CASA IREX study guide
CASA IREX · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The CASA Instrument Rating Examination (IREX) is the written knowledge test that CASA sets for pilots seeking an instrument rating in Australia. It is aimed at pilots who already hold a licence and want the privileges that let them fly under the instrument flight rules - in cloud, at night under IMC, and on instrument approach procedures. The syllabus is organised into four equally weighted areas: instrument flight rules and procedures; meteorology for instrument flight; navigation and radio navigation aids; and flight planning, performance and loading. Each area carries 25 per cent, so the exam rewards balanced preparation rather than deep specialisation in one topic. The CASA IREX study guide has 4 sections and about 1,173 words.
01Instrument Flight Rules and Procedures
Instrument flight is governed by a clearance that defines route, altitude, and timing, and by the standard operating discipline that keeps that clearance safe. Candidates must know the components of an IFR clearance (clearance limit, route, altitude, frequency, transponder), the difference between a full route clearance and a "cleared direct" amendment, and how to read a standard instrument departure and arrival.
315 words, about 2 min02Meteorology for Instrument Flight
Instrument pilots must translate weather products into go/no-go and en-route decisions. Know the structure of a front: warm fronts produce widespread stratiform clouds and steady precipitation well ahead, while cold fronts bring narrow bands of convective activity and rapid visibility loss.
290 words, about 1 min03Navigation and Radio Navigation Aids
This domain covers dead reckoning, pilotage, and the ground-based and satellite systems used in instrument flight. Candidates must understand VOR radials and the CDI: the course selector sets the desired course, the needle shows deviation, and TO/FROM indicates whether the selected course leads to or from the station.
281 words, about 1 min04Flight Planning, Performance, and Loading
Flight planning ties weather, fuel, weight and balance, and aircraft performance into a legal and safe plan. Know the fuel requirement: enough to destination plus alternate plus reserve, with the reserve defined by regulation and the type of flight.
287 words, about 1 min