I85PREP
⌘ K
FAA FII study materials
FAA FII study resources

FAA FII: Instrument Flight Rules and ATC Procedures in Practice

FAA FII · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.

All guide sections

Instrument Flight Rules and ATC Procedures in Practice

Domain 3 tests the IFR system in operation: clearances, required reports, holding, departure and arrival procedures, and the pilot-in-command's duties when communications fail.

Clearances and reports

  • Standard elements follow CRAFT: Clearance limit, Route, Altitude, Frequency, Transponder. 'Cleared as filed' still obliges the pilot to compare the cleared route with the chart the flight will be flown on.
  • A clearance authorizes the route but not deviations from an assigned altitude. 'Maintain 4,000 until established on the approach' means exactly that; only a new clearance permits descent.
  • 91.183 requires reporting the time and altitude at designated reporting points (or as ATC requests) and any other information relating to flight safety. 'Report leaving' is an instruction, not a courtesy.

Holding and course reversals

  • Standard holding uses right turns, 1-minute legs at or below 14,000 ft MSL and 1.5 minutes above. Entry selection (direct, parallel, teardrop) follows the aircraft's heading when crossing the fix. A procedure turn stays within 10 NM of the fix and is flown on the maneuvering side.

Lost communications (91.185)

  • Route: last assigned, then vectored, then expected.
  • Altitude: the highest of last assigned, the minimum IFR altitude for the segment, and expected.
  • Clearance limit: in VFR conditions, continue and land VFR; otherwise, if the limit is a fix from which an approach begins, begin descent and approach as close as possible to the expected further clearance time, or the estimated time of arrival if no time was given.

Worked example

'Maintain 6,000, expect 4,000 at CANDY, EFC 1545,' and the radio fails at 1530 in IMC. CANDY is an initial approach fix, so the route is direct CANDY. Altitude is the highest of 6,000 assigned, 5,200 MEA and 4,000 expected, so 6,000. At the clearance limit, hold at 6,000 until 1545, then descend and fly the published approach.

Traps that cost marks

  • Descending on an 'expect' clearance.
  • Treating VFR-on-top as cancelling IFR; it remains an IFR flight plan flown at VFR altitudes.
  • Forgetting that a contact approach needs a pilot request, at least 1 SM flight visibility and ground references.
  • Choosing the lowest of the lost-communication altitudes instead of the highest.