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

LATEST POSTS

Fronts, Freezing Levels, and Staying Out of Trouble This Winter

December 9, 2025

/

Winter flying brings a unique set of challenges, especially when it comes to icing. In this article, we break down why warm, occluded, and cold fronts each create their own hazards, how to recognize the early signs of trouble, and how tools like Prog Charts in ForeFlight can help you anticipate weather systems long before they hit your route.

Video Tip: Understanding Ice Protection Systems

December 5, 2025

/

0 Comments

In this IFR Focus video tip, we break down the major types of ice protection found on general aviation aircraft—from classic pneumatic boots to thermal systems and weeping wings—and explain the critical distinction between anti-ice and deice. Just as important, we look at what it actually means for an airplane to be approved for flight in known icing conditions.

Winter IFR: Practical Strategies for Cold-Weather Flying

December 2, 2025

/

1 Comment

Winter brings some of the most challenging — and rewarding — IFR flying of the year. Cold, dense air offers excellent aircraft performance and crisp climb rates, and many days feature crystal-clear ceilings above a thin cloud layer. But the season also introduces hazards that demand a more disciplined approach: icing, contaminated runways, sluggish engines, and unpredictable low-level weather.

Free Webinar: Flying with the iPad as Your Digital Copilot

November 28, 2025

/

0 Comments

This free, fast-paced presentation covers a wide range of practical topics on flying with the iPad and the ForeFlight Mobile app. Led by Bret Koebbe, an active pilot and flight instructor at Sporty’s, and Editor of iPad Pilot News, this presentation explores topics applicable to pilots of all iPad experience levels.

Smarter IFR Training: Sporty’s Instrument Course Adds New Aviation Intelligence Tools

November 25, 2025

/

0 Comments

Sporty’s Instrument Rating Course now includes powerful new Aviation Intelligence (AI) tools—ChatCFI, ChatFAR, ChatDPE, and FAA Test Analysis—each designed to make IFR study smarter and more focused. These aviation-specific AI assistants help pilots connect test prep to real-world decision-making, turning study time into practical learning.

Ask the IFR Expert: What do I do when the avionics glitch?

November 21, 2025

/

0 Comments

Modern IFR panels are incredibly capable, but they’re still computers—and sometimes they glitch at the worst possible moment. When automation stumbles in IMC or during a high-workload phase, I fall back on a simple sequence: stabilize, simplify, and strategize.

Videos

Quizzes

Practical IFR

Approaches

LATEST POSTS

VIDEOS

QUIZZES

ARTICLES

WEBINARS

IFR TRAINING

TOOLS & TECH

RESOURCES

Email Subscription

Recent Articles