It was his first airplane trip at age seven that made Eric decide to become a pilot. "While boarding the airplane, a flight attendant noticed my interest in the flight deck and urged me to go talk to the pilot. I give a lot of credit to that pilot for my career choice." Eric earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and went on to an airline career. He learned to fly at Sporty’s as part of the University of Cincinnati’s Professional Pilot Program, an initiative he later directed. Eric now manages Sporty’s media network including IFRFocus.com. In addition, Eric serves as a Captain in a Cincinnati-based corporate flight department.
Departures can be one of the riskiest phases of flight, especially in instrument conditions (IMC) or mountainous terrain. Even experienced pilots benefit from a structured approach to departure planning that accounts for terrain, obstacles, aircraft performance, and weather.
Think you know your IFR charts? In our “Chart Smart” series, we’ll put your instrument knowledge to the test with real examples from approach plates and en route charts—then break down what each symbol really means.
I see more and more approaches labeled LPV in the GPS database, but I’ve heard pilots talk about them as ‘GPS ILS equivalents.’ What exactly is an LPV approach, how is it different from an ILS, and why should I care as an instrument pilot?
Remeber that IFR flying is built on the unglamorous basics. Hold heading, altitude, and airspeed precisely, and you’ll have the bandwidth to manage everything else—ATC calls, avionics, charts, and approaches.
Mastering back course approaches is an exercise in situational awareness and instrumentation discipline. Pilots who don’t understand reverse sensing can easily find themselves drifting further from the intended path while chasing a misleading CDI.
Unlike precision approaches that offer vertical guidance, nonprecision approaches require the pilot to manage descent rates and timing without the aid of a glide slope. This maneuver demands strong situational awareness, precise altitude control, and effective use of available navigation equipment—all essential skills for IFR proficiency.
Aircraft fall into one of five approach categories (A-E) based on the aircraft’s target final approach speed, or reference speed (Vref). If this speed is not published for the aircraft, then a speed of 1.3 times the stall speed.
Approach light systems are a configuration of signal lights starting at the landing threshold and extending into the approach area, at a distance of 2,400 to 3,000 feet for precision instrument runways, and 1,400 to 1,500 feet for non-precision instrument runways. Some systems include sequenced flashing lights which appear to the pilot as a ball of light traveling towards the runway at high speed—nicknamed the rabbit.
Before every instrument approach, a well-executed brief is essential for staying ahead of the airplane and ensuring a safe, stable arrival. This month’s spotlight focuses on the Approach Brief, a concise but structured review of critical approach elements including navigation, altitudes, and missed approach procedures. This briefing sets the tone for precision and preparedness in IMC.
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.
