret departure, arrival, en route, and approach procedures with reference to appropriate and current charts.

IR.I.C.S5Skill

Recognize simulated wing contamination due to airframe icing and demonstrate knowledge of the adverse effects of airframe icing during pre-takeoff, takeoff, cruise, and landing phases of flight as well as the corrective actions.

IR.I.C.S6Skill

Apply pertinent information from appropriate and current aeronautical charts, Chart Supplements; Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs) relative to airport, runway and taxiway closures; and other flight publications.

Other areas in this standard

Last updated 11 November 2026.