FAA Instrument Rating case studies

FAA Instrument Rating · Put your knowledge to work in context.

The Instrument Rating – Airplane is an FAA airman certification standard published as FAA-S-ACS-8C. The April 2024 edition is effective May 31, 2024, and appears on the FAA's Airman Certification Standards list alongside the other airplane ACS documents revised at the same time. The FAA Instrument Rating case studies are 5 cases and about 3,551 words.

Marginal destination forecast, a wet alternate, and a fuel plan with almost no slack

You are flying a PA-28-181 from Seattle to Eugene (200 NM) under IFR, planning 9,000 ft. The airplane has 48 gal usable and burns 10 gph at 115 KTAS; you start with 34 gal and allow 1.5 gal for taxi and run-up.

725 words, about 4 min 2

A mountain departure that cannot meet the ODP gradient, plus an out-of-date transponder

You are departing a mountain airport (field elevation 5,900 ft MSL) in a normally aspirated PA-28-181, maximum gross weight 2,550 lb, on an IFR clearance to the east. Runway 17's published obstacle departure procedure requires a minimum climb gradient of 320 ft/NM to 10,500 ft before proceeding on course.

729 words, about 4 min 3

Vectored off a descend-via arrival, then an unachievable crossing restriction

You are single-pilot in a TBM 930 cruising at FL280 on an IFR flight. ATC issues: 'Descend via the HAWKZ TWO arrival, expect the ILS runway 16L.' The arrival publishes restrictions: cross HAWKZ at or below FL240, cross JOZEP at 12,000 and 250 kt, and cross RADDY at 8,000.

717 words, about 4 min 4

An unplanned hold: entry, wind correction, and a fuel clock

You are in a Cessna 172S at 6,000 ft, 12 NM east of the OTTER VOR, heading 270, cleared direct OTTER. The fuel totalizer shows 24 gal, the engine burns 9.5 gph at this power setting, and the airplane trues out at 110 kt.

689 words, about 3 min 5

Vacuum failure in solid IMC: recognizing it and deciding what to fly

You are flying a PA-28-181 in IMC at 8,000 ft, in a solid stratus layer that extends from 4,000 to 11,000 ft. You are 30 NM from your destination, which has an ILS to Runway 27 and an RNAV approach, and 60 NM from an airport reporting clear skies.

691 words, about 3 min