Welcome to IFR Focus: Sharpen Your Skills, Master the System

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IFR Focus is a new destination dedicated entirely to the art and science of flying in the system. Whether you’re an experienced IFR pilot looking to stay sharp or a student climbing toward that checkride, you’ll find practical content here to help you fly safer, smoother, and smarter.

How to Choose the Best Alternate Airport for Your IFR Flight: A Pilot’s Guide

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Keep an eye on the weather as you approach the destination, using both ADS-B datalink weather, and by tuning in the local ATIS/AWOS on the radio. If it looks like the weather will be near the minimums for the approach, it is time to start thinking about what the best alternate airport will be based on the current weather. If it still looks like the planned alternate is the best option, go for it.

How to prepare for instrument checkride day

Communication is key to the examiner understanding your thought process and decision making. Checkrides have plenty of emotion and pressure that will hopefully allow you to excel. Don’t bring unnecessary pressure or emotion to the flight by overreaching or trying to do too much. Fly like you’ve trained and be the PIC.

Webinar Video: How to Ace Your FAA Instrument Written

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The FAA Instrument Written is the source of plenty of angst and stress for IFR pilots. But not to worry as this webinar presentation we'll show you how to use reliable study methods and advanced learning features within Sporty's Instrument Rating Course, including Aviation Intelligence℠ (AI).

An actual instrument approach to minimums

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During your instrument training, you routinely fly instrument approach procedures to “minimums” under simulated conditions. The more likely scenario when flying under instrument flight rules (IFR) is the option to complete the flight under visual flight rules (VFR), flying a visual approach procedure, or flying an instrument procedure in which you acquire the runway visually well above the charted “minimums.”

IFR Holding Procedures Explained: A Pilot’s Guide to Holding Patterns

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Maximum holding speeds in knots indicated airspeed (KIAS) have been designated for specific altitude ranges. Often pilots can avoid flying a holding pattern or reduce the length of time spent in the holding pattern, by slowing down on the way to the holding fix.

Webinar Video: Home Simulation For IFR Training and Proficiency—a Pilot’s Perspective

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Today's flight simulators offer more versatility and feasibility to instrument flight rules training than ever expected. Join Sporty's, Chris McGonegle, as he covers how to build and feature set an at home flight simulator tailored towards instrument flying.

Quiz: Regulations for Instrument Flight Rules

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Instrument flying requires you to know a lot of rules, from clearance limits to airspace requirements. Can you answer all these regulations questions and stay legal in the IFR system?

Getting Started With IFR Training—Steps to Earning an Instrument Rating

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Earning an instrument rating is a fun and rewarding experience that will provide you with added confidence and make your pilot’s license more powerful. Pilots with an instrument rating are no longer confined to clear skies and VMC—it opens opportunities for more consistent flying, regardless of weather variability. And for pilots considering a career in aviation, an instrument rating is essential.
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Transitioning to IFR flying with an Instrument Rating

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An Instrument Rating will provide more freedom, confidence, and utility for your Private Pilot certificate as you no longer limited to VFR conditions. Not only will you have the skills and confidence for flying in more diverse weather conditions, and solely by reference to instruments, but instrument flying will introduce more precise flying.