FAA FII cheat sheet

Learning is a change in behavior resulting from experience; it is not maturation, fatigue, or motivation alone.

Four levels of learning: rote, understanding, application, and correlation; correlation is the highest and required for true transfer of training.

Laws of learning: readiness, exercise, effect, primacy, recency, intensity, and disuse - recency and intensity most influence retention of instrument procedures.

Maslow hierarchy governs learner behavior: physiological needs precede safety, belonging, esteem, and self-actualization; unmotivated students are often blocked at a lower level.

Defense mechanisms (rationalization, denial, reaction formation, flight, aggression, resignation) must be recognized and addressed, not ignored.

Teaching methods: lecture, guided discussion, demonstration-performance, and computer/e-learning; demonstration-performance is standard for flight maneuvers.

The demonstration-performance method has five steps: explanation, demonstration, student performance, instructor supervision, and evaluation.

Characteristics of a good test: objectivity, validity, reliability, usability, and comprehensiveness; a test measuring what it claims is valid.

Effective critique is objective, specific, and timely; it should address both strengths and weaknesses and avoid personal bias.

A CFII may endorse applicants for the instrument rating knowledge test and practical test only when all required training, aeronautical experience, and knowledge are documented.

AC 61-65 provides the required endorsement language; endorsements must cite the correct paragraph and be signed with certificate number and expiration date.

A CFI must hold a current medical certificate or BasicMed to act as PIC or required crewmember, but not to give ground instruction.

Flight instructor certificates do not expire, but the privileges lapse after 24 calendar months unless the instructor renews via a practical test, activity, or approved course.

Renewal options include: pass a practical test, endorse at least five applicants with 80% first-attempt pass rate, or complete an approved FIRC.

A CFII must have logged at least 15 hours as pilot in command in the category and class of aircraft for the instrument rating endorsement.

Recordkeeping: sign logbooks for each student, retain training records for at least 3 years, and document ground and flight instruction given.

The 8-hour rest requirement and 10-hour duty limits under Part 91 apply to the instructor as a crewmember; instructing is logging flight time only when acting as required crewmember.

A CFI is responsible for ensuring a student meets the experience requirements of 14 CFR 61.65 before endorsing for the instrument rating practical test.

Standard IFR cruising altitudes: 91.121 requires odd thousands MSL for magnetic courses 0-179, even thousands for 180-359, above 3,000 feet MSL.

Aircraft on the same airway flying opposite directions are separated by 1,000 feet vertically; same direction same altitude requires longitudinal separation.

Clearance items use the CRAFT mnemonic: Clearance limit, Route, Altitude, Frequency, Transponder; read back all altitude and hold instructions.

A 'cleared for the approach' clearance authorizes the approach but requires the pilot to remain at the last assigned altitude until established on a published segment.

Holding pattern entries: direct (course within 180° of outbound), parallel, and teardrop; standard pattern is right turns, 1-minute inbound legs below 14,000 feet MSL.

The 1-2-3 rule: within 1 hour before to 1 hour after ETA, ceilings 1,000-3,000 feet and visibility 3-5 SM qualify as 'marginal VFR' - not acceptable for IFR alternate use.

An alternate is required when the destination forecast is below 2,000 feet ceiling or 3 SM visibility from 1 hour before to 1 hour after ETA.

Lost communications: squawk 7600, maintain last assigned route and altitude, and follow the highest of the last clearance, minimum IFR altitude, or expected further clearance.

ATC 'expect further clearance' time governs when to leave a hold; if not received by EFC, begin the approach or proceed per lost-comm rules.

A standard alternate minimum is 600 feet ceiling and 2 SM visibility for a precision approach; 800 feet and 2 SM for non-precision approaches.

Weather minimums below standard alternate minima require the approach to have a published non-standard alternate minimum; use the higher of the two.

The 1-2-3 rule: within 1 hour before to 1 hour after ETA, ceilings 1,000-3,000 feet and visibility 3-5 SM qualify as 'marginal VFR' - not acceptable for IFR alternate use.

Fuel planning for IFR: enough fuel to destination, then to alternate, plus 45 minutes at normal cruise; consider winds aloft and ATC reroutes.

VOR accuracy: ±1° on the ground, ±2° in flight; VOR receivers must be checked every 30 days for IFR flight.

GPS RAIM must be available for the entire approach; if RAIM predicts outage, use an alternate approach or a non-GPS method.

AIM 7-1-29: alternate minimums apply when the destination forecast includes a temporary condition; the alternate must meet the published minimums at ETA.

Weather products: METAR is current observation, TAF is forecast, and PIREPs provide real-time conditions; use all three for an IFR go/no-go decision.

Filing IFR: use the correct equipment suffix (e.g., /G for GPS with WAAS) and include alternate, ETA, and fuel endurance on the flight plan.

Minimum equipment for IFR (91.205): generator/alternator, voltmeter, gyroscopic rate-of-turn, slip-skid indicator, sensitive altimeter, clock, attitude indicator, heading indicator, and radio/navigation equipment.

Pitot-static system: airspeed indicator, altimeter, and vertical speed indicator; pitot heat and static port must be checked preflight, especially in icing conditions.

Gyroscopic instruments: attitude indicator and heading indicator are vacuum or electrically driven; turn coordinator is electrically driven and provides rate of turn.

The attitude indicator is the primary instrument for pitch and bank; the heading indicator is primary for bank in a constant-altitude turn.

Approach categories: Category A below 91 knots, B 91-120, C 121-140, D 141-165, E above 165 knots Vref at maximum landing weight.

Minimums: DA(H) for precision approaches (ILS, LPV), MDA(H) for non-precision approaches (VOR, LOC, LNAV); do not descend below MDA until visual reference is established.

Instrument approach segments: initial, intermediate, final, and missed approach; the final approach segment begins at the FAF and ends at the MAP.

Missed approach: climb to the published altitude, follow the published route, and do not turn before the MAP unless published; report 'missed approach' to ATC.

Stabilized approach criteria: be configured and on speed by 1,000 feet AGL in IMC; go around if not stabilized.