Practical tips, scenarios, and tools for IFR pilots : IFR Focus

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New IFR Mastery Scenario:The End Is Niagara?

September 4, 2026

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What would you do if an engine problem developed in actual IMC—but the nearest airport wasn't necessarily your safest option? That's the dilemma in this month's IFR Mastery scenario from PilotWorkshops, The End Is Niagara?, featuring instructor Martin Pauly.

Before the Frequency Gets Busy

September 1, 2026

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In Part 121 operations, complex environments are managed through standardization, preparation, defined procedures, and shared cockpit responsibilities. A single pilot does not have another crewmember available to catch an error or absorb part of the workload, but many of the same professional habits can be adapted to the Part 91 cockpit. The objective is to anticipate workload before it arrives.

Ask the IFR Expert: How Often Should I Hand Fly?

August 28, 2026

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There is no magic number of minutes or percentage of a flight that every instrument pilot should spend hand-flying. The right balance depends on the pilot, the airplane, the conditions, and the workload. But there is an important distinction between using automation and becoming dependent on it.

Quiz: Automation

August 25, 2026

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Modern avionics and autopilots have transformed IFR flying, reducing workload and improving situational awareness when used correctly. But automation is only as effective as the pilot managing it. Misunderstanding system capabilities, relying on automation at the wrong time, or failing to monitor what it's doing can quickly turn a helpful tool into a source of confusion.

Practical IFR: The Extra Step-down

August 18, 2026

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Think you know an approach after crossing the FAF? A hidden step-down fix can make that familiar descent more complicated—and a little more dangerous.

Video Tip: Flying to an MDA with the Autopilot

August 11, 2026

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In this video, Bruce Williams demonstrates one technique for flying the RNAV (GPS) Runway 27 approach into Port Angeles, Washington. Using a Garmin GFC 600 autopilot, he shows how to level off at the MDA while allowing the autopilot to maintain lateral guidance, reducing workload as the airplane continues toward the missed approach point.

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