The IFR Focus Team is made up of experienced flight instructors, professional pilots, and editors dedicated to helping instrument pilots sharpen their skills. Drawing on decades of real-world flying and teaching experience, the team curates practical tips, training resources, and scenario-based content to make IFR flying safer and more enjoyable.
Join CFI-I Spencer Suderman for a real-world IFR cross-country from Jacksonville to Daytona Beach, Florida, flown in a G1000-equipped Cessna 172. From preflight planning and filing in ForeFlight to copying a clearance, flying in the system, and executing an RNAV approach at the destination, this is a complete, end-to-end look at how everyday IFR flying actually works.
Follow along on this scenario-based IFR route selection exercise as we plan a flight from Oceana, CA (L52) to Monterey, CA (KMRY) using ForeFlight Route Advisor.
Few instrument maneuvers require a smoother transition from procedures to judgment than the circling approach. In this spotlight, we’ll break down how to fly a circling approach safely and within standards—maintaining the correct circling altitude, managing wind and aircraft positioning, staying within protected airspace, and knowing exactly when it’s appropriate to leave MDA and descend for landing.
Strong IFR flying starts with strong weather awareness. Take the quiz to see how you stack up.
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.
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.
Think of the flight director as your own personal autopilot coach—it shows you exactly what inputs to make to stay on course and on glidepath. In this IFR Focus video tip, we’ll explain how to interpret those familiar magenta “V-bars,” how they differ from the autopilot, and why mastering the flight director can make your hand-flown approaches smoother and more precise.
Veteran instructor and author Bruce Williams takes us along on an IFR flight from Bellingham, WA (KBLI) to Bremerton (KPWT) in his Bonanza, using Garmin SmartCharts in the Garmin Pilot app. This quick 30-minute hop showcases how SmartCharts declutter complex procedures—like the KLSHN TWO RNAV departure—and make it easier to visualize key information in real time. Along the way, Bruce flies the RNAV (GPS) RWY 20 approach through the clouds, offering practical tips on procedure loading and approach setup.
When ATC takes control of your headings and altitudes, precision and anticipation are key. In this spotlight, we’ll cover how to fly an instrument approach using radar vectors from ATC—maintaining communication discipline, staying ahead of the airplane, and managing configuration and speed changes.
There are many details to consider when planning a flight under Instrument Flight Rules. Mix in some inclement weather, and the workload increases exponentially. Answer all these questions correctly and prove you have the keys to unlock a successful IFR flight.
